Obesity Treatment

Obesity is a chief global problem and Americans are among the heaviest people in the world. The percentage of obese people in the United States has risen steadily from 14 percent in the 1976 to 1980 survey to 33.5 percent in the 1999 to 2000 survey. Treatments of obesity will vary, from dietary plans and medications, to surgeries such as lap-bands and bariatric surgery depending upon the severity and health risks.

Consequences and risks of Obesity

Obesity leads to many medical problems, most of which improve with weight loss. Both men and women with obesity are at increased risk for the following:

• Reduced life expectancy
• Diabetes
• Gallstones
• Hypertension (high blood pressure)
• Arthritis
• Coronary heart disease
• Abnormal blood lipids
• Stroke
• Sleep apnea
• Cancer (colon and prostate cancer in men; uterine and gallbladder cancer in women)

Many people, not just obese people, � find that they initially lose weight by dieting, although they quickly regain the weight after the diet ends. Because long-term weight reduction is so difficult, it is important to have as much information and support as possible before starting. People who are ready to lose weight and who believe that their body weight can be controlled long-term are usually the most successful.

Obesity Treatment

There are many ways to avoid obesity and to treat the problem once it is diagnosed. If you have a history of obesity in your family or if you are diagnosed with obesity, here are some of the precautionary measures and treatments for the problem:

Diet and Dietary Changes: The best way to combat obesity is through diet and activity. The relationship and correlation between caloric consumption and activity is high. The more calories you consume, the more calories you must burn. Here are some recommendations to maintain a healthy weight.

• Obesity Treatment - Eat healthy: It is important to incorporate a healthy, balanced and nutritional diet into your eating habits.
  
• Obesity Treatment - Reduce calorie intake: Ask your doctor how many calories you should be consuming daily to maintain a healthy weight for your body proportions. If you are consuming too many calories that are high in fat, make sure to cut back on those foods. Replace high calorie foods that contain a lot of fat with more protein and carbohydrates. Be sure to eat enough raw fruits, vegetables and nuts. Foods high in Fructose Corn Syrup are some of the biggest offenders. If you eat a lot of fast foods or drink a lot of soda, cut back, significantly, and you will see a big difference in your weight. To achieve a healthy, steady weight loss you should not be consuming more than 1,000 – 1,600 calories per day.
  
• Obesity Treatment - Cut back on food volume: Ask the question when you are eating a meal or having a snack “Am I full?” Many people to not pay attention to whether their hunger is satiated or not. In addition, there are many foods that contribute to hunger and thirst, because they contain “empty calories.” All foods have calories, but some foods that are high in sugar, are also high in energy density. When consumed, they may contain a lot of calories, but do not make a person feel full. On the contrary, foods like fruits and vegetables have fewer calories, low energy density – and a person feels full after consuming them. Feed your hunger pangs with balanced meals and snacks and pay attention to when you feel full. This practice will lead to healthier eating habits and weight loss.
  
• Obesity Treatment - Crash diets: The problem with crash dieting is that it leads to the yo-yo outcome with your weight. How many times have you seen a friend or someone famous who goes on a crash diet when he or she loses a dramatic amount of weight quickly, only to gain the weight back, plus another 10-20 pounds? This method of weight loss is not healthy for a number of reasons. It puts a strain on your organs and body – and over time can be lethal, especially when done in combination with appetite suppressants or diet pills. It is best to incorporate moderate, healthy eating habits to maintain an ideal weight. Crash diets usually lead to disappointment.
  
• Obesity Treatment - Liquid diets: Liquid diet pans can be successful, but should only be done over a short period of time. In addition, a liquid diet plan should only be followed under the supervision of your doctor or physician. If you are following a recommended liquid diet plan, be sure to supplement with vitamins to make sure you are getting the proper daily nutrients you need.
  
• Obesity Treatment - Meal replacement plans: There are many meal replacement programs that provide healthy, nutritional, pre-prepared meals for people who are trying to lose weight. They are a good option for portion and calorie control, because they are limited in both.� Again, these programs must be monitored and supervised by medical professionals. Beware: meal replacement plans do not teach you how to maintain a healthy, balanced diet – outside of the program.�
  
• Obesity Treatment - Fad diets: Many people are tempted by fad diets marketed to the obese. Be wary of such fad diets. It is important to ask your doctor about any diet program, because many of them can lead to greater health risks and issues if they are not tested and studied over the long term. There have been many fad diets introduced, where people lose weight successfully, only to find out that they incur some other health condition as a result of taking a pill or dietary supplement that was not scientifically studied.
  
• Obesity Treatment - Increase activity: Physical activity and exercise are essential to obesity treatment and weight loss. Increasing your physical activity will ultimately lead to better health. Activity burns calories and builds muscle, which is a winning combination. At least 150 minutes of moderate physical activity is recommended. Gradually, one should increase their activity to 250-300 minutes of physical-aerobic activity. Walking, cycling, swimming and climbing are great activities to burn calories, maintain weight, lose weight and keep the body in shape.
  
• Obesity Treatment - Behavior and counseling: Behavior and attitude can contribute to obesity. Changing your behavior and attitude toward eating, food and exercise may require some examination and counseling. The medical field has professed that it takes 30 days to modify a habit, behavior, addition or attitude. This is also true for obesity and weight loss.� There are steps involved with achieving a healthier life and lifestyle. Counseling, therapy and support groups are a big part of success for many people who suffer from obesity. You may want to do some research on the Internet to find counselors and support groups in your area to help you identify issues and cope with the changes that will need to take place to help you reach long-term goals.
  

Obesity Treatment - Prescription weight-loss medications: Losing weight through healthy diet and exercise is the best way to go, but there are medication that can be prescribed for obesity and weight loss.

Your doctor may recommend a weight-loss under the following conditions:

• If other methods of weight loss have not worked for you in the past.
• If your body mass index (BMI) is greater than 28 and if you have other health-related issues and medical complications from obesity, such as diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure or sleep apnea.

Two prescription medications for long-term weight loss and obesity treatment have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA):

• Sibutramine (Meridia). This medication makes you feel full and reduces hunger by changing your brain chemistry. Side effects can include increased blood pressure, rapid heartbeat, headache, dry mouth, constipation and insomnia.
• Orlistat (Xenical). This medication helps block the digestion and absorption of fat in your stomach and intestines. The remainder of unabsorbed fat is eliminated in the stool. It is important to take vitamin and mineral supplements with this medication, because it blocks absorption of certain nutrients. This medication has been approved by the FDA for use in adults, children and adolescents. The FDA also has approved a reduced-strength version of orlistat (Alli) to be sold over the counter, without a prescription.

The side effects of these weight loss and obesity treatment medications may vary depending on the person taking them. It is important to have proper medical supervision when taking any prescribed medicine for weight loss and obesity. Have your doctor monitor your results and weight loss success – and check for side effects on a regular basis.

Obesity Treatment: weight loss surgery

Severe cases of obesity may require surgery. Weight-loss surgery is the fastest way to amend weight and reduce the serious risks associated with obesity. Obesity surgery will limit the amount of food intake and inhibit absorption of food and calories. The surgery will also make over eating uncomfortable for the patient.

Weight-loss and obesity surgery will be recommended under the following conditions:

• If the patient is extremely obese and has a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or higher
• If the patient’s BMI is 35 to 39.9, and if there are other serious related health issues, such as diabetes or high blood pressure
• If the patient is committed to making the necessary lifestyle changes required for the surgery to work

Obesity and weight-loss surgery is the best-case scenario to allow for the patient to lose up to 50 percent of the excess body weight. More than half of the patients that have weight loss surgery will keep the weight off for five years. However, weight-loss surgery is not a cure for obesity. The surgery will not guarantee long term weight loss if the patient does not comply with the lifestyle and dietary changes needed for long-term success.

There are several types of weight-loss surgery used to correct severe obesity, including:

• Obesity Treatment: Laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB). This surgery is a procedure that will restrict the stomach, separating it into two compartments, using an inflatable band. The band is placed and pulled tight around the pouch, like a belt. The surgeon will create a channel between two separate pouches. The band is placed permanently and can be adjusted when necessary. LAGB is a more common and popular procedure, because it generally helps decrease weight at a slow, steady pace, which is healthier for the patient. This procedure will not work if the patient does not amend intake and make changes to diet and lifestyle.
• Obesity Treatment: Gastric bypass surgery. This is another surgery that is favored in the medical industry, because it garners long-term results if the patient follows a healthier lifestyle after the surgery. Gastric bypass surgery combines restriction and malabsorption to result in weight loss, which means food intake will be restricted and absorption will be inhibited after the surgery. Gastric bypass surgery (Roux-en-Y gastric bypass), requires the surgeon to create a small pouch at the top of the stomach. The surgeon then shortens the distance between the small intestine and the stomach, which is connected to the new pouch. After the surgery, food and liquid will flow directly from the pouch to the small intestine, bypassing most of the stomach.
• Obesity Treatment: Bariatric surgery: Bariatric surgery is a surgical procedure that decreases the size of the stomach. The goal of bariatric surgery is that by reducing the stomach size the food intake of the person is reduced and therefore this will enable the person to lose a significant amount of weight. Bariatric surgery is a permanent procedure that requires the patient's lifetime commitment to maintaining a healthy lifestyle and dietary guidelines. Bariatric surgery unlike other procedures, does not remove fat. Bariatric surgery will not make a person thin instantly.

Bariatric surgery is the first step that will enable a person that is obese or who suffers from morbid obesity to lose great amounts of weight. Although a bariatric surgery can be reversed, this is not a procedure that is recommended. With this procedure, the surgeon will remove a large portion of the stomach.
Obesity surgery offers sustained weight loss and helps obesity patients lose weight, permanently, but it poses a greater risk of malnutrition and vitamin deficiencies. After this surgery patients must be observed monitored over time. It's generally used for people who have a body mass index of more than 50.
No surgery is risk free. As a result of weight loss surgery, there may be imposed threats. Ask your doctor or surgeon about obesity surgery complications that include:

• Pneumonia
• Blood clots
• Infection
• Gallstones
• Hernia
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Nutritional deficiencies

Obesity Treatment: Curing Obesity

Starting a Weight loss Program To Treat Obesity

Before beginning a weight loss program, you should speak with a healthcare provider so that he/she can help to choose the appropriate treatment, monitor your progress, and provide advice and support along the way.

Determining the severity of the weight/obesity problem — In order to know what treatment (or combination of treatments) will work best. A healthcare provider should determine your degree of obesity and distribution of body fat. This can be done by measuring your body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (measurement). The BMI is calculated from a person's height and weight as follows: