Fit your weight loss program

Weight loss programs

Some people can change their lifestyle on their own. But for many obese people, there's a need for a more formal program. If you decide to enroll in such a program, to look for one with:

    * healthy eating plans that reduce calories but do not rule out specific foods or food groups
    * regular physical activity and/or exercise instruction
    * tips on healthy behavior changes that also consider your cultural needs
    * slow and steady weight loss of about three-quarters to 2 pounds per week and not more than 3 pounds per week (weight loss may be faster at the start of a program)
    * medical care if you are planning to lose weight by following a special formula diet, such as a very-low-calorie diet
    * a plan to keep the weight off after you have lost it

Cost is another issue to consider. Some plans have sign-up fees and/or weekly charges. You should also investigate the training and qualifications of staff. In addition, that if you have medical problems, or if you are severely overweight, you should look for programs run by trained health professionals. They can monitor you for possible side effects of weight loss and talk to your doctor if necessary.
Surgery

Sometimes obesity cannot be treated by diet and exercise alone. gastrointestinal surgery or bariatric surgery can be the best option for people who are severely obese and cannot lose weight by traditional means or who suffer from serious obesity-related health problems. By severely obese, NIDDK means having a BMI of over 40, or being at least 80-100 pounds overweight.


Surgery basically works by reducing the amount of food absorbed during the digestive process.  Normally, digestion starts as we chew and swallow our food, and the food moves down the esophagus to the stomach. The stomach can hold about 3 pints of food at one time. When the stomach contents move to the duodenum, the first segment of the small intestine, digestion speeds up. Most of the iron and calcium in the foods we eat is absorbed in the duodenum. The jejunum and ileum, the remaining two segments of the nearly 20 feet of small intestine, complete the absorption of almost all calories and nutrients. The food particles that cannot be digested in the small intestine are stored in the large intestine until eliminated.

Bariatric surgery alters this process. There are several types of surgery, each with its own benefits and risks. the surgeries fall into different categories:

    * Restrictive - This type of surgery restrict the amount of food that the stomach can hold, using bands and/or staples. As a result, people lose the ability to eat large amounts of food at one time; otherwise, they experience discomfort or nausea. In adjustable gastric banding, the tightness of the band can be increased or decreased, which will affect how quickly weight is lost. Adjustable gastric banding can be done using a laparoscope. the success of such surgery depends on the patient's willingness to adopt a long-term plan of healthy eating and regular physical activity.
    * Malabsorptive - This type of bariatric surgery limits both food intake and the amount of calories and nutrients the body absorbs. In this type of surgery, a portion of the stomach is removed, and food may be re-routed away from much of the small intestine. This type of surgery can lead to greater weight loss, but also carries a greater risk for nutritional deficiencies. Patients undergoing a malabsorptive type of surgery can often require close monitoring and life-long use of special foods, supplements and medications.
    * Combined Restrictive/Malabsorptive Operations - Combined operations are the most common bariatric procedures. They restrict both food intake and the amount of calories and nutrients the body absorbs. In gastric bypass or Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, food intake is limited by a small pouch that is similar in size to the adjustable gastric band. In addition, absorption of food in the digestive tract is reduced by excluding most of the stomach, duodenum and upper intestine from contact with food by routing food directly from the pouch into the small intestine.

Surgery to produce weight loss is a serious undertaking. Side effects can include nausea, dehydration and constipation. Rapid gastric emptying or dumping syndrome is also common, especially if you do not follow your doctor's diet directions.  Anyone thinking about surgery should understand what the operation involves. Patients and physicians should carefully consider the following benefits and risks. It's also important to note that success is possible only with maximum cooperation and commitment to behavioral change and lifelong medical follow-up.

Medications

weight-loss medications may be appropriate for carefully selected patients who are at significant medical risk because of their obesity. They are not recommended for people who are only mildly overweight unless they have health problems that are made worse by their weight. These medications should not be used only to improve appearance.

One type of weight loss medication helps to promote weight loss by altering brain chemicals that affect mood and appetite, which can lead to a decrease in appetite and an increase in feeling full after eating. Another type of weight loss medication blocks the digestion and absorption of fat in your stomach and intestines. People respond differently to weight-loss medications, and some people experience more weight loss than others.the average weight loss is 5-22 pounds above what would be expected without using medications, and that maximum weight loss usually occurs within 6 months of starting medication treatment.

If medications are used, they are not a substitute for healthier eating habits, but should be combined with physical activity and improved diet to lose and maintain weight successfully over the long-term.