Treatment FAQ

which of the following would be a useful treatment for obesity?

by Lucious Metz Jr. Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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Symptoms

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

Causes

Medications are an important part of the morbid obesity treatment process but weight-loss drugs can have serious side effects. We recommend that you visit a certified health care professional who can prescribe appropriate medications.

Prevention

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.

Complications

Dietary changes to treat obesity include: Cutting calories. The key to weight loss is reducing how many calories you take in. The first step is to review your typical eating and drinking habits to see how many calories you normally consume and where you can cut back.

What is the goal of obesity treatment?

Can medications be used to treat my obesity?

How can the Mayo Clinic help with my obesity issues?

What are the best dietary changes to treat obesity?

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What is the best treatment for 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) join a local weight loss group.

What medication is used to treat obesity?

The FDA has approved five of these drugs—orlistat (Xenical, Alli), phentermine-topiramate (Qsymia), naltrexone-bupropion (Contrave), liraglutide (Saxenda), and semaglutide (Wegovy)—for long-term use.

What is the most important part of obesity treatment?

Exercise. Reducing the amount of calories in your diet will help you lose weight, but maintaining a healthy weight requires physical activity to burn energy. As well as helping you maintain a healthy weight, physical activity also has wider health benefits.

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).

Which of the following is a drug used to treat obesity that reduces the absorption of fat?

Orlistat (Xenical) is a lipase inhibitor that prevents the absorption of dietary fat, and it has been approved as an anti‐obesity drug.

How is obesity in the stomach treated?

Exercise and dieting helps you lose belly fat The starting point for bringing weight under control, in general, and combating abdominal fat, in particular, is regular moderate-intensity physical activity — at least 30 minutes per day (and perhaps up to 60 minutes per day) to control weight and lose belly fat.

What are the health problems related to obesity?

improve health problems related to overweight and obesity, such as high blood pressure and high cholesterol levels

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, 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. 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. These tools may help you stick with it and stay motivated.

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 is the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases?

This content is provided as a service of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), part of the National Institutes of Health. The NIDDK translates and disseminates research findings to increase knowledge and understanding about health and disease among patients, health professionals, and the public. Content produced by the NIDDK is carefully reviewed by NIDDK scientists and other experts.

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.

How to manage weight?

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 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.

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 to do if you have weight issues?

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 or dietitian.

How to prevent weight gain?

Exercise. People with obesity need to get at least 150 minutes a week of moderate-intensity physical activity to prevent further weight gain or to maintain the loss of a modest amount of weight. You probably will need to gradually increase the amount you exercise as your endurance and fitness improve.

What kind of health care professional can help you with eating disorders?

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 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 does bariatric surgery help obese people?

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.

What is behavior modification therapy?

The goal of behavior modification therapy is to change your eating and exercise habits to promote weight loss. Examples include:

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 .

What is considered a normal BMI for surgery?

Have a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or higher (20 to 25 is considered a normal). BMI is a number based on both your height and weight. Surgery may be considered with a BMI as low as 35 if your doctor determines that there's a medical need for weight reduction and surgery appears to be the only way to accomplish the targeted 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.

Is meridia a weight loss medication?

Sibutramine (Meridia) This is an appetite suppressant approved for long-term use. Medications are an important part of the morbid obesity treatment process but weight-loss drugs can have serious side effects. We recommend that you visit a certified health care professional who can prescribe appropriate medications.

How much does a non-systemic block of fat calories cost?

Non-systemic, blocks 1/3 of fat calories, 3x/day, $120/month, can reduce absorption of fat soluble vitamins, decreases prevalence of metabolic syndrome

What medical conditions can surgery improve?

ONLY patients with medical problems that surgery will improve (diabetes, sleep apnea, CVD)

What causes obesity in laboratory animals?

Lesions of the lateral hypothalamus produce overeating and obesity in laboratory animals.

What is the primary physiological signal for hunger?

The primary physiological signal for hunger is likely a decrease in glucose or fatty acid levels in the blood.

Does leptin cause obesity?

Reduced levels of leptin in the brain or fewer brain leptin receptors may contribute to obesity.

Is there a medication for anorexia nervosa?

No drug is available for the treatment of anorexia nervosa.

Does insulin cause satiety?

Insulin may serve as a satiety signal in brain.

Is fluoxetine good for bulimia?

Fluoxetine is useful for the treatment of bulimia, but not anorexia nervosa.

Is obesity related to a mutation?

Few cases of human obesity are related to a mutation of the gene for leptin and leptin receptors. In the experiment by Tordoff and Friedman (1988), reduced eating in a hungry rat was noted after. infusions of glucose or fructose into the hepatic portal vein.

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Healthy Eating Plan and Regular Physical Activity

Changing Your Habits

Medically reviewed by
Dr. Rakshith Bharadwaj
Symptoms
If you are experiencing new, severe, or persistent symptoms, contact a health care provider.

The symptoms of obesity include:

  • Above average body weight
  • Trouble sleeping
  • Sleep apnea- a condition in which breathing is irregular and periodically stops during Sleep
  • Varicose veins
  • Skin problems caused by moisture that accumulates in the folds of your Skin
  • Gallstones
  • Osteoarthritis in Weight-bearing joints, especially the knees

Causes

  • Common causes of obesity include:
  • Genetics
  • Physiological influences
  • Food intake and eating disorders
  • Weight history
  • The risk factors include:
  • Hereditary
  • Unhealthy diet
  • Sedentary lifestyle
  • Drugs like steroid hormones and Drugs used to treat psychiatric conditions
  • Pregnancy
  • Lack of sleep
  • Quitting smoking

Prevention

  • Exercise regularly
  • Eat a well-balanced diet
  • Maintain a healthy body weight
  • Limit unhealthy foods (refined grains and sweets, potatoes, red meat, processed meat) and beverages (sugary drinks)
  • Improve sleep routine and reduce the stress

Complications

Obesity has been linked to a number of complications. If untreated for a prolonged period it may lead to:

  • Type 2 diabetes
  • Infertility
  • High blood pressure
  • Heart disease
  • Certain cancers (breast, colon, and endometrial)
  • Stroke
  • Gallbladder disease
  • Fatty liver disease
  • High cholesterol
  • Sleep apnea and other breathing problems
  • Chronic lower back pain
  • Arthritis
  • Osteoarthritis, particularly of the knees

Weight-Management Programs

Weight-Loss Medicines

Weight-Loss Devices

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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

  • To diagnose obesity, your doctor will typically perform a physical exam and recommend some tests. These exams and tests generally include: 1. 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, medications, stress levels, and o…
See more on mayoclinic.org

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 eat...
See more on mayoclinic.org

Preparing For Your Appointment

  • Explore Mayo Clinic studiestesting new treatments, interventions and tests as a means to prevent, detect, treat or manage this condition.
See more on mayoclinic.org

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