Trying to lose weight can be overwhelming. In addition to the fact that successful weight loss requires significant lifestyle changes, there’s a preponderance of misinformation and short-term solutions out there, and this presents several problems. First of all, short-term solutions are just that: while they may result in some weight loss, the weight is likely to come right back once the method is discontinued. Second of all, some of these “fad” or “crash” diets can be dangerous, especially those that require dieters to eliminate a certain food group or groups. Finally, the experience of dieting, losing some weight, and then gaining it all back again can be extremely detrimental to motivation.
Fortunately, there are methods out there that are known to be safe and effective. Which method is right for you will depend on your health, past experiences, and the advice of your doctor.
In this section:
Dieting and Lifestyle Change
In order to lose weight and keep it off, you must commit to reducing your calorie and dietary fat intake, getting adequate physical activity, and generally relating to food in a different, healthier way. While these changes alone work for some people, eating healthier and exercising doesn’t work for everyone, particularly if you’re obese or suffer from health problems. In those cases, the following options are meant to work in conjunction with healthy diet and exercise and make them more effective. More»
Weight Loss Medications
The FDA has approved certain weight loss medications to be used as part of a weight loss program that includes diet and exercise. You must meet certain criteria regarding BMI and obesity-related illnesses in order to be prescribed weight loss medications, which work to either prevent your body from absorbing fat or to suppress your appetite. Because weight re-gain is likely once weight loss drugs are discontinued, it’s very important to combine them with a solid diet and exercise program. More»
Weight Loss Surgery
Weight loss surgery is one of the most effective ways for morbidly obese individuals to lose weight and maintain the weight loss. These procedures change how your body processes the food you put into it, either by restricting the amount of food you’re able to eat in the first place, affecting the way your body absorbs food, or both. In order to be effective, weight loss surgery must be coupled with a consistent, healthy diet and exercise plan. Because these procedures usually result in such significant weight loss, they’ve proven effective at preventing, mitigating, and eliminating certain obesity-related illnesses, such as Type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure. More»