Treatment FAQ

aggressive treatment for people who are obese should be discussed if they have what risk factors

by Estrella Collier MD Published 2 years ago Updated 2 years ago

Procedures

The treatment methods that are right for you depend on your obesity severity, your overall health and your willingness to participate in your weight-loss plan. Reducing calories and practicing healthier eating habits are vital to overcoming obesity.

Self-care

In one study, researchers reduced explicit bias against obese people by providing individuals information and evidence that their peers did not hold negative attitudes (95).

Nutrition

Healthcare providers often view obesity as an avoidable risk factor that impedes their ability to treat and prevent disease.

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Finally, physicians may over-attribute symptoms and problems to obesity, and fail to refer the patient for diagnostic testing or to consider treatment options beyond advising the patient to lose weight.

What is the best treatment for obesity?

How can we reduce bias against obese people?

Is obesity really an avoidable risk factor?

Why don’t doctors treat obesity?

What are the aggressive treatment for obesity?

While lifestyle interventions such as diet and exercise are always the first approach, they have been unsuccessful in a large number of people, leading obesity experts to call for more aggressive treatment with bariatric surgery and new weight loss medications.

What are 2 risk factors if someone is overweight or obese?

Unhealthy lifestyle habits, such as not getting enough physical activity and eating high-calorie, low-nutrient foods and beverages, can raise your risk of overweight and obesity.

What types of risk factors does being obese have?

What are some health risks of overweight and obesity?Type 2 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes is a disease that occurs when your blood glucose, also called blood sugar, is too high. ... High blood pressure. ... Heart disease. ... Stroke. ... Sleep apnea. ... Metabolic syndrome. ... Fatty liver diseases. ... Osteoarthritis.More items...

What is the most common health risk factor of an obese person?

People with obesity are more likely to develop a number of potentially serious health problems, including: Heart disease and strokes. Obesity makes you more likely to have high blood pressure and abnormal cholesterol levels, which are risk factors for heart disease and strokes. Type 2 diabetes.

What is obesity and what are its causes and risk factors?

Obesity is a complex condition that's influenced by work habits, commute patterns, and technology. At the simplest level, obesity is caused by consuming more calories than you burn. Obesity, however, is a complex condition caused by more than simply eating too much and moving too little.

Why is obesity a health risk?

Excess weight, especially obesity, diminishes almost every aspect of health, from reproductive and respiratory function to memory and mood. Obesity increases the risk of several debilitating, and deadly diseases, including diabetes, heart disease, and some cancers.

Is obesity a modifiable risk factor?

The prevalence of obesity has doubled in adults in the past 20 years, with 35 percent of the U.S. population with a body mass index greater than 30. However, recent findings indicate that obesity may not be as modifiable as other risk factors. Obesity is determined by social, behavioral, and genetic variables.

Why do obese patients get worse care?

The doctors “reported that seeing patients was a greater waste of their time the heavier that they were, that physicians would like their jobs less as their patients increased in size, that heavier patients were viewed to be more annoying, and that physicians felt less patience the heavier the patient was,” the ...

What are three risk factors for obesity with their related health consequences?

Many factors can contribute to excess weight gain including eating patterns, physical activity levels, and sleep routines. Social determinants of health, genetics, and taking certain medications also play a role.

How does obesity affect the healthcare system?

Increased spend on pharmaceuticals: Obesity affects the pharmacokinetics of the body, which can lead to the patient requiring more frequent administration or higher doses of medication,4 as well as more frequent care and vital sign monitoring by the nurse.

How to treat obesity and overweight?

Healthy eating plan and regular physical activity. Following a healthy eating plan with fewer calories is often the first step in trying to treat overweight and obesity. People who are overweight or have obesity should also start regular physical activity when they begin their healthy eating plan.

How does a weight management program work?

In a weight-management program, trained weight-management specialists will design a broad plan just for you and help you carry out your plan. Plans include a lower-calorie diet, increased physical activity, and ways to help you change your habits and stick with them. You may work with the specialists on-site (that is, face-to-face) in individual or group sessions. The specialists may contact you regularly by telephone or internet to help support your plan. Devices such as smartphones, pedometers, and accelerometers may help you track how well you are sticking with your plan.

How does bariatric surgery help you lose weight?

Bariatric surgery includes several types of operations that help you lose weight by making changes to your digestive system. Bariatric surgery may be an option if you have extreme obesity and haven’t been able to lose enough weight to improve your health or keep from gaining back the weight you lost with other treatments. Bariatric surgery also may be an option at lower levels of obesity if you have serious health problems, such as type 2 diabetes or sleep apnea, related to obesity. Bariatric surgery can improve many of the medical conditions linked to obesity, especially type 2 diabetes.

How to get back to eating healthy after a setback?

After a setback, like overeating at a family or workplace gathering, try to regroup and focus on getting back to your healthy eating plan as soon as you can. Try to eat only when you’re sitting at your dining room or kitchen table.

How to keep track of your weight?

At work, avoid areas where treats may be available. Track your progress using online food or physical activity trackers, such as the Body Weight Planner, that can help you keep track of the foods you eat, your physical activity, and your weight.

What are weight loss devices?

Weight-loss devices include. Electrical stimulation system. The electrical stimulation system uses a device a surgeon places in your abdomen with laparoscopic surgery.

Can weight loss pills help with obesity?

Weight-loss medicines. When healthy eating and physical activity habits are not enough, your doctor may prescribe medicines to treat overweight and obesity. You should try to stick with your healthy eating plan and continue getting regular physical activity while taking weight-loss medicines. You may see ads for herbal remedies ...

How to treat obesity?

Increased physical activity or exercise is an essential part of obesity treatment. Most people who are able to maintain their weight loss for more than a year get regular exercise, even simply walking.

What is the goal of obesity treatment?

The goal of obesity treatment is to reach and stay at a healthy weight. This improves your overall health and lowers your risk of developing complications related to obesity. You may need to work with a team of health professionals — including a dietitian, behavioral counselor or an obesity specialist — to help you understand and make changes in your eating and activity habits.

What is the best way to talk to your doctor about weight?

Talking to your doctor openly and honestly about your weight concerns is one of the best things you can do for your health. In some cases, you may be referred to an obesity specialist — if one is available in your area. You may also be referred to a behavioral counselor, dietitian or nutrition specialist.

What are some ways to reduce weight?

Mind-body therapies — such as acupuncture, mindfulness meditation and yoga — may complement other obesity treatments. However, these therapies generally haven't been well studied in the treatment of weight loss. Talk to your doctor if you're interested in adding a mind-body therapy to your treatment.

How to get weight loss?

To achieve more-significant weight loss, you may need to exercise 300 minutes or more a week.

What is the BMI of a person who has had weight loss surgery?

Weight-loss surgery for obesity may be considered if you have tried other methods to lose weight that haven't worked and: You have extreme obesity ( BMI of 40 or higher) Your BMI is 35 to 39.9, and you also have a serious weight-related health problem, such as diabetes or high blood pressure.

How much weight can I lose with BMI?

That means that if you weigh 200 pounds (91 kg) and have obesity by BMI standards, you would need to lose only about 10 to 20 pounds (4.5 to 9 kg) for your health to begin to improve.

What is the CDC guide to increasing physical activity?

The CDC Guide to Strategies to Increase Physical Activity in the Community#N#Cdc-pdf#N#PDF#N#[PDF-1.2MB] provides guidance for program managers, policy makers, and others on how to select strategies to increase physical activity.

How many guidelines are there for school health?

School Health Guidelines to Promote Healthy Eating and Physical Activity provides nine guidelines that serve as the foundation for developing, implementing, and evaluating school-based healthy eating and physical activity policies and practices for students in grades K-12.

What are the conditions that put you at risk for heart disease, diabetes, and stroke?

Metabolic syndrome. Metabolic syndrome is a group of conditions that put you at risk for heart disease, diabetes, and stroke. These conditions are. high blood pressure. high blood glucose levels. high triglyceride levels in your blood. low levels of HDL cholesterol (the “good” cholesterol) in your blood. too much fat around your waist.

Is obesity a health risk?

Health Risks of Overweight & Obesity. Overweight and obesity may raise your risk for certain health problems and may be linked to certain emotional and social problems.

Is obesity a mental health problem?

Overweight and obesity are associated with mental health problems such as depression. NIH external link. . People who deal with overweight and obesity may also be the subject of weight bias and stigma from others, including health care providers. This can lead to feelings of rejection, shame, or guilt—further worsening mental health problems.

Can obesity cause gallstones?

Gallbladder diseases. Overweight and obesity may raise your risk of getting gallbladder diseases, such as gallstones and cholecystitis. Imbalances in substances that make up bile cause gallstones. Gallstones may form if bile contains too much cholesterol.

Healthy Eating Plan and Regular Physical Activity

Changing Your Habits

Weight-Management Programs

Weight-Loss Medicines

Medically reviewed by
Dr. Rakshith Bharadwaj
Your provider will work with you to develop a care plan that may include one or more of these treatment options.
Lifestyle changes such as increasing exercise or diet alterations are the mainstay of treatment. Surgery is very occasionally recommended and most common bariatric surgery procedures are gastric bypass, sleeve gastrectomy and biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch.
Procedures

Gastroplasty: Stomach is stapled to create a small pouch that allows only limited amounts of food.

Laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding: Placing an adjustable band around the stomach with minimally invasive surgery.

Sleeve gastrectomy: Removal of approximately 80 percent of the stomach. The remaining stomach is a tubular pouch that resembles a banana.

Biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch: Removal of a portion of stomach and bypassing a large portion of the small intestine

Self-care

Always talk to your provider before starting anything.

Follow a healthy diet and exercise regularly.

Nutrition

Foods to eat:

  • Choose minimally processed, whole foods
  • Whole grains (whole wheat, steel cut oats, brown rice, quinoa)
  • Vegetables (a colorful variety)
  • Whole fruits (not fruit juices)
  • Nuts, seeds, beans, and other healthy sources of protein (fish and poultry)
  • Plant oils (olive and other vegetable oils)

Foods to avoid:

  • Sugar-sweetened beverages (soda, fruit drinks, sports drinks)
  • Fruit juice (no more than a small amount per day)
  • Refined grains (white bread, white rice, white pasta) and sweets
  • Red meat (beef, pork, lamb) and processed meats (salami, ham, bacon, sausage)
  • Other highly processed foods, such as fast Food

Specialist to consult

Bariatric physician
Specializes in medical weight management.
Endocrinologist
Specializes in the function and disorders of the endocrine system of the body.
Dieticians
Specialize in the nutritious diet and patient's food habits.

Weight-Loss Devices

Image
Following a healthy eating plan with fewer caloriesis often the first step in trying to treat overweight and obesity. People who are overweight or have obesity should also start regular physical activity when they begin their healthy eating plan. Being active may help you use calories. Regular physical activity may help you stay at a …
See more on niddk.nih.gov

Bariatric Surgery

  • Changing your eating and physical activity habits and lifestyle is difficult, but with a plan, effort, regular support, and patience, you may be able to lose weight and improve your health. The following tips may help you think about ways to lose weight, engage in regular physical activity, and improve health over the long-term. 1. Be prepared for setbacks—they are normal. After a set…
See more on niddk.nih.gov

Special Diets

  • Some people benefit from a formal weight-management program. In a weight-management program, trained weight-management specialists will design a broad plan just for you and help you carry out your plan. Plans include a lower-calorie diet, increased physical activity, and ways to help you change your habits and stick with them. You may work with the specialists on-site (tha…
See more on niddk.nih.gov

Diagnosis

  • When healthy eating and physical activity habits are not enough, your doctor may prescribe medicines to treat overweight and obesity. You should try to stick with your healthy eating plan and continue getting regular physical activity while taking weight-loss medicines. You may see ads for herbal remedies and dietary supplements NIH external linkthat claim to help you lose we…
See more on niddk.nih.gov

Treatment

  • Your doctor may consider weight-loss devices External linkif you haven’t been able to lose weight or keep from gaining back any weight you lost with other treatments. Because weight-loss devices have only recently been approved, researchers do not have long-term data on their safety and effectiveness. Weight-loss devices include 1. Electrical stimulation system. The electrical stimul…
See more on niddk.nih.gov

Clinical Trials

  • Bariatric surgery includes several types of operations that help you lose weight by making changes to your digestive system. Bariatric surgery may be an option if you have extreme obesity and haven’t been able to lose enough weight to improve your health or keep from gaining back the weight you lost with other treatments. Bariatric surgery also may be an option at lower levels of …
See more on niddk.nih.gov

Lifestyle and Home Remedies

  • Calorie-restricted diets
    Your doctor may recommend a lower-calorie diet such as 1,200 to 1,500 calories a day for women and 1,500 to 1,800 calories a day for men. The calorie level depends on your body weight and physical activity level. A lower calorie diet with a variety of healthy foods will give you the nutrien…
  • Intermittent fasting
    Intermittent fasting is another way of reducing food intake that is gaining attention as a strategy for weight loss and health benefits. Alternate-day fasting is one type of intermittent fasting that consists of a “fast day” (eating no calories to one-fourth of caloric needs) alternating with a “fed …
See more on niddk.nih.gov

Alternative Medicine

Coping and Support

Preparing For Your Appointment

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