Treatment of obesity

From WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia

Treatment of Obesity

The treatment of obesity is a multidisciplinary approach that involves lifestyle changes, medical treatment, and in some cases, surgical intervention. The primary goal of treatment is to achieve and maintain a healthy weight, thereby reducing the risk of health complications associated with obesity.

Lifestyle Changes[edit | edit source]

Lifestyle changes are the first line of treatment for obesity. This includes dietary changes, physical activity, and behavioral therapy.

Dietary Changes[edit | edit source]

Dietary changes involve reducing caloric intake and improving the quality of food consumed. This often includes a balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins.

Physical Activity[edit | edit source]

Regular physical activity is crucial in the treatment of obesity. It helps burn excess calories, improve cardiovascular health, and enhance overall well-being.

Behavioral Therapy[edit | edit source]

Behavioral therapy helps individuals identify and change behaviors that contribute to weight gain and hinder weight loss. This may involve cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), motivational interviewing, or other therapeutic approaches.

Medical Treatment[edit | edit source]

When lifestyle changes are not enough, medical treatment may be necessary. This can include pharmacotherapy or weight loss medications. These medications work by reducing appetite, increasing feelings of fullness, or decreasing the absorption of fat.

Surgical Intervention[edit | edit source]

In severe cases of obesity, bariatric surgery may be considered. This includes procedures like gastric bypass, sleeve gastrectomy, and adjustable gastric banding. These surgeries work by reducing the size of the stomach or rerouting the digestive system.

Conclusion[edit | edit source]

The treatment of obesity requires a comprehensive approach that addresses the root causes of weight gain. With the right combination of lifestyle changes, medical treatment, and surgical intervention, individuals can achieve and maintain a healthy weight.

Medicine - Specialties and subspecialties
Surgery

Cardiac surgery - Cardiothoracic surgery - Colorectal surgery - Ophthalmology - General surgery - Neurosurgery - Oral and maxillofacial surgery - Orthopedic surgery - Hand surgery - Otolaryngology - ENT - Pediatric surgery - Plastic surgery - Reproductive surgery - Surgical oncology - Transplant surgery - Trauma surgery - Urology - Andrology - Vascular surgery

Medicine Internal medicine - Allergy / Immunology - Angiology - Cardiology - Endocrinology - Gastroenterology - Hepatology - Geriatrics - Hematology - Hospital medicine - Infectious disease - Nephrology - Oncology - Pulmonology - Rheumatology
Obstetrics and gynaecology Gynaecology - Gynecologic oncology - Maternal–fetal medicine - Obstetrics - Reproductive endocrinology and infertility - Urogynecology
Diagnostic Radiology - Interventional radiology - Nuclear medicine - Pathology - Anatomical - Clinical pathology - Clinical chemistry - Cytopathology - Medical microbiology - Transfusion medicine
Other specialties Addiction medicine - Adolescent medicine - Anesthesiology - Dermatology - Disaster medicine - Diving medicine - Emergency medicine - Family medicine - General practice - Hospital medicine - Intensive care medicine - Medical genetics - Narcology - Neurology - Clinical neurophysiology - Occupational medicine - Ophthalmology - Oral medicine - Pain management - Palliative care - Pediatrics - Neonatology - Physical medicine and rehabilitation (PM&R) - Preventive medicine - Psychiatry -Addiction psychiatry - Radiation oncology - Reproductive medicine - Sexual medicine - Sleep medicine - Sports medicine - Transplantation medicine - Tropical medicine - Travel medicine - Venereology
Medical education Medical school - USMLE - Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery - Bachelor of Medical Sciences - Doctor of Medicine - Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine - Alternative medicine - Allied health - Dentistry - Podiatry - Pharmacy - Physiotherapy - Molecular oncology - Nanomedicine - Personalized medicine - Public health - Rural health - Therapy - Traditional medicine - Veterinary medicine - Physician - Chief physician - History of medicine
Misc. topics Health topics A-Z - Rare diseases - Drugs - Diet - Medicine portal - First Aid - Glossary of medicine - Health insurance - Glossary of health topics - Drug classes - Medicines - List-Class medicine articles - Dentistry portal - Pharmacology and Medications-Medications portal - Pharmacology portal - Psychiatry portal



WikiMD
Navigation: Wellness - Encyclopedia - Health topics - Disease Index‏‎ - Drugs - World Directory - Gray's Anatomy - Keto diet - Recipes

Search WikiMD

Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD

WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia

Let Food Be Thy Medicine
Medicine Thy Food - Hippocrates

Medical Disclaimer: WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. The information on WikiMD is provided as an information resource only, may be incorrect, outdated or misleading, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. Please consult your health care provider before making any healthcare decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition. WikiMD expressly disclaims responsibility, and shall have no liability, for any damages, loss, injury, or liability whatsoever suffered as a result of your reliance on the information contained in this site. By visiting this site you agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, which may from time to time be changed or supplemented by WikiMD. If you do not agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, you should not enter or use this site. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.

Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD