Obesity (Weight Loss) (cont.)
What can be done about obesity?
All too often, obesity prompts a strenuous diet in the hopes of reaching the
"ideal body weight." Some amount of weight loss may be accomplished, but the
lost weight usually quickly returns. More than 95% of the people who lose weight
regain the weight within five years. It is clear that a more effective,
long-lasting treatment for obesity must be found.
We need to learn more about the causes of obesity, and then we need to change
the ways we treat it. When obesity is accepted as a chronic disease, it will be
treated like other chronic diseases such as diabetes and high blood pressure.
The treatment of obesity cannot be a short-term "fix," but has to be
an ongoing life-long process.
Obesity treatment must acknowledge that even modest weight loss
can be beneficial. For example, a modest weight loss of 5% to 10% of the initial
weight, and long-term maintenance of that weight loss can bring significant
health gains, including:
- Lowered blood pressure
- Reduced blood levels of cholesterol
- Reduced risk of type 2 (adult-onset) diabetes. In the Nurses Health Study,
women who lost 5 kilograms (11 pounds) of weight reduced their risk of diabetes
by 50% or more.
- Decreased chance of stroke
- Decreased complications of heart disease
- Decreased overall mortality
It is not necessary to achieve an "ideal weight" to derive health
benefits from obesity treatment. Instead, the goal of treatment should be to
reach and hold to a "healthier weight." The emphasis of treatment should be to commit
to the process of life-long healthy living including eating more wisely and
increasing physical activity.
In sum, the goal in dealing with obesity is to achieve and maintain a
"healthier weight."
Next: What is the role of physical activity and exercise in obesity? »
- phentermine, Adipex-P, Fastin, Obenix, Oby-Trim - Explains the medication phentermine (Adipex-P, Fastin, Obenix, Oby-Trim) used as a short- term drug along with diet and behavior modification to treat obesity. Article includes descriptions, uses, drug interactions, and side effects.
- C-Reactive Protein (CRP Test) - Learn about your heart disease risk and how the CRP test can be a marker of the inflammation of arteries.
- Diabetes - Learn about type 1 and 2 diabetes (Diabetes Mellitus) symptoms including increased urination, thirst, weight loss, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, skin infections, and blurred vision. Causes and diagnosis information is provided in the information.
Latest Medical News
Diet & Weight Management RSS