Weight loss treatment can be grouped into

1. Lifestyle modification through diet and exercise.

2. Pharmacotherapy

3. Surgery

Lifestyle modification through diet and exercise.

1. It is the preferred method of weight loss for overweight people (BMI 23-27 kg.m^two) or have class 1 obesity (BMI 27-32 kg / m^two). Your goal is a modest weight reduction of 5-10% of body weight in 6 months. The weight loss goal should be 2kg per month.

The diet should be limited to 1000-1200 kcal / day for women and 1200-1600 kcal / day for men. This would help induce a calorie deficit of around 500-1000 kcal / day and aid in the weight loss goals mentioned above without causing too much hunger.

The diet should be low in saturated fat, trans fat, cholesterol, added sugar, and salt.

Foods to avoid are fried foods, bakery products, refined flours, sweets, red meat, egg yolks, and whole milk and their products.

Allowed foods include fried / roasted foods, lean meats, egg whites, skim milk, green leafy vegetables, citrus fruits, and whole grain cereals and bread.

Exercise should be aerobic with moderate weight training. About 300 minutes of exercise per week is recommended for people who want to achieve a> 5% reduction in their body weight. This exercise plan should be started gradually and initially in 10-15 minute intervals to avoid fatigue. The level of daily activity should be increased and exercises such as brisk walking, jogging, cycling, dancing or swimming should be incorporated into the routine.

Behavioral changes include changing your environment to limit food intake and increase activity level, keeping a food journal, self-motivation and support, as well as rewarding yourself with more than just food.

Weight Loss Medications

Weight loss medications may be indicated for people who are overweight or obese, but who cannot achieve their goals through diet and exercise. It is important to remember that all medications can have some side effects and should be taken in the short term with a prescription only from a registered physician.

1. Sibutramine: This drug has caused a 5-10 pound weight loss, but it also causes serious side effects and has therefore been withdrawn from the market.

2. Orlistat: reduces the amount of fat that is absorbed through food and can be taken three times a day with meals. It causes up to 8-10% of weight loss after a year of regular treatment, but can cause side effects like stomach cramps, gas, and oily stools in some people. It has also been linked to liver disease in some cases.

3. Lorcraserine: reduces appetite and the results are almost similar to orlistat, but it has other side effects such as nasophingitis, headache, respiratory infections, etc. It must not be administered to patients with reduced kidney function or to pregnant women.

4. Phentermine

Other products such as ephedra, chromium, diuretics, herbal laxatives, and hoodia have been linked to weight loss, but there is no firm scientific evidence that these products actually help reduce body weight effectively and long term.

Surgery

This is the only effective long-term effective weight loss treatment in people with morbid obesity (BMI> 32 kg / m2 with associated comorbidities or BMI> 37 kg / m2 with or without comorbidities)