Weighing Your Weight Loss Options
If you’ve struggled with obesity and weight-related problems, you are not alone. About two-thirds of Americans are considered overweight. And excess weight can cause a wide range of health issues that range from fatigue and reduced stamina to heart disease and diabetes.
It can be difficult to lose weight on your own. But with the right support, you can make the lifestyle changes necessary to lose weight and get healthy.
Ways to Lose Weight
People who wish to lose weight can be presented with a dizzying array of options. Here are some of the most common ones:
Conventional Diet Programs
These are go-it-alone plans that do not involve the supervision of a bariatric physician. In general, they involve strict calorie-restriction diets that are pursued for a short period of time. These diets are often referred to as Fads as they tend to follow celebrities who have reportedly been successful with them. Because these diets are not sustainable for long periods, weight regain is common and perpetuates a cycle of weight loss and weight gain known as yoyo dieting.
Supervised Medical Weight Loss
A weight loss program can help people who have been unable to lose weight or keep weight off in the past. Dr. Ashish Sitapara combines medical skill and training with patient-focused compassion to craft weight loss plans that are customized to the patient.
In some cases, bariatricians will recommend replacing one or more meals a day with a low-calorie supplement that can make it easier to resist cravings and to stay on track with your weight loss plan. In other cases, weight loss medications can be used to reduce feelings of hunger, making it easier to adjust to healthier food choices and avoid mindless snacking.
Bariatric Surgery
This is the most extreme weight loss option, and should not be considered lightly, as it generally involves permanent changes to a person’s body. Types of weight loss surgery include:
- Gastric bypass surgery
- Lap bad surgery
- Duodenal switch surgery
- Gastric sleeve surgery
Each surgical procedure has a different level of risk and a different degree of effectiveness for permanent weight loss.
There is no magic bullet. Every successful weight loss program requires commitment to changing old habits and adopting healthier new ones in their stead. With the help and support of a trained professional, you can make the changes needed to lose weight, get fit and live a healthier life.
