A Functional Medicine Approach to Weight Loss

Many people approach weight loss with a short-term mindset, chasing rapid results with extreme diets or unsustainable exercise routines. While weight loss may occur initially, it is often followed by rebound weight gain, frustration, and confusion.

I believe weight loss should be the by-product of improving health, particularly metabolic health. My functional medicine approach to weight loss prioritises personalisation, root cause investigation, and long-term strategies that work with your physiology and psychology, not against it. I focus on improving the key systems that regulate body composition: blood sugar control, hormonal balance, stress resilience, sleep quality, gut health, and energy regulation.

Why Metabolic Health Matters for Weight Loss

Metabolic health refers to how effectively your body regulates energy use and storage, including blood sugar balance, fat metabolism, hormone signalling, fat burning and fat storing enzymes, and inflammation control. Poor metabolic health is often the underlying issue in weight loss resistance and long-term weight gain. By addressing the drivers of metabolic dysfunction such as insulin resistance, chronic inflammation, poor sleep, and hormonal imbalances we help you lose fat in a way that is sustainable and health-promoting.

What weight loss clients do I typically work with?

I support a wide variety of individuals such as:

• Busy professionals seeking structure and accountability.
• People managing chronic conditions like metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, insulin resistance, digestive issues or hypothyroidism.
• Those experiencing weight loss resistance or hormonal imbalance impacting body composition.
• Clients working toward long-term transformations, not just short-term change.

Whether your goal is a short-term reset or a longer journey, my process is fully tailored to you.

Is weight loss more than just calories?

While calories absolutely matter, the idea that weight loss is simply about “calories in versus calories out” oversimplifies a much more complex reality. Your calorie needs and how your body processes energy is influenced by your hormones, your sleep, your stress response, your gut health, and even your emotional state.

That is why we go beyond calorie tracking and instead create strategies that support your physical and mental state, helping your body naturally shift toward improved energy use and fat metabolism.

What common factors contribute to weight gain?

The root causes of weight gain can be incredibly diverse. For some, it may stem from chronic blood sugar imbalances and insulin resistance. For others, it may be driven by poor sleep, elevated stress hormones, sluggish thyroid function, or digestive dysfunction. In so many cases it is more habitual and behaviour challenges that impact on your body composition. In many cases, a combination of these factors is at play.

We take the time to identify your unique drivers. Common contributing factors we explore include:

• Insulin resistance and blood sugar dysregulation.
• Chronic inflammation
• Low thyroid function or imbalances in sex hormones
• Poor sleep or circadian rhythm disruption
• Stress-related cortisol elevation
• Digestive issues affecting absorption and inflammation
• Low physical activity and reduced muscle mass
• General understanding and knowledge around energy balance and macronutrient intake.
• Practical implementation of strategies that work with your life demands. Busy jobs, family life, general stress and food preferences.

Measurements I use with weight loss clients

Progress in a weight loss journey is about much more than the number on the scale. We use a combination of tools to track meaningful improvements:

• Body composition analysis to understand fat mass, muscle mass, and hydration status.
• Functional lab testing to assess inflammation, blood sugar control, hormones, and nutrient levels.
• Monitoring changes in energy, sleep, mood, cravings, and digestion.

This holistic view allows us to adjust your strategy with clarity and precision.

Can hormones influence weight changes?

Hormones govern much of how your body stores and burns fat. Imbalances in insulin, cortisol, thyroid hormones, and sex hormones like oestrogen, progesterone and testosterone can all affect your metabolism and thus your ability to lose weight or maintain lean muscle.

I use a combination of clinical review and targeted testing to understand your hormone status and adjust your nutrition, lifestyle, and supplementation accordingly.

The sleep & weight loss connection

A consistent lack of quality sleep can derail your weight loss efforts. Sleep deprivation interferes with the regulation of hunger and fullness hormones (ghrelin and leptin), impairs insulin sensitivity, and raises cortisol. It also increases cravings and reduces motivation to exercise.

I’ll help you identify and improve key areas affecting sleep quality, from evening routines to light exposure and stress management techniques.

The stress & weight loss connection

Chronic stress leads to elevated cortisol levels which, over time, can drive:

• Increased appetite and cravings (especially for sugar and fat).
• Abdominal fat storage – When there is a caloric surplus.
• Reduced thyroid and sex hormone output.
• Emotional eating or disordered eating behaviours.

By incorporating stress-reducing tools into your routine such as breathwork, movement, structured routines, and improved recovery we can significantly improve outcomes.

Movement & exercise for weight loss

A lack of general daily movement is one of the main barriers for weight loss. From basic measurements like number of steps in the day to knowing how much time you spend sitting in a day helps to determine whether general daily movement can be used as a tool to help support weight loss.

Modern life and sedentary jobs, even working from home has resulted in significant drops in daily movement. Simply increasing this low intensity form of movement can have substantial impacts on weight loss. Equally, these forms of movement do not contribute to much appetite stimulation.

More structured exercise enhances insulin sensitivity, builds lean muscle, improves energy, and boosts metabolic function. But it needs to be the right kind of movement for your body and goals.

Some higher intensity cardio training can be good, however, in some this can result in increases in appetite that mean creating a deficit in calories can be challenging.

Strength training of some kind is often a very good tool, for its ability to increase metabolism between bouts of exercise.

Whether you are new to exercise or already active, we help you structure an approach that fits into your life. That might include resistance training, cardiovascular activity, walking goals, or mobility work adapted over time based on progress and preferences.

Ultimately, it is about finding what movement and exercise you can do consistently and enjoy. Having said that, there are some forms that are better than others, so finding the balance between enjoyment and effectiveness is critical.

Can supplements and peptides support weight loss?

Supplements can be helpful additions, but only when used purposefully. In some cases, they can:

• Fill gaps in nutrition or support protein intake
• Support sleep, energy, and nervous system health
• Improve insulin sensitivity or inflammatory markers

I use supplements thoughtfully and only when aligned with your test results, medical history, and goals.

The use of “fat loss” supplements will rarely provide long term benefit. If we use supplements, they are focused on addressing underlying physiological imbalances that impact body composition.

Peptides for weight loss have become one of the most talked about interventions in recent years. Peptides such as GLP-1 and GIP agonists such as Ozempic and Monjaro have grown in popularity and their effectiveness for weight loss cannot be denied. Whilst these can be very effective aids in supporting weight loss, they do not come without their side effects and require sensible prescription and use.

Having said that, I am not against the use of peptides to support weight loss in the right individuals, as long as done alongside appropriate diet and lifestyle interventions. Many people have progressed metabolic conditions and significant appetite regulation issues that these peptides can help to manage. Breaking a cycle and achieving weight loss using peptides can be a gamechanger for some.

There are also other peptides that influence hormones like growth hormone and testosterone which can also significantly influence weight loss and body composition. Again, proper prescription and use is critical if these peptides are to be used as part of your weight loss journey.

We always aim to educate you on the pros and cons of these interventions, helping you make informed decisions based on your goals, preferences, and physiology. Where necessary, we are happy to work alongside your prescribing practitioner to develop the most effective protocol for you.

Do I Use Meal Plans?

Rather than rely on rigid, pre-set meal plans, I’ll teach you how to create a way of eating that is flexible, sustainable, and tailored to your needs. I may provide sample frameworks, recipe suggestions, and structure but our focus is helping you build lasting habits and a positive relationship with food. You need to be able to learn and adapt your nutrition yourself if looking for long lasting, transformational results.

Your Next Step

I am here to help you regain control of your body composition, using my functional medicine-based approach. If interested in working with me, here are your potential starting points:

Functional Health Assessment

My Functional Health Assessment is one-off consultation and testing package to identify your root causes and risk factors. As part of this, I can include Body Composition Testing to establish clearly defined weight loss goals, based upon your fat mass, visceral fat, water and muscle levels.

Functional Medicine Support

Using a functional medicine approach coupled with a high level of accountability and support, I can help you transform your body composition and optimise your metabolic health. Learn more about my Functional Medicine support.

Book a FREE discovery call

Book a FREE discovery call to learn more about my approach and discover the best next step for your situation.

Together, we will help you build a foundation for better health, improved energy, and sustainable fat loss.