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Obesity
Risk factors for becoming obese
Diagnosing obesity
Complications of obesity
Treating Obesity
Phentermine
Xenical
Meridia
Treating Obesity
Obesity causes serious health problems. Losing weight to improve
overall health is different than losing weight to be "thin". Any
weight loss, even small amounts, can help to reduce the risks of
cardiovascular disease and cancer, improve blood pressure, assist in
controlling diabetes and improve the complications associated with
sleep apnea and osteoarthritis.
Important in treating obesity is weight loss and maintaining a
healthy weight. All obese people should begin by aiming to reduce
body weight by 10%. Once that goal is achieved and an individual can
successfully maintain that weight loss, losing 1 or 2 further pounds
a week becomes the goal. This is considered by most experts to be
the safest way to lose weight in the long term and to sustain the
weight loss.
In most situations, weight loss can be achieved through a
combination of healthful diet, increased physical activity and
behavior modifications. Prescription weight loss medications and
surgery are options for those needing additional help.
1) A healthful diet
Consuming less calories per day will result in weight loss. How many
calories an
individual needs depends on a number of factors, including level of
physical activity and age. A doctor or dietician can recommend how
many calories an individual should consume to achieve their weight
loss goals.
All experts agree that fad and crash diets don't work. Although they
may lead to initial weight loss, the weight is almost never kept off
in the long term and inadequate intake of vitamins and nutrients can
lead to a host of other health problems. Fasting is ineffective, as
the majority of calories lost are from water. It is bad for overall
health to starve the body of the nutrients it requires for good
health.
Certain low calorie liquid diets are occasionally prescribed to
treat severe obesity. These diets include approximately 800 calories
per day - far less than the 2,000 calories per day ideal for most
adults. This treatment is used for the short term management of
severe obesity and is not recommended as a long term solution for
obesity management.
Other liquid meal replacements are available that will also
effectively cut calories. These are expensive and should be used
only in consultation with a doctor.
Experts agree that the most effective way to lose weight and keep it
off is to modify diet to include low fat, low calorie, nutrient rich
foods.
2) Weight Loss Programs
There are several weight loss programs available today that seek to
provide those whose schedules and cooking expertise require
assistance. These programs can be very expensive. Some examples
include Jenny Craig and Nutri-system. Weight Watchers and Overeaters
Anonymous offer group approaches to weight loss including eating
plans and group support.
3) Increased Physical Activity
One of the best ways to achieve and maintain weight loss is through
increased physical activity. Often, the importance of this aspect of
weight loss is undervalued. Many people can achieve significant
weight loss simply by increasing their physical activity. Used in
conjunction with a healthful, low fat diet, significant weight loss
can be achieved and can be maintained.
4) Behavior Modifications
Changing overall lifestyle is an essential component of long term
weight loss. This represents more than simply increasing physical
activity and eating better foods. What it means is changing how you
think, act and feel. It's about changing the way you view food and
exercise, valuing self motivation, setting goals and other positive
lifestyle enhancements.
5) Weight Loss Medications
Both prescription and non prescription medications are
available for weight loss.
Prescription weight loss drugs are designed for those with a
BMI over 30, or for those with a BMI over 27 and significant health
problems. There are two main types of prescription weight loss
medication.
a) Sibutramine (Meridia)
This drug works by altering brain chemistry so that the patient
feels full more quickly. This drug should be used in conjunction
with a healthful diet and exercise program. It's potential side
effects include headaches, dry mouth, slight increases in blood
pressure, insomnia and constipation.
b) Orlistat (Xenical)
This drugs works by inhibiting the absorption of fat into the
intestines by blocking the action of the enzyme lipase in the
digestive tract. Lipase acts by breaking down dietary fat to enable
the body to absorb it. Orlistat can cut down the body's absorption
of dietary fat by up to 30%. Side effects of this drug can include
frequent and/or oily bowel movements, as unabsorbed fat is
eliminated in the stool. Like Meridia, this drug should be used in
conjunction with a diet and exercise plan.
Non prescription weight loss products come in many varieties.
They claim to work by either suppressing appetite or raising
metabolism. Most experts agree that these products contribute to
successful weight loss very little, if at all. They are generally
believed to be more harmful than helpful. They include:
a) Ephedrine (ma-huang) (exs. Metabolife, Metabolite, MetaboMax)
b) Chitosan
c) Hydroxycitric Acid
d) St. John's Wort
e) 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) (exs. Natural Balance, Solaray,
Natrol)
f) Herbal laxatives and diuretics
g) Appetite suppressants (exs. Dexatrim, Acutrim)
h) Pyruvate
i) Caffeine
Experts agree that no individual should take prescription or non
prescription weight loss medications without first consulting with a
doctor.
j) Surgery
Surgery as a treatment for obesity is generally reserved for those
people who are severely obese (BMI over 35) and have tried other
methods of weight loss unsuccessfully. There are two general
categories of weight loss surgery.
The first method uses staples to create a very small pouch at the
top of the stomach where the esophagus meets the stomach. This small
pouch holds only a few ounces of food, making an individual unable
to eat large amounts of food without experiencing discomfort.
The second surgical method used for weight loss also creates a very
small pouch, but also includes a bypass around the small intestine,
which is responsible for most of the caloric absorption from foods.
As a result, this surgery not only reduces the amount of food a
person is capable of consuming, but also reduces the number of
calories that the body can absorb.
The
American Obesity
Association offers excellent advice, information and resources
for all those fighting obesity. The U.S. Department of
Health and Human Services, National Institute of Health offers
excellent articles and research on
obesity and health
issues. Use the search box to access obesity related
information. |
