Procedures
Some doctors who treat patients with obesity argue that tools such as drugs and surgery are underused, reaching less than an estimated 2% of eligible patients who could benefit from them. Commercial health plans may cover the cost of prescription medications. These drugs work in different ways.
Self-care
Obesity has been shown to cause or worsen: The good news is that many of the complications of obesity can be reversed or improved with diet and exercise changes, weight loss, and medical treatment. How is a person diagnosed as overweight or obese?
Nutrition
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.
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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
Are obesity treatments being underused?
Can obesity be reversed with diet and exercise?
What is the goal of obesity treatment?
When should I consider weight-loss surgery for obesity?
Why is it hard to treat obesity?
There is an evolutionary basis to our current predicament: Our bodies have evolved in a world where high-calorie food has historically been scarce and valuable, with starvation a constant danger. This is one reason obesity is so difficult to treat; our bodies are wired to protect our weight.
How effective is obesity treatment?
The average weight loss seen with existing anti-obesity medications is typically about 5% to 9%, while those engaged in lifestyle and behavioral therapy alone are expected to lose only 3% to 5% of their body weight.
Can obesity be cured permanently?
Reducing calories and practicing healthier eating habits are vital to overcoming obesity. Although you may lose weight quickly at first, steady weight loss over the long term is considered the safest way to lose weight and the best way to keep it off permanently. There is no best weight-loss diet.
What is the most consistently successful treatment option for obesity?
Bariatric surgery is the most effective modality for weight loss and maintenance in patients with severe obesity, but for a number of reasons, including costs, limited access to care, and patient concerns about adverse events, use is limited to a small fraction of those who are eligible for the procedure.
Can you reverse damage from obesity?
Barouch says it's well-known that obesity increases the risk of cardiovascular disease in people, and some studies have shown that by cutting calories and losing weight, some of the detrimental effects of obesity on the heart can be reversed.
Can an obese person lose weight without surgery?
People do lose weight without surgery, however, particularly when they work with a certified health care professional to develop an effective and safe weight-loss program. Most health insurance companies don't cover weight-loss surgery unless you first make a serious effort to lose weight using non-surgical approaches.
Why is it impossible to lose weight?
At the most basic level, not reaching your weight loss goal can occur when calorie intake is equal to or higher than calorie use. Try strategies such as mindful eating, keeping a food diary, eating more protein, and doing strength exercises.
How long do obese person live?
For persons with severe obesity (BMI ≥40), life expectancy is reduced by as much as 20 years in men and by about 5 years in women.
Is obesity genetic?
“Common Obesity” Caused by Mutations in Multiple Genes Evidence from animal models, human linkage studies, twin studies, and association studies of large populations suggests that this variation in our susceptibility to obesity has a genetic component.
What is the first line of 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 are three causes of obesity?
Calories. The energy value of food is measured in units called calories. ... Poor diet. Obesity does not happen overnight. ... Lack of physical activity. Lack of physical activity is another important factor related to obesity. ... Genetics. ... Medical reasons.
Should obesity be treated as a disease?
The American Medical Association (AMA) officially recognized obesity as a chronic disease back in 2013. The AMA also states that it's a disease state with multiple functional changes that require a range of treatment and prevention options.
How can a severely obese person lose weight?
Change your diet. “You have to become a good record-keeper,” Dr. Eckel said. “Reduce calories by 500 calories per day to lose about a one pound a week, or cut 1,000 calories a day to lose about two pounds a week.” Consider adding physical activity after reaching a minimum of 10 percent weight-loss goal.
Can obese person lose weight?
The bottom line is, obese and overweight patients are exceedingly unlikely to be successful with weight-loss attempts that utilize mainstream diet and exercise products.
What is the life expectancy of someone with obesity?
The Oxford University research found that moderate obesity, which is now common, reduces life expectancy by about 3 years, and that severe obesity, which is still uncommon, can shorten a person's life by 10 years.
Do anti-obesity medications actually work?
One of Dr.
What are the side effects of anti-obesity medications?
Side effects for semaglutide were monitored in the trials leading up to its FDA approval. The most common side effects with semaglutide are gastrointestinal—and include nausea—and that is often managed by adjusting the dosage, says Dr. Viana.
Is everyone eligible for anti-obesity medications?
Doctors still prescribe older FDA-approved medications, which also target the brain. Those medications can help people lose 5% to 10% of their weight, an amount that can reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease in adults with obesity or overweight.
Will these drugs finally change the way people think about obesity?
The doctors hope that knowing medications can treat the pathophysiology of obesity will change common misconceptions that people should be able to control the condition on their own.
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.
How to keep weight off long term?
But to keep the weight off for the long term, you'll need to change your unhealthy habits and eating patterns. Behavior change focuses on unhealthy dietary habits. It also adds physical activity into your daily life. Obesity-related eating disorders need to be treated by a therapist, and may also need medicine.
What eating disorders can be treated with psychotherapy?
Some eating disorders that may need to be treated with psychotherapy are: Bulimia. A disorder in which a person eats compulsively and then vomits or uses water pills (diuretics), laxatives, or strenuous exercise to prevent weight gain. Feelings of guilt, shame, and depression often follow the binge.
What is the difference between bulimia and bulimia?
It differs from bulimia in that its sufferers don't purge their bodies of the excess food by vomiting or using laxatives or diuretics.
Why are ephedra supplements banned?
Dietary supplements containing ephedra have been banned by the FDA because of potentially dangerous side effects. Products that work as a laxative can cause the potassium level in your blood to drop. This may cause heart and/or muscle problems. Pyruvate is a popular product that may result in a small amount of weight loss.
How to keep track of what you ate?
One way is to keep a food journal. In it, you keep track of what you ate, where you ate it, and when you got hungry. You can also keep an activity journal, tracking when you exercised and for how long. These journals can help you figure out your eating and activity habits, so you can then determine what to change.
What are some behavioral ideas to help you lose weight?
Other behavioral ideas include serving food from the stove rather than family style, and never watching TV, reading, or doing another activity while eating.
Can over the counter supplements cause hunger?
Many over-the-counter supplements promise to help burn fat faster or reduce hunger. Some supplements have side effects that can be dangerous. A number of these products (perhaps most) have never been studied in clinical trials, so many of the side effects, benefits, and risks aren't well documented.
Who studies eating habits?
The developmental behavioral pediatrician , who studies childhood eating behaviors, wondered how prominent the trend was and whether it had implications for children’s eating habits. Her analysis, published in the journal Eating Behaviors, looked at 3,870 clothing items from four major children’s retailers.
Is it better to lose weight or exercise?
In fact, evidence shows that exercise alone isn’t an effective way to lose weight. Rather, effective weight loss is mostly about what you eat, though it should also include exercise.
Is fat shaming a comeback?
Fat shaming shouldn’t make a comeback, and it won’t solve the nation’s obesity epidemic. Through countless published scientific papers, research has continually exposed the complexity of obesity and being overweight, which affects more than 1.9 billion people worldwide. That research has led experts to conclude that potential treatment options must ...
Is a higher BMI better for hydration?
People who are obese and have a higher BMI are more likely to be inadequately hydrated and vice versa, suggests research from Michigan Medicine published in the Annals of Family Medicine.
Does BMI affect weight gain during pregnancy?
Weight gain during pregnancy is an issue every pregnant woman faces. Research shows that pre-pre gnancy body mass index, or BMI, and ethnicity might signal a likelihood for obesity later in life.
Do older children have obesity?
Older children and teenagers may have a higher risk of obesity if they consistently don’t get enough sleep, according to Michigan Medicine research. The study, published in the Journal of Pediatrics, found the highest levels of obesity in adolescents who weren’t sleeping enough night after night. Read more. 10.
Does insulin stop when you are obese?
And in people with obesity, insulin supply often struggles to keep up with demand — especially if the person eats a typical Western diet.
What are the health threats associated with obesity?
The U.S., and the world in general, is experiencing an alarming uptick in overweight and obesity. In 1990, adults with obesity comprised less than 15% of the U.S. population. Today more than two out of three adults in America are overweight, and more than a third of us are obese.
How is a person diagnosed as overweight or obese?
The American medical community generally defines obesity and overweight in adults by body mass index, or BMI, a measure of body fat based on height and weight. It’s a more sophisticated reading than merely stepping on a scale, but it isn’t foolproof. BMI varies by gender, race, body composition, and other factors.
What kind of weight loss treatments do insurers cover?
The Affordable Care Act requires that most health insurers cover obesity screening and counseling as preventive care for adults and children. Diet counseling is also available for adults at higher risk for chronic disease.
How do I increase my chances of getting health insurance to pay for interventions?
If you don’t have health insurance or want to change your marketplace plan, use the special enrollment period open now through August 15 to compare health plans on Healthcare.gov, the federal marketplace established by the Affordable Care Act. Some states run their own marketplaces.
The bottom line
Being overweight or obese has serious implications for your health. There are effective treatments available today, including counseling, medication, and surgery, but consult with your healthcare provider to document your BMI and check your insurance coverage before you try any treatment. Don’t be afraid to advocate for yourself.
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, and improve health over the long-term. 1. Be prepared fo…
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 (that is, face-to-face) in individual or group sessions. The specia…
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 weight. But many of these claims are not true. Some of these supplement…
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 stimulation system uses a device a surgeon places in your abdom…
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 obesity if you have serious health problems, such as ty…
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 nutrients you need to stay healthy. - 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 day,” or a day of unrestricted eating. Researchers …
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 other issues about your health. Your doctor may also review your family's he…
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 initial treatment goal is usually a modest weight loss — 5% to 10% of your tot…
Preparing For Your Appointment
- Explore Mayo Clinic studiestesting new treatments, interventions and tests as a means to prevent, detect, treat or manage this condition.