Recommendations for overweight patients

Aug 25, 2008

Doctors classify obesity into different types based on the BMI (Body Mass Index). If the BMI is more than 30, it is considered mild obesity. If the BMI scale indicates 40+, it is considered morbid obesity and 50+ and 60+ are rated as super obesity and super-super obesity, respectively. According to NHANES III data estimates, around 61.3 million American adults are obese and 6 million American adults are morbidly obese, not to mention the associated problems of obesity. Excess body weight leads to hypertension, increased blood-fats, type 2 diabetes, heart problems, metabolic disorders and many more. Obese people also face mobility problems thus making their quality of life style suffer largely. As if these problems are insufficient, obese patients are made to face psycho-social issues and are forced to maintain a feeling of helplessness in their capacity to control their weight.

With the advancement in science and technology, almost all the problems have got solution and obesity is no exception in that sense. There are surgical and non-surgical options available for obese patients to consider and get their body to maintain a normal weight. These are:

Bariatric Surgery Option

Now-a-days weight loss surgeries are deemed as “medical” procedures as opposed to “cosmetic” procedures, thus allowing insurance benefits as well. This treatment is widely opted by severely obese patients. International Federation for the Surgery of Obesity claims that gastric bypass surgery is far more guaranteed a treatment in significant weight reduction as compared to conventional dietary treatments. Though this option is available to obese patients it definitely is not an easy solution to obesity. This surgery demands drastic diet which patients must follow for the rest of their lives. Further, there are some follow-up studies into the long-term results of bypass surgery. Not just that this surgery is considered successful for a time period of not more than 5 years till when the weight loss is maintained. Usually after stomach operations, the digestive tract becomes irrevocable thus not allowing any alterations later. Considering the costs involved and the qualifying criteria essentials, Bariatric surgery may not be suitable option for the seriously obese gentry, unless all other options are considered and failed.

Non-surgical treatment of Obesity

This treatment can broadly be classified into two types: One that hospitals or health care centers run as weight loss programs closely supervising patients activities and the other run by commercial institutes. The difference between these two types is that the former includes programs such as Health Management Resources (HMR) and Optifast. These programs require the patients to follow a low-calorie regimen; behavior modification; physical activity; group or individual counseling. The downside of this option is that it calls for regular attendance at the center concerned and is also an expensive proposition. The latter includes center-based programs specifically designed for weight loss management, such as Weight Watchers, ediets or Annie Collins. Compared to the supervised weight loss programs, regular commercial programs are far cheaper though they are not comparable support-wise. For the regular commercial programs to be successful, their support management should be executed via some online community or a well-managed forum.

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Weightloss » Blog Archive » Recommendations for overweight patients Says:
August 25th, 2008 at 1:43 pm
[...] Sarah added an interesting post today on Recommendations for overweight patientsHere’s a small readingNow-a-days weight loss surgeries are deemed as “medical” procedures as opposed to “cosmetic” procedures, thus allowing insurance benefits as well. This treatment is widely opted by severely obese patients. International Federation for … [...]

Recommendations for overweight patients

Aug 25, 2008

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