Treatment of Obesity
How is Obesity Treated
The exact method of treatment depends on
your level of obesity, overall health condition, and motivation to lose
weight.
- Treatment for obesity may include a
combination of diet, exercise, behavior modification, and sometimes
weight-loss drugs. A combination of diet and physical activity (in conjunction
with behavioral counseling) is probably more effective in sustaining
weight loss than diet or exercise alone in adults. The type of physical
activity does not seem important.
- In some cases of severe obesity, gastrointestinal
surgery may be recommended.
- Obesity reduction and weight control
is a life-long effort and may involve a series of major changes in eating
habits, physical exercise routines and general lifestyle. The overwhelming
evidence is that overweight and obese people should be encouraged to
integrate changes to their lifestyle over a longer period of time to
maintain the benefit of initial weight loss. A combination of decreased
food intake and increased physical activity is more likely to lead to
sustained weight loss.
Types
of Obesity Treatment
As stated, the treatment of obesity and
long term weight control involves a number of elements. Here are the some
of the main ways in which the problems are approached.
1. TREATING OBESITY WITH BEHAVIORAL THERAPY/COUNSELING
Obesity Treatment - Behavioral and Family
Counseling
- Behavior modification and behavioural
skills training to modify eating and physical activity habits to prevent
weight regain are often used.
- Behavioral counseling sessions involve
all members of the family rather than individual counseling of the affected
member (to be used in the prevention of obesity in children specifically).
- Family therapy is more effective than
conventional diet and exercise in preventing weight gain in children
(but not necessarily in treatment of obesity).
Obesity Treatment - Dietary Counseling
- Two main types of dietary therapy are
a low calorie diet (800–1500 kcal daily), and a very low calorie
diet (less than 800 kcal of energy daily), which usually consists of
a protein-enriched liquid.
- Energy consumption must be reduced.
High calorie/low volume foods should be avoided and replaced with an
increase in complex carbohydrates (such as whole grain foods) and an
increase in fruit and vegetables.
- A reduced fat intake is also an important
element of a balanced healthy diet.
- Very low calorie diets are not advisable
in children and they are not effective.
Obesity Treatment - Exercise Counseling
- The primary goal is to move sedentary
people into an active category (even if it is moderate levels of intensity)
and to move moderate level individuals into more vigorous levels.
- It is more effective to promote less
sedentary lifestyles (with less opportunity to eat excessively while
watching TV, for example) than simply attempt to increase activity.
- Accumulation of daily physical activity
should be the key if 30 minutes at least five times a week seems unobtainable.
- Modest, regular bouts of physical activity
can lead to benefits. The type of exercise is not important and short
bouts of walking can cumulatively be of much benefit.
- Walking a mile a day for a year is equivalent
in energy to that stored in 7 pounds of adipose (fat) tissue.
- Habitual physical activity can also
help keep weight off after weight loss has been achieved, and can reduce
the threat of the post-weight-loss seesaw effect.
- In terms of increasing children’s
physical activity, a more active daily lifestyle should be encouraged
rather than structured aerobic exercise schedules.
Obesity Treatment - An Incremental Approach
Works Best
A number of themes are emerging on what
strategies are the most effective in preventing obesity. A gradual, incremental
stepwise approach seems to have the most beneficial long-term effect.
Small, sustainable modifications in diet,
exercise and communication are more effective than restrictive strategies.
With small steps, the family/individual can accommodate the required lifestyle
modifications. Evidence for the effectiveness of obesity prevention and
treatment is inconclusive.
2. TREATING OBESITY WITH WEIGHT LOSS DRUGS
If your doctor determines that you have
obesity-related health problems or are at high risk for such problems,
and if you have been unable to lose weight or maintain weight loss with
nondrug treatment, he or she may recommend that you use prescription weight-loss
medications.
- Weight-loss medications may be appropriate
for carefully selected patients who are at significant medical risk
because of their obesity.
- They are not recommended for people
who are only mildly overweight unless they have health problems that
are made worse by their weight.
- These medications should not be used
only to improve appearance.
3. TREATING OBESITY WITH WEIGHT LOSS SURGERY
Obesity Treatment - Gastrointestinal Surgery
Gastrointestinal surgery is a viable option
for people who remain severely obese after trying nonsurgical approaches,
or who suffer from serious obesity-related health problems. The surgery
promotes weight loss by restricting food intake and, in some operations,
interrupting the digestive process. As in other treatments for obesity,
the best results are achieved with healthy eating behaviors and regular
physical activity.
Candidates for Weight Loss Surgery
People who may consider gastrointestinal
surgery include:
- Those with a body mass index (BMI) above
40 - about 100 pounds of overweight for men and 80 pounds for women.
- People with a BMI between 35 and 40
who suffer from type 2 diabetes or life-threatening cardiopulmonary
problems such as severe sleep apnea or obesity-related heart disease.
Weight Loss Surgery - No Guaranteed Cure
for Obesity
There are no guarantees for any obesity-treatment
method, including gastrointestinal surgery, to produce and maintain weight
loss. Success is possible only with maximum cooperation and commitment
to behavioral change and medical follow-up - and this cooperation and
commitment must be carried out for the rest of your life.
Sources:
The International Obesity Task Force (IOTF).
Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
UK National Health Service. |
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