
How do you treat a patient who suffers obesity?
eat a balanced, calorie-controlled diet as recommended by your GP or weight loss management health professional (such as a dietitian) join a local weight loss group. take up activities such as fast walking, jogging, swimming or tennis for 150 to 300 minutes (two-and-a-half to five hours) a week.May 17, 2021
Which physician specializes in preventing and treating obesity?
What kind of doctor can help with weight loss?
What healthcare professionals are involved in obesity?
How is obesity treated in adults?
- Dietary changes.
- Physical activity.
- Medications.
- Surgery.
- Hormonal treatment.
- Browning white fat cells.
- Health risks and weight.
- Takeaway.
How to treat obesity?
Treatment for Overweight & Obesity 1 help lower your chances of developing health problems related to overweight and obesity 2 improve health problems related to overweight and obesity, such as high blood pressure and high cholesterol levels
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.
Can obesity cause you to lose weight?
Some people who have obesity are unable to lose enough weight to improve their health or are unable to keep from regaining weight. In such cases, a doctor may consider adding other treatments, including weight-loss medicines, weight-loss devices, or bariatric surgery.
Can a doctor prescribe medicine for obesity?
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. that claim to help you lose weight.
Is bariatric surgery good for obesity?
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 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 does intermittent fasting help you lose weight?
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 day,” or a day of unrestricted eating. Researchers have conducted only a few studies of intermittent fasting as a strategy for weight loss. They have no long-term data on the safety and effectiveness of intermittent fasting for long-term weight maintenance.
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.
How to diagnose obesity?
To diagnose obesity, your doctor will typically perform a physical exam and recommend some tests. These exams and tests generally include: Taking your health history. Your doctor may review your weight history, weight-loss efforts, physical activity and exercise habits, eating patterns and appetite control, what other conditions you've had, ...
What is the BMI of a person with obesity?
Your BMI is greater than 27, and you also have medical complications of obesity, such as diabetes, high blood pressure or sleep apnea. Before selecting a medication for you, your doctor will consider your health history, as well as possible side effects.
Is weight loss surgery a cure for obesity?
But weight-loss surgery isn't a miracle obesity cure. It doesn't guarantee that you'll lose all of your excess weight or that you'll keep it off long term. Weight-loss success after surgery depends on your commitment to making lifelong changes in your eating and exercise habits. Common weight-loss surgeries include:
How often should I check my BMI?
Your BMI should be checked at least once a year because it can help determine your overall health risks and what treatments may be appropriate. Measuring your waist circumference. Fat stored around your waist, sometimes called visceral fat or abdominal fat, may further increase your risk of heart disease and diabetes.
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 are the tests for obesity?
Your bariatric healthcare provider may order a variety of tests to check factors related to your obesity, such as: 1 Tests for diabetes, such as fasting blood glucose and hemoglobin A1c 2 Lipid and cholesterol levels 3 Thyroid-stimulating hormone levels 4 Liver blood tests 5 Kidney function blood tests 6 Vitamin D levels 7 Electrocardiogram to assess heart rhythm 8 Exercise testing to see how well your heart works during exercise 9 Resting metabolic rate to see how many calories you burn at rest
What is bariatric treatment?
A bariatric treatment plan is done to treat obesity, and also the health conditions linked to obesity. Your plan should take into consideration your culture and traditions, especially around food choices and types of exercise.
What are the health problems of being obese?
If you are obese, it’s important that you get the right treatment. Obesity can lead to a number of serious health conditions, including: 1 Diabetes 2 Arthritis 3 High blood pressure 4 Heart disease 5 Stroke 6 Sleep apnea 7 Liver disease 8 Certain lung diseases 9 Certain cancers
What is the BMI of a bariatric surgeon?
Body mass index (BMI) is a common way to measure obesity. BMI is a measurement that uses a person's height and weight to determine a weight category. A BMI of 25 to 29.9 means overweight.
What is the BMI of a person?
Body mass index (BMI) is a common way to measure obesity. BMI is a measurement that uses a person's height and weight to determine a weight category. A BMI of 25 to 29.9 means overweight. A BMI higher than 30 means obese. Your healthcare provider can calculate your BMI for you.
Does obesity cause sleep apnea?
Obesity can cause health problems such as diabetes and sleep apnea. Losing weight can lower the risk of having these health problems. A general healthcare provider can offer treatment for weight loss. Bariatric healthcare providers have more training in how to treat obesity.
What happens if you don't lose weight?
If you aren’t losing enough weight, your healthcare provider will suggest that you make other changes. As you lose weight and your health gets better, your healthcare provider might change some of your medicines. Your bariatric healthcare provider will also talk with you about your changing needs.
How to manage obesity?
To help manage any obesity-related conditions as well as weight loss, your program can include: 1 Lifestyle modifications (nutrition and physical activity) 2 Pre-packaged meal replacement plans 3 FDA-approved prescription weight-loss medications
What are the different types of weight loss programs?
Physician-supervised weight-loss programs are one-on-one treatment options that take place in a medical office. These programs are led by a health care Provider, such as a: 1 Medical Provider (MD, DO, PA, NP) 2 Registered Dietician (RD) 3 Health Psychologist
What is meal replacement?
Pre-packaged meal replacement plans are a medically supervised weight-loss program. They use meal replacement options along with lifestyle modifications and behavior change counseling to help people reach and maintain their weight-loss and health goals. These programs work as a transition to a healthier, self-prepared nutrition plan while offering education and support. Examples of these programs include: 1 OPTIFAST® 2 Health Management Resources (HMR) 3 Advanced Health System (AHS) 4 New Direction (Robard Corporation) 5 Medi-Fast
What is a medical evaluation?
A detailed medical evaluation for obesity-related conditions. A look into your daily lifestyle. A physical exam. Weight history (including past weight-loss attempts) A psychological history. Many patients come to the clinic with undiagnosed type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, thyroid disorders, or sleep apnea.
What is a prepackaged meal replacement plan?
Pre-packaged meal replacement plans are a medically supervised weight-loss program. They use meal replacement options along with lifestyle modifications and behavior change counseling to help people reach and maintain their weight-loss and health goals. These programs work as a transition to a healthier, self-prepared nutrition plan while offering education and support. Examples of these programs include:
How much weight loss is phentermine?
Phentermine (Adipex®, Lomaira® and Suprenza®) The average weight-loss results from prescription weight-loss drugs are 5-10% of your starting weight. It is important to know that everyone responds differently to medications.
Is phentermine a prescription?
Phentermine is a weight-loss medication that is available by prescription only and has been FDA-approved since 1959. It works on chemicals in your brain to decrease your appetite and includes a mild stimulant to give you energy. Phentermine is a pill taken once a day in the morning and is intended for short-term use.
Can bariatric surgery help you lose weight?
Bariatric surgery, which involves sealing off most of the stomach to reduce the quantity of food you can consume, can be an effective means for morbidly obese people to lose weight and maintain that weight loss. To be considered for weight-loss surgery, you must meet at least one of the following qualifications:
How to improve your weight loss?
Rewarding specific actions, such as exercising for a longer time or eating less of a certain type of food. Adopting realistic beliefs about weight loss and body image. Developing a support network, including family, friends and co-workers, or joining a support group that can help you focus on your goal.
Does insurance cover weight loss surgery?
Most health insurance companies don't cover weight-loss surgery unless you first make a serious effort to lose weight using non-surgical approaches. Many people participate in a combination of the following therapies.
How to set realistic weight loss goals?
Setting realistic weight loss goals — short term and long term. Recording your diet and exercise patterns in a diary. Identifying high-risk situations and avoiding them. Rewarding specific actions, such as exercising for a longer time or eating less of a certain type of food.
What to do after weight loss surgery?
If you plan on having weight-loss surgery, behavior therapy and dieting will be instrumental in helping you maintain your weight loss after surgery. Surgery is a tool to get your body to start losing weight. Diet and behavior modification will determine your ultimate success.
How does the body react to weight loss surgery?
Research shows that when you reduce the number of calories you consume, your body reacts by slowing your metabolism to burn fewer calories, rather than promote weight loss .
How long does it take for weight loss to stop?
Studies show that patients on drug therapy lose around 10 percent of their excess weight, and that the weight loss plateaus after six to eight months. As patients stop taking the medication, weight gain usually occurs.
What Is an Obesity Medicine Clinician?
For many people, seeing an obesity doctor or health care provider is more effective than any other attempts at weight loss. Self-help and diet books may not lead to significant or sustained weight loss. Obesity medicine clinicians are specially trained to treat obesity and obesity-related conditions using evidence-based approaches.
What Is an ABOM Diplomate?
When searching the Obesity Medicine Association’s clinician directory for an obesity doctor near you, you have the option to select “ABOM Diplomate.” This is a doctor who has completed at least 60 hours of obesity-specific education and passed the American Board of Obesity Medicine (ABOM) certification exam.
What Is a Fellow of OMA?
When searching the Obesity Medicine Association’s clinician directory for an obesity doctor near you, you also have the option to select “Fellow of OMA.” Fellows are physicians, nurse practitioners, or physician assistants who have demonstrated an ongoing commitment to the practice of obesity medicine.

Healthy Eating Plan and Regular Physical Activity
Changing Your Habits
- 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…
Weight-Management Programs
- 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…
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 and dietary supplements NIH external linkth...
Weight-Loss Devices
- 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…
Bariatric Surgery
- 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 …
Special Diets
- 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 …
Diagnosis
Treatment
Clinical Trials
Lifestyle and Home Remedies
Alternative Medicine
Coping and Support
- Talk to your doctor or therapist about improving your coping skills and consider these tips to cope with obesity and your weight-loss efforts: 1. Journal.Write in a journal to express pain, anger, fear or other emotions. 2. Connect.Don't become isolated. Try to participate in regular activities and get together with family or friends periodically. ...
Preparing For Your Appointment