
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
Our caring team of Mayo Clinic experts can help you with your obesity-related health concerns Start Here The goal of obesity treatment is to reach and stay at a healthy weight. This improves overall health and lowers the risk of developing complications related to obesity.
Nutrition
If your BMI is in the obese range, your health care provider will typically review your health history in detail, perform a physical exam and recommend some tests. These exams and tests generally include: Taking your health history.
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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
What is the best treatment for obesity?
How can the Mayo Clinic help with my obesity issues?
What to do if your BMI is in the obese range?
When should I consider weight-loss surgery for obesity?

What is the first line treatment for obesity?
Metformin is therefore considered a first line drug in treating patients with type 2 diabetes and obesity. The most common side effects of metformin are nausea, flatulence, diarrhea, and bloating (103).
What is the recommended treatment for obesity?
Treating obesity The best way to treat obesity is to eat a healthy, reduced-calorie diet and exercise regularly. To do this you should: eat a balanced, calorie-controlled diet as recommended by your GP or weight loss management health professional (such as a dietitian)
What is the potential chemical intervention for obesity?
Phentermine/topiramate is the first combination drug approved for weight loss. As previously mentioned, phentermine is an amphetamine analog that causes satiety through norepinephrine and dopaminergic antagonism.
How can we prevent and treat obesity?
Obesity prevention for adultsConsume less “bad” fat and more “good” fat.Consume less processed and sugary foods.Eat more servings of vegetables and fruits. ... Eat plenty of dietary fiber.Focus on eating low–glycemic index foods. ... Get the family involved in your journey. ... Engage in regular aerobic activity.More items...
When should drug therapy for obesity be considered?
According to current guidelines, pharmacological treatment should be considered as part of a comprehensive strategy of disease management for patients with a BMI ≥30 or ≥27 kg/m2 with an obesity-related co-morbidity, such as T2DM, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and sleep apnea.
How was obesity treated in the past?
Historical treatments for obesity Emetics including hellebore plants and honey water, were advised 'for the evacuation of the nourishment two or three times a month to all men and women'. Cathartics were composed, for example, of juice of scammony (bindweed), Cnidian berry and sea spurge.
How does weight affect drug effectiveness?
Changes in body weight can influence the amount of medicine you need to take and how long it stays in your body. The circulatory system may slow down, which can affect how fast drugs get to the liver and kidneys.
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.
What is the BMI of a person?
Your body mass index (BMI) is 30 or greater . 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.
What is the first line of treatment for weight loss?
The first line treatment is lifestyle modification to weight-loss, but for those who fail to achieve the goal or have difficulty in maintaining achieved results , pharmacological treatment is needed. Few drugs are available today, because of their side effects.
What are anti-obesity drugs?
Anti-obesity drugs, readily obtainable from the internet, include crude-drug products and supplements for which there is often a lack of compliance to national regulatory standards. Conclusions: Mechanisms of weight loss drugs include the reduction of energy intake or the increase in energy expenditure and sense of satiety as well as ...
Is herbal medicine bad for obesity?
Moreover, herbal medicines and supplements often sold on the internet and widely used by obese patients, present a risk of adverse effects. Keywords: Obesity; action-mechanism; dietary supplements; pharmacology; self-medication; type-2 diabetes..
What are the benefits of BAM15?
Other benefits of BAM15 include: Reducing blood sugar and insulin levels, regardless of weight loss. Improving sensitivity of skeletal muscle to the effects of insulin. Skeletal muscle insulin resistance is a primary risk factor for the development of type 2 diabetes.
Is bam15 good for obesity?
Study discovers BAM15 as a potential treatment for obesity. BAM15 prevents weight gain, fat buildup and reduces blood sugar. Credit: Kathryn Pergola. A new study offers the first evidence that a protein named BAM15 acts as an energy uncoupler and could be an effective drug for treating obesity and related diseases.

Changing Your Habits
Weight-Management Programs
Weight-Loss Medicines
Weight-Loss Devices
Specialist to consult
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, …
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…
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…
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…
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 …
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 …
Alternative Medicine
Coping and Support
- The goal of obesity treatment is to reach and stay at a healthy weight. This improves overall health and lowers the 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. The ini…
Preparing For Your Appointment
- Explore Mayo Clinic studiestesting new treatments, interventions and tests as a means to prevent, detect, treat or manage this condition.