When a prospective new patient calls our office to inquire about the Serotonin-Plus Program, one of the very first questions asked is “What does your program cost?” This is a very valid question as very few people out there have Bill Gates’ checking account and everyone has a budget for expenditures outside of the “mandatory” expenses of mortgages, food, clothing, transportation, etc.
All of us are used to evaluating the “cost” of an item or service we are interested in having. When exploring vacation spots we usually compare the costs of a driving trip vs. flying vs cruising etc. We all want as much value as we can get when we fork up money for something.
I want to turn our attention to what I will call “hidden costs”, specifically when we are focusing on weight control. The “consequences” of not controlling weight may include developing a number of medical co-morbidities, such as diabetes, hypertension, cancer, heart disease, chronic pain, sleep apnea and a heightened risk of severe illness if Covid is contracted.
These major illnesses, if developed, would produce lots of “costs” including:
- Cost of medical visits/hospitalizations
- Cost of medications/durable medical equipment
- Loss of income from not being able to work full time
There is also a substantial psychological “cost” of not controlling weight, as people tend to not be as energetic, optimistic and happy when weight is not under control.
The “costs” of not losing weight and suffering the consequences of the medical fall-out far exceeds the costs of hiring a personal trainer, joining a gym, buying aerobic equipment for the house, and yes, paying for a medical weight loss program such as Serotonin-Plus.
Human nature is such that we will focus more on direct, immediate costs as opposed to “hidden” costs that we cannot exactly determine until the catastrophes materialize and we need to start writing the checks.
One ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure…and one dollar spent on improving your health is worth many, many more dollars in the future.