Obesity

Alternative Treatment

As you might well know, Obesity can lead to serious health consequences. Morbidity/mortality rates increase progressively with higher BMI. Raised Body Mass Index is a major risk factor for chronic diseases such as:

Cardiovascular disease – already the world’s number one cause of death, killing 17 million people each year.

Type 2 Diabetes – Diabetes has rapidly become a global epidemic. W.H.O.’s projections indicate that in the next 10 years diabetes-related deaths will increase by more than 50% worldwide.

Musculoskeletal disorders – predominantly osteoarthritis.

Some cancers (endometrial, breast, and colon).

HBP

Dyslipidemia

Stroke

Liver and gall bladder disease

Sleep apnea and respiratory problems

Gynecological problems (irregular menses, infertility)

These are just some of the reasons why you need to find solutions that will work for you and give you the results that you are looking for.

Here is an overview of some of the most effective treatments we have found for obesity and overweight issues. Our objective is to teach you a healthy lifestyle according to your biochemical individuality, and detoxify your body and get you started on an exercise program that will produce the results that you are looking for.

Food as medicine: We will research the best meal timing, meal composition, glycemic load and phytonutrients of your food. With this, we will strive to reduce inflammation in your body, optimize digestion and excretion, balance the autonomic function by reducing stress, improve sleep and enhance mitochondrial function and detoxification, especially in treatment-resistant patients

Homotoxicology protocol to promote detoxification and weight reduction

Stress management with relaxation, meditation, yoga

Metabolic typing and nutritional education

I.V. treatments with Nutraceuticals

Spa treatment to promote relaxation and detoxification

Fun exercise classes and individualized training sessions

Treatments to stimulate your metabolism and promote detoxification of the intracellular matrix

Hydrotherapy

Hyperthermic therapy such as infrared saunas

As you can see, we do not just focus our attention on the excess weight; rather, we focus on your whole health, which includes an optimal body weight for you.
We know that your stay at Sanoviv is only the beginning of your healing process. To support you on your way to recovery, you will receive an individualized home program at the end of your stay which you will incorporate as part of your daily lifestyle. We will continue to support your progress with our After Care program that will effortlessly coordinate any questions or comments you might have for your health team.

Assessment

Body Mass Index (BMI) rather than body weight itself is the most widely utilized tool for assessing weight problems and the degree of their severity, although these measurements do not actually determine the percentage of body fat in a person. The World Health Organization (WHO) defines being overweight as a BMI equal to or higher than 25, and Obesity as a BMI equal to or higher than 30.

Although this information can be helpful, our assessments go beyond this to develop a more complete picture of what you are dealing with and how we can help you attain your goals.

The fundamental cause of obesity and overweight issues is an energy imbalance between the amount and the kind of calories consumed versus the amount of calories expended by the body. Global increases in overweight and obesity could thus be attributable to a number of factors including:

A global shift in diet towards increased intake of energy-dense foods that are high in the wrong kinds of fat and sugars and deficient in proteins, vitamins and minerals

A decrease of physical activity due to the ever-growing sedentary nature of our lifestyle associated with work, transportation and the spread of urbanization

But at Sanoviv, we know that bad diets and lack of exercise are not always the sole cause for obesity. We now see an increasing number of people who exercise, eat right and still cannot decrease their body mass index, fat percentage or total weight. We now know that environmental toxins can play a large role in obesity and overweight issues as well. They can:

Interfere with metabolism

Overload hepatic detoxification system

Promote insulin resistance

Disrupt central weight-control system

Alter circadian rhythms

Activate the stress response

Interfere with thyroid function

Increase inflammation

Damage mitochondria

In other words, toxins promote fat accumulation. On top of that, fat is a storage depot for some toxins. A review published in 2003 in Obesity Reviews, concludes that pesticides and PCBs released from fat tissue, where they are typically stored, during weight loss can lower the metabolic rate. Releasing fat without a proper detoxification protocol can be detrimental for your overall health. Detoxification is a central component in long-term effective weight management and creating healthy metabolism. This aspect is overlooked in other facilities or trendy diets, but it is one that Sanoviv can address.

One of our main tools is the Bio Impedance Analysis, with which we evaluate your metabolic rate.

We also practice Metabolic Typing. Through a series of tests we can assess your metabolic type and which foods eaten at what intervals will allow you to thrive. We now know that depending on your metabolic type, certain foods will be more compatible with you and your goal of reaching your ideal weight and staying there. This is one of the reasons why some people do particularly well on a specific diet and why others fail. As you can see, it’s not all about will power or cutting down on calories.

With laboratory testing we verify markers that are related to obesity, such as your thyroid function, insulin and vitamin D levels among many others.

We can evaluate the presence of food allergens. We can do testing for sleep apnea which is often related to obesity.

 

Integration

Not only do we apply these and other assessments, we have a fully integrated team of health professionals who will study all of this information and connect the dots in determining not only why your biochemical, physiological, structural and psychospiritual individuality has developed obesity or overweight issues, but also how you can regain your health. Like Obesity, disease usually comes from multiple imbalances in a person’s life. You will work in partnership with your team of health professionals that in turn will work with the whole staff of health professionals to create a program specifically designed for you from all the information obtained.

     

    In your health team:

    Your Medical doctor will lead your medical treatment and coordinate all other treatments into your program.

    Your Psychologist will help to determine any emotional factors that might contribute to the development of obesity and support a healthier relationship with food.

    Your Dentist will assess and treat any issues that could exacerbate the inflammatory process like gingivitis, abscesses and heavy metal toxicity and contribute to your weight issues.

    Your Nutritionist will assess your diet and give you information on the role food will play in your healing, especially after the metabolic typing.

    Your Chiropractor will assess and treat any structural imbalances that might be contributing to your health issues.

    Your Fitness Expert will help you strengthen and exercise your body in a holistic way to support weight management, detoxification and improving your overall health.

    Sanoviv recommended diagnostics “Integrative Physical”.

       

      About

      Introduction

      Are you just sick and tired of being obese or overweight and not finding viable solutions? Have you tried every diet and weight loss fad and still the results seem lackluster or too fleeting to be satisfying? Do you feel guilty and find that you blame yourself for this health problem? Do you feel like the main culprit is a lack of will power on your part to make healthier choices? We understand. We know how difficult it can be to attain your healthy weight, especially with the judgments and incomplete information with which this serious problem is usually approached.

      Obesity and overweight issues are not single clinical disorders, but rather chronic complex illnesses that result from the interplay of genetics, environment and lifestyle choices. This has become a true pandemic in the 21st century.

      What can be contributing to Obesity?

      The most common causes of obesity are excess caloric intake, being sedentary, toxicity, stress (emotional and environmental), inflammation caused by different sources, oxidation and mitochondrial damage.

      Why is it important to control Obesity?

      We know that Obesity can be a contributing factor towards the development of heart disease, diabetes, metabolic syndrome and other serious health issues. We could consider obesity or being overweight like a definite sign that there is an imbalance in your life that needs to be changed to prevent further degeneration and damage and the appearance of a more serious condition.

      How much weight can I expect to loose while at Sanoviv?

      While we know that this is the main goal for most people with Obesity, we do not think that this is a useful indicator of success in the beginning stages of treatment. People can loose water weight, inflammatory weight while here. Our ultimate goal is to support your long term success by finding the underlying causes of your weight retention and teach you the tools to reach your healthy body weight.

      What are the different options you have to treat obesity?

      Our strategy for treatments will aim at finding the best meal timing, meal composition, glycemic load and phytonutrients of your food. We will work in partnership with you to reduce inflammation in your body, optimize digestion and excretion, balance the autonomic function by reducing stress, improve sleep habits and duration and provide treatment that will enhance mitochondrial function and detoxification, especially in treatment-resistant patientsOur treatment options are far more varied, longer lasting and less invasive than what you can find in your average bariatric clinic. To find out more please go to our Lighten Up program page.

      Is there a relationship between Obesity and toxicity?

      Yes, environmental toxins interfere with metabolism, overload hepatic detoxification system, promotes insulin resistance, disrupt central weight-control system, alter circadian rhythms, activate the stress response, interfere with thyroid function, increase inflammation, damage mitochondria and lead to obesity. In conclusion, toxins promote fat accumulation.On top of that, fat is a storage depot for fat soluble toxins. A review published in 2003 in Obesity Reviews, concluded that pesticides and PCBs released from the fat tissues, where they are typically stored, during weight loss lower the metabolic rate, making it harder to continue loosing weight. Releasing fat without a proper detoxification protocol can be detrimental for your overall health. Detoxification is a central component in long-term effective weight management and creating healthy metabolism.

      Is there a relationship between Obesity and hormonal imbalances?

      Yes. For example, fat cells through the action of the aromatase enzymes will increase the level of estrogens in the body which can trigger hormonal imbalances. On another level, hormonal imbalances can not only be the result of obesity but can also cause it. As an example, a sluggish thyroid function will lower the metabolism and create a weight gain.

      What do you mean when you say you practice “Functional Medicine”?

      Functional medicine is an evolution in the practice of medicine that better addresses the healthcare needs of the 21st century. By shifting the traditional disease-centered focus of medical practice to a more patient-centered approach, functional medicine addresses the whole person, not just an isolated set of symptoms.Sanoviv is the only hospital in the world to be certified in the Functional Medicine approach.

      What is the importance of the integrative team approach?

      The importance of this approach is that you are assessed and treated as a whole human being. Many of the health issues that we faced today are multi-faceted; there is no one definitive cause. When a whole team of health professionals come together and make sense of the information, it is easier to see what are the underlying factors that weave together to create your unique symptoms. Once we have this clarity, dealing with it effectively is much easier.

      I just saw the dentist recently, why do I have to see one again at Sanoviv?

      In our integrated approach the assessment by all the health professionals is very important. Even though all our professionals are certified and licensed by their specific profession’s Board, we go above and beyond what allopathic care practices. In regards to dental care, here we practice Biological Dentistry. This form of dentistry takes into consideration many things that traditional dentistry would not. These different paradigms and assessment tool are what sets apart from traditional care.

      I have a wide range of issues and feel overwhelmed, what can you offer me?

      We will help you organize your health priorities in the order of what will have the most profound impact on getting you healthy again. We will properly assess and treat the underlying causes through the use of specialized tools and prioritize those areas where we can have the most impact. You will leave Sanoviv with a detailed plan on how to approach healing in a functional way. Think of it as your personal owner’s manual.

      How soon will I feel better?

      It all depends on the duration and severity of your health issues. What is possible is to determine the right path to wellness through an integrative assessment and treatment plan that will combine the best of allopathic and alternative medicine. We will work together to facilitate you being an active participant in your health and healing. With our support, you can be the hero of your healing journey.

      Can I bring someone to help me out at Sanoviv?

      Yes, you can bring a companion to support your stay. Especially since our program is based on applying lifestyle changes to support your ongoing health, bringing your spouse or significant other can be helpful as both of you can learn firsthand about these recommended changes. We require you bring a companion for support if you are very compromised and cannot get from appointment to appointment without assistance.

      What type of IVs do you use?

      We use different types of IV therapy protocols depending on the type of health issues and the biochemical individuality of each guest. For a more detailed explanation of this please refer to our IV Therapy page. Our main goal with IV therapies is to provide vital nutrients to the guest, bypassing the digestive system to allow a greater absorption by the body.

      What does a typical day at Sanoviv look like?

      Even though we have a set of daily activities, each schedule is different from guest to guest. We really hand tailor your treatment to best accommodate what you need to be well. Usually our days start with an hour of relaxation practices, like meditation and energy medicine class. Then a light stretching class after which you have breakfast. Afterwards, most of the therapies and consultations take place. Usually there is some time for a snack break before lunch. After lunch we have some of our afternoon classes or more therapies and sessions until dinner. After dinner we have the main class in our auditorium to end the day.

      Do I need to comeback after the end of my treatments?

      Usually it takes years of detrimental lifestyle choices and habits to start showing symptoms of imbalances in the body. Regaining your health is a process and we can not expect to reverse all imbalances within a couple of weeks. What we can do is help you get on the road to recovery. For this reason, it’s ideal to come back after having applied all recommendations suggested by our team so we can reevaluate your current state of health and help you continue on the path to optimal health. Of course, this is not mandatory but strongly suggested.

      Do you do surgeries at Sanoviv?

      Yes. Even though our approach is based on finding the most natural and least invasive course of treatment, we know that sometimes surgery is unavoidable and is a necessary step in your recovery. We offer a wide range of surgeries that can be combined with our innovative therapies and treatments to speed your recovery. Please check our Surgeries at Sanoviv page for more information.

      I have special dietary needs. Can Sanoviv accommodate these?

      Yes. We are experts at accommodating special dietary needs as we know the importance of having the right food for your specific needs can be to get well again. Our nutritionists and kitchen staff are highly proficient in adapting our meals to serve you in the best way. Nutrition and eating properly for your biochemical individuality is one of the cornerstones of our treatments.

      Am I going to be eating twigs and leaves all of my life?

      The diet at Sanoviv is a whole-food, cleansing diet that eliminates many of the common food allergens along with processed foods, sugar and damaged oils.  Although you eat many vegetables (both cooked and raw) here, your nutritionist will provide you with a diet to follow at home based on your health condition, your access to certain foods, your ancestral heritage, and your desire to make positive health changes.  Our goal is to provide you with a diet that will nourish you and improve your health, but also one that is realistic and works with your lifestyle.  You may not be eating “leaves and twigs” all your life, but you will have been introduced to many new and different foods during your stay here as well as how certain foods are used as medicine.

      Programs

      Each program focuses our assessment and treatment tools towards a specific health issue and your individual experience of these health issues, you can find more about our programs here.

      Contact a Health Advisor

      If you feel that your specific health issue or area of interest does not fit into any of these Programs or Therapies, please contact one of our doctors for more information.

      Therapies & Classes

      At Sanoviv, we are pleased to offer an extensive array of proven therapies from around the world, from therapies, detoxification treatments, nutrition lectures, fitness classes and more.