Obesity remains a prevalent health issue in the United States, necessitating effective weight management programs. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that at least 40% of US adults are obese. These adults are at risk of on-setting diseases like diabetes, hypertension, and fatty liver, undermining their mortality.
Overweight patients may seek medical intervention to remedy the situation before it deteriorates. Your doctor may recommend nutritional, pharmacological, or hormonal interventions depending on your current and desired body mass index (BMI). This blog outlines common weight management interventions.
1. Nutrition Therapy
Overweight patients should adopt a balanced diet per their doctors’ recommendations. Some healthy foods include leafy vegetables, lean meat, and whole grains, which are good sources of vitamins, proteins, and carbohydrates. These nutrients should be present in every meal and the right quantities.
When you take inadequate amounts, you are predisposed to deficiency diseases. For example, vitamin deficiency compromises your immunity, metabolism, and nervous system. On the other hand, when you consume excess amounts, especially carbohydrates and fats, you may increase your weight.
Patients should also avoid consuming foods with empty calories; they have few to no healthy nutrients and excess saturated fats and sugars. Examples include candies and soda. Replace these foods with healthier alternatives.
Lastly, individuals should take adequate water to accrue several benefits. First, water is integral to lipolysis (fat metabolism), where it breaks down triacylglycerols into their constituent molecules. Remember, lipolysis depletes your fat reservoirs, promoting weight loss.
Second, you may drink water before meals to suppress your appetite. The water makes your stomach feel full, prompting you to eat smaller portions than usual. When you consume fewer calories than your body burns, you will reduce your weight over time.
2. Medication Therapy
Some patients require medication therapy to accelerate their weight loss. For example, individuals whose BMI is above 30 may receive prescriptions should their doctors ascertain that nutritional therapy alone cannot achieve the desired outcomes. Common prescriptions include Contrave, Saxenda, Xenical, and Qsymia.
Your doctor may place you on medication therapy for several months, during which they will monitor your weight loss. Depending on how fast you lose weight, your doctor may end the therapy within weeks or months. Alternatively, your doctor may change your prescription should you not lose weight after a few months of therapy.
Patients undergoing medication therapy may experience several side effects, including nausea and diarrhea. However, the side effects are usually mild and do not disrupt patients’ schedules or quality of life. Patients with severe side effects should inform their doctors to change their prescriptions.
3. Hormone Therapy
Patients may gain weight drastically because of hormonal imbalances or deficiencies. For example, individuals with hypothyroidism (low thyroid function) may gain significant weight over short periods even without increasing their food intake. Men with low testosterone levels may also gain weight besides other effects.
Hormone therapy offers the best prognoses for patients whose weight gain arises from hormonal deficiencies; they can see the results within a few weeks of therapy. For example, thyroid hormone replacement boosts thyroxine and triiodothyronine levels, improving metabolism. These hormones influence how many calories the body burns.
Similarly, overweight men may receive Low T therapy to restore their testosterone levels. High testosterone increases patients’ muscle mass, improving their metabolism and calorie burn. Patients who undergo Low T treatments may experience muscle growth after several weeks, accelerating their weight loss and improving other health aspects like their libido.
Overweight patients should seek medical assistance to ensure they lose weight in a healthy way. Patients living in California may consult Seaside Medical Practice for professional weight loss services. Our medical workers will support you through the weight loss journey until you achieve your desired weight.