Excess weight can harm one’s health, leading to weight-related medical conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, and high blood pressure. Therefore, medical professionals recommend various weight loss options to enable individuals to overcome their weight issues and enhance their quality of life.
Thankfully, several effective weight loss options are available to assist overweight and obese people shed those extra pounds. If you’re struggling with weight issues, here are some options to consider, from lifestyle changes and medications to endoscopic procedures and bariatric surgery.
Choose the weight loss option that works best for you and can help you maintain your weight goal in the long run.
Weight Loss Option #1: Lifestyle Changes
While plenty of diets and weight loss plans promise quick results, the most effective way to achieve sustainable weight loss is through simple lifestyle changes and adopting them to your daily routine.
These changes require a full-time commitment to achieve and maintain long-term success. Some simple ways you can take to start living a healthier lifestyle are:
Healthy diet
With so many processed and fast foods nowadays, practicing healthier eating habits can be particularly challenging in today’s day and age. However, ditching unhealthy foods is extremely crucial if you want to shed that excess weight.
There are many types of weight loss diets you can choose from, including:
- Calorie counting – This type of diet includes cutting back on your calorie intake to reach your desired weight. It is important to consult with your doctor to determine your ideal calorie intake based on your current weight.
- Eating healthier food – Add more plant-based food to your diet such as vegetables, fruits, and whole grains. Moreover, try limiting your consumption of fatty food and sugar.
Regular physical activity
Another factor contributing to weight gain is having a sedentary lifestyle. On top of eating a healthier diet, you can have a better chance of losing that extra pounds by adding regular physical activity to your routine.
Being more active helps burn calories, so make it a top priority to move throughout the day. Start with small steps, like a 10-minute walk or stretching during breaks, and gradually increase the intensity of your physical activity.
You can also join a fitness class or incorporate workouts into your daily routine to stay motivated and achieve better results.
Weight loss programs
Enrolling in a weight loss program may be worth considering if you’re looking for guidance on changing your lifestyle.
These programs can be particularly helpful for overweight and obese individuals as they provide a roadmap to achieving their weight goals with the guidance of trained weight-management specialists.
Here are some benefits you can expect from weight loss programs:
- learning how to eat healthier
- discovering which exercises are most effective for weight loss
- adopting safe ways to shed pounds
- receiving supervision from medical professionals
Weight Loss Option #2: Medications
Losing weight can be achieved through various methods, including taking weight-loss medications. These drugs are commonly used alongside a proper diet and exercise routine and are either prescribed by a doctor or acquired over the counter.
Different types of weight loss medications function in various ways, but all are designed to help individuals consume less food or burn more calories. When combined with lifestyle changes, weight loss medications can result in an average reduction of 3% to 12% of one’s initial body weight.
However, it’s important to note that the effectiveness of these medications may vary depending on the person and the type of drug used.
Weight Loss Option #3: Bariatric Procedures
For individuals struggling with weight loss, another option to consider is a bariatric procedure. This option is typically recommended for those who have not had success with traditional weight loss methods such as diet and exercise.
But before undergoing a bariatric procedure, patients must first meet specific criteria depending on the type of procedure they are considering, whether surgical or non-surgical. Keep in mind that each method has its own requirements and potential risks, so it is crucial to consult with your doctor to determine the best course of action for your situation.
Some of the most common bariatric procedures endorsed by the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery include:
Sleeve Gastrectomy
This surgical procedure, commonly referred to as the gastric sleeve, involves the removal of a significant portion of the stomach, leaving the remaining section in the shape of a banana. The objective of this bariatric surgery is to limit the patient’s food and liquid intake, resulting in decreased hunger and eating fewer calories.
Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass
Simply known as the gastric bypass, this procedure is one of the most common and effective weight loss operations for treating obesity and its co-morbidities. During the procedure, the stomach is divided into smaller and larger portions, with the smaller pouch being connected to the small intestine while bypassing the larger portion.
As a result, patients will tend to feel full more quickly and consume less food in the process, leading to significant weight loss.
Adjustable Gastric Band
This procedure, also called Lap-Band, involves inserting an adjustable silicone device around the stomach. When the band is tightened around it, it creates a small pouch in the stomach that causes patients to feel full after consuming smaller amounts of food.
BPD-DS
The Biliopancreatic Diversion with Duodenal Switch, or BPD-DS, resembles the gastric bypass wherein a small pouch is also created in the stomach, but only in a tube-like shape.
While it is a complex surgery, it is known to produce some of the most favorable outcomes regarding weight loss and improvement of comorbidities compared to other bariatric procedures.
Conclusion
Losing weight is not a one-size-fits-all solution. Don’t give up if you have tried one weight loss option without success. Instead, keep trying different methods and work closely with your doctor until you find the perfect plan that meets your unique needs.
Remember, even small changes can lead to significant results, so stay motivated and committed to improving your health and overall quality of life.