Treatment for Obesity

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TREATMENT

Developing a healthier lifestyle will be part of any treatment program for overweight, obesity, and also for any long-term complications from them. Success is based on meeting three treatment goals:

• You do not gain any more weight – we are happy.
• You lose 1 percent of your body weight per year – we are happier.
• You lose 5 to 10 percent of your body weight in 6-12 months – we are happiest!

Consider that losing 1 percent of your body weight can reduce your risk of developing complications, such as Type 2 diabetes, by 11 percent.

Improving your lifestyle, focusing on better nutrition and increased physical activity alone, is appropriate if your BMI is 25 to 29 and you have no complications from the excess weight (co-morbidities). Nutrition and increased physical activity should always be a part of your management because they improve cardiovascular conditioning, and lower cardiovascular risk.

Medications, in addition to improving lifestyle, are indicated for a BMI of 27 or more, with two or more complications from obesity. Medications are also indicated if your BMI is 30 or more, regardless of whether complications are present or not.

Surgery, in addition to improving lifestyle and using medications, is indicated for a BMI of 35 or more, with two or more complications from obesity. Surgery is also indicated for a BMI of 40 or more regardless of whether complications are present or not.