Losing weight through healthy eating, increasing physical activity, and making other adjustments to your everyday routine are all common therapies for overweight and obesity. Some people may benefit from weight-management programs to help them lose weight or avoid regaining it. Some obese people are unable to shed enough weight to improve their health or to avoid regaining weight. In such circumstances, a doctor may recommend weight-loss pills or bariatric surgery.
Obesity is primarily treated through calorie restriction and physical activity. Dieting as part of a lifestyle change results in long-term weight loss, despite gradual weight regain. When compared to constant calorie restriction, intermittent fasting provides no additional weight-loss benefits. Adherence is more crucial than the type of diet a person follows when it comes to weight loss success.
There are a couple of hypocaloric diets that work. Low-carbohydrate diets appear to be more effective for weight loss in the short term than low-fat diets. However, all low-carbohydrate and low-fat diets tend to be helpful in the long run. A low-calorie diet typically consists of 800 calories per day and frequently relies on meal substitutes such as salads and soups, as well as smaller portions of regular food. The risks of heart disease and diabetes associated with various diets appear to be similar, according to a 2019 review. Obesity may be reduced by promoting Mediterranean diets among obese people.
An analysis of research on five key FDA-approved prescription drugs for obesity, including orlistat, discovered that all of them are more effective than a placebo in assisting people to lose 3 to 9 percent of their body weight. Obesity medications approved for long-term use result in extra weight loss ranging from 3% for orlistat and lorcaserin to 9% for phentermine/topiramate-ER after one year. Orlistat, lorcaserin, and phentermine/topiramate-ER all improve the likelihood of a patient achieving a clinically relevant (5 percent) 1-year weight loss when used in conjunction with a lifestyle change.
Bariatric surgery is the most effective obesity treatment. Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, sleeve gastrectomy, and Biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch are some of the procedures available. Surgery for severe obesity is associated with long-term weight loss, improvements in obesity-related conditions, and lower overall mortality; however, improved metabolic health is the result of weight loss, not surgery. When compared to standard weight loss measures, one study found a weight loss of between 14 and 25 percent at 10 years, depending on the type of procedure used, and a 29 percent reduction in all-cause mortality. Complications occur in approximately 17% of cases, and reoperation is considered necessary in 7% of cases. Because of the costs and risks, researchers are looking for less invasive treatments, such as devices that take up space in the stomach.