Weight loss and sleep apnea: the power of whole-person primary care

The world of healthcare is beginning to recognize the importance of treating individuals as whole people rather than just a collection of symptoms. This blog post explores the significance of that holistic care through the lens of treating both weight loss and sleep apnea.

What is whole-person care?

Traditionally, healthcare often focused on treating individual symptoms or diseases, overlooking the intricate web of connections between various aspects of a person’s health. However, this narrow approach doesn’t address the root causes of many health issues. Holistic care recognizes that health conditions often intersect and that a person’s overall well-being is influenced by factors such as lifestyle, stress, mental health, and social determinants.

One example is excess weight. ​​The Obesity Medicine Association defines obesity as a chronic, multi-factorial, neurobehavioral disease that results in metabolic, biomechanical, and psychosocial health consequences. Put simply, obesity is a medical condition that isn’t just about excess weight–yet our culture often leads us to believe obesity is an issue of choice or willpower. Even well-intended individuals and organizations designed to support weight loss often emphasize that obesity can be treated with diet and exercise alone, which ignores the impacts of genetics, individual physiology, mental health, other physical illnesses, and hormonal imbalances.

Here are three reasons why holistic care is essential:

• Addressing root causes. Treating just one aspect of a person’s health, such as weight, might lead to temporary improvements, but it often ignores the underlying factors contributing to the condition. Whole-person care aims to identify and address these root causes, leading to more effective and sustainable outcomes.
• Improved quality of life. A person’s physical health is closely tied to their mental and emotional well-being. By considering the whole person, healthcare providers can help individuals achieve not only better physical health but also improved mental health, emotional balance, and overall quality of life.
• Preventing future health issues. Holistic care emphasizes prevention and wellness, reducing the risk of future health problems. By addressing lifestyle factors, stressors, and co-occurring conditions, healthcare providers can help people build a solid foundation for long-term health.

Sleep apnea and its connection to weight

Co-occurring healthcare conditions, often referred to as comorbidities, are the presence of two or more medical conditions in an individual simultaneously. Understanding and managing comorbidities is crucial in healthcare as they can complicate treatment, increase healthcare costs, and worsen overall health outcomes. Effective management of these intertwined conditions is essential for providing comprehensive and tailored care to patients, improving their quality of life, and reducing the burden on healthcare systems.

Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder characterized by pauses in breathing during sleep. These interruptions can occur many times during the night, leading to poor sleep quality and a range of health issues.

Obesity and sleep apnea are closely linked:

• Obesity is a significant risk factor for sleep apnea. As a person’s body mass index (BMI) increases, the likelihood of developing sleep apnea also rises.
• The relationship between obesity and sleep apnea is bidirectional, meaning excess weight can lead to sleep apnea, and sleep apnea can exacerbate obesity. Sleep apnea disrupts the body’s hormonal balance, making it more challenging to control weight.
• Both obesity and sleep apnea share common risk factors, such as poor diet, lack of physical activity, and genetic predisposition. Treating one condition without addressing these shared risk factors may limit success.

Treating sleep apnea can play a crucial role in weight loss efforts. When individuals receive effective treatment for sleep apnea, they often experience improved sleep quality, increased energy levels, and reduced daytime fatigue. This, in turn, can make it easier for them to adopt healthier lifestyle habits, such as regular exercise and a balanced diet, which are essential for sustainable weight loss.

Primary care and whole-person care

Primary care providers (PCPs) are the cornerstone of whole-person primary care. These healthcare professionals, including family physicians, internists, and nurse practitioners, are uniquely positioned to deliver holistic care. They are trained to consider the whole person and take a comprehensive view of their health by building long-term relationships with their patients, allowing them to understand their medical history, lifestyle, needs, and goals. PCPs can create personalized care plans that consider those unique elements about a person; this tailored approach is essential for whole-person care, since no two people are the same.

PCPs are sometimes known as “healthcare quarterbacks” because they serve as central points of contact for patients, coordinating their care with specialists and other healthcare providers when necessary. This ensures that all aspects of a person’s health are addressed in a coordinated manner. It can also help reduce costs.

Primary care emphasizes preventive healthcare, helping individuals manage risk factors and make healthier choices before serious health issues arise. This proactive approach aligns with the principles of holistic care.

Hello Alpha is a virtual primary care platform that specializes in inclusive, expert care for all by bridging the gaps in women’s health. Through technology and a specially-trained team of PCPs, we deliver whole-person care and expand healthcare accessibility.

Our weight management program, Ahead with Alpha™, supports weight loss through the lens of primary care. We balance behavioral coaching and traditional weight management tactics with new medication where appropriate.

In a nutshell, Ahead with Alpha™ offers:

• Weight care is primary care. Every patient partners with a dedicated PCP who provides personalized, preventive care and evidence-based treatment at every visit. Our platform eliminates the most common barriers to healthcare with asynchronous telehealth visits that empower patients to get care at any time without appointments, travel, or waiting rooms.
• Sustainable, real-world results. The program has treated over 50,000 patients with a sustained 15% reduction in BMI through medication and lifestyle coaching.
• High-value care. The right treatments to the right people, at the right time. We migrate patients who have successfully lost weight to a lower-cost maintenance program

Hello Alpha’s virtual primary care model, which has proven population health results in both clinical outcomes and cost trend reduction, provides a map for how to effectively incorporate weight management into a benefits portfolio.