A Guide to Popular Obesity Treatments

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, obesity affects close to 40 percent of US adults. It can lead to further complications including heart disease, type 2 diabetes and cancer. It is estimated that medical costs related to obesity are $147 billion a year in the US.

Most success is found in combining several the following obesity treatments. Rarely does only one solution stop the problem.

For those seeking surgery as an obesity treatment, most insurances will not cover a weight-loss procedure until a proven effort is made under the supervision of a physician to lose weight through a non-surgical method.

Common obesity treatment methods

Diet

Modifying caloric intake and the types of foods you eat is one of the best ways to fight obesity. The market is full of different kinds of diets that suit different lifestyles and tastes. Most come with a strict set of rules that help to lose weight.

One of the problems with “going on a diet” is that it does not always result in lifestyle changes. Simply altering the type and the amount of food removes the need to address underlying emotional behaviors or poor habits.

An estimated ninety percent of participants in diet programs find themselves exactly where they started within two years of starting the diet. The yo-yo effect of bouncing from one system to another is stressful for the heart, kidneys and organs.

When choosing to alter diet intake in any way, you need to pair the new eating habit needs with another form of obesity treatment. This helps to promote a healthy lifestyle that you can continue after losing the weight.

Exercise

Adding activity to the daily routine is an integral part of long-term weight management. Working out everyday speeds up your metabolism, even if that is simply adding a 30-minute walk into the daily routine.

While hitting the gym may seem overwhelming at the beginning of a weight-loss lifestyle change, there are small changes you can make throughout the day that can jump-start your metabolism. Try taking the stairs, park far from an entrance and walk, stop watching TV or go for a brisk walk. Making small changes will add up quickly.

Behavior modification therapy

Behavior modification is another component of obesity treatment. It includes learning to set realistic, short and long-term goals. Start identifying triggers that push toward unhealthy eating behaviors and reward good behaviors. Find support groups to help focus on the goals and keep a journal of diet and exercise patterns.

Medication

Over-the-counter medications and prescription weight loss drugs assist many people in ramping up their fight against obesity. When choosing which to use for obesity treatment, make sure the Food and Drug Administration approves of its use.

Surgery

For those who have not been successful in losing and keeping off weight, bariatric or weight-loss surgery is the next step. To qualify for surgery, patients must show a commitment to lifestyle change and long-term follow up care. They must also go through the process of medical and psychological pre-evaluation.

Starting your new lifestyle

Losing weight is just the start of a healthy lifestyle. Once youlose it, your body will be able to handle more activities that promote healthy living.

Call our office to learn more about treating your obesity with the methods listed above.

Are you considering obesity treatment in the Vista area? Get more information at https://www.apersonalphysician.com.

Check out what others are saying about our services on Yelp: Read our Yelp reviews.