Obesity is an unwelcome health disease for a long time. It is the state of being very fat or overweight. It refers to a situation where the person has so much accumulated fat that is becomes dangerous to his/her health. There are many different reasons for this condition, but it is not something to be taken lightly.
People with Body Mass Index (BMI) of 30 and more is considered obese – it is often called morbid obesity as well. This calculation basically takes the height and weight of the person into account to calculate a ratio that gives us an indication of how healthy or not the person is.
It is up to us as individuals to start the process of losing weight and getting healthy again, and while the journey may not be easy at all, the final destination will surely be worth the troubles gone through.
There are also certain conditions that can lead to obesity like Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), Prader-Willi syndrome, Cushing’s syndrome, Hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid), Osteoarthritis.
While treatment has been made readily available for this disease, it often depends on the will-power and determination of the patient to ensure that he/she does not continuously suffer from the same. It could include going to a doctor, dietician therapist and/or other healthcare staff.
It is never easy for a person who is classified as obese to suddenly dedicate time and energy to make himself/herself fitter and healthier. Many people are so engrossed in their usual lifestyles that they do not care about the complications that could arise due to being obese. In such cases, it is imperative that family, friends and the physician come together and ensure the patient sees the dangers of this condition and work on improving their shape.
Let us start by looking at the ways to diagnose someone with obesity. As already mentioned above, BMI is the gold standard for measuring obesity in a human being, a tried and tested formula that has more or less been successful. But there are also other measures by which we can tell if one is obese or not. Some measures of obesity, often spoken in terms body fat and its distribution, are waist-to-hip comparisons, skinfold thickness and screening tests like ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans and computed tomography (CT).
Blood tests are also a good way to check for obesity, what with its propensity to give a detailed report on various parameters like cholesterol and glucose levels, apart from liver function tests, heart tests, thyroid tests and diabetes screens. Catching this condition early is vital, for the later a person carries it, the higher the chance of diseases like heart attack and diabetes.
Often, it is as much mind as medicine when it comes to obesity treatment. There are a lot of instances of obese people doing the right kind of things in order to treat themselves and ensure a healthy future. The ultimate goal for the patient is to reach that healthy weight scale and stay there for as much time as he/she can. Treatment can be to lose as less as 3 to 5 percent of a person’s body weight. But that does not mean one should stop there and be content, for losing as much as possible always carries greater benefits.
A weight-loss program is a good place to start and involves making changes in eating habits and ensuring a rise in physical activities. From here, the level of treatment methods adopted depend on the level of obesity, overall health, and willingness of the patient to undergo the various weight-loss plans. One thing for certain is that following obesity treatment guidelines is a good way of getting rid of this condition and ensuring that the future is less likely to be affected.
Ensuring that one lessens the intake of calories and follows healthy eating habits can be a big help in ensuring that obesity treatment goes to plan. While losing weight quickly over the first few weeks may seem exciting, it is best to cut off excessive weight slowly and steadily over a period of time, as it is also the healthiest and safest way of overcoming obesity. This also ensures that you can stay away from obesity in the long term. Some of the dietary changes are:
The need to develop and maintain a healthy lifestyle, and a good eating plan, can be best explained to the patient by his/her medical team. Increase in daily activity — maybe 300 minutes a week — and a structured exercise regimen are ways that can help the patient build endurance, strength, and metabolism. There can also ways to identify unhealthy triggers which may help the patient cope better with anxiety, nervousness, depression and/or emotional eating issues.
Sometimes, medication is also prescribed to help the patent in his/her quest for weight loss, sometimes in addition to the exercises and healthy eating plans already laid out. Providing medication is not something that happens regularly, but if it is the case, then the patient will do well to follow the dosage requirements.
Also known as bariatric surgery, is a major surgery with risks involved, and a commitment from the patient that he/she would change their lifestyles. It also involves counselling so as to prepare the patient emotionally for the surgery.
