What is considered Health Risks of Obesity

May 28, 2015

What is considered Health Risks of Obesity: Worse than Smoking, Drinking or Poverty

What is considered Health Risks of Obesity are not conditions that you can just wish away. The chronic nature of such conditions are life threatening as well.

There is no doubt that obesity is widely recognized as a health risk. This is because of the negative effects of obesity and many other known health risks some of which we have dealt with in-depth in this site from our previous articles. Nonetheless some of those risks may include the following: smoking, heavy drinking, and poverty, have been well documented. But until now, no one has compared them. Experts are now asking is one problem worse than another? Or are they all equally risky? We want to unlock these concerns by looking at what is considered health risk of obesity and to take us through the topic of discussion is doctor Dalal Akoury MD and also the founder of AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center. The formation of this facility was guided with the need to have people live healthy lives that are free from all form of drug addiction and life free from weight gain and all conditions associate with being obese. Therefore as we progress into the discussion, if you or anyone you know is struggling with any kind of addiction or weight gain they you may want to schedule for an appointment with the experts for the commencement of treatment. To offer you the best we consistently carry out research to establish certain facts that will be applicable in administering treatment to all our clients. Therefor in one of our studies (Experts at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center) while examining the comparative effects of obesity, smoking, heavy drinking, and poverty on chronic health conditions and health expenditures. It was established that obesity is the most serious problem compared to the other addictive conditions. Obesity is linked to a big increase in chronic health conditions and significantly higher health expenditures. And it affects more people than smoking, heavy drinking and poverty combined. And that now begs the question is there anything being done by the relevant authorities? Doctor Akoury notes that even though obesity is recognized as one of the major health risk globally, there have been relatively few public policies designed which are tailored towards reducing it. Further to that most Americans have not given obesity the same attention as they have with other risks like smoking and alcohol abuse. Even though little is being done about it, there is clear evidence that this is one of the top health problems which is currently on the rise in all segment of the world’s population. It therefore means that more effective clinical and public health approaches are needed very urgently notes doctor Akoury.

What is considered Health Risks of Obesity: Obesity is Linked to Higher Rates of Chronic Conditions than are Smoking, Drinking, or Poverty

While examining the data from Healthcare for Communities, a national household telephone survey fielded in 1998. Approximately 10,000 respondents participated in the survey, which was designed to be nationally representative. Among other questions, the survey asked respondents to self-report on 17 chronic health conditions (including diabetes, hypertension, asthma, heart disease, and cancer), height, weight, poverty, smoking status, problem drinking, health-related quality of life, and a variety of demographic factors. The study then revealed that obesity is linked to very high rates of chronic illnesses much higher than living in poverty, and much higher than smoking or drinking. The findings compare the increase in chronic conditions related to obesity. When compared with normal-weight individuals of the same age and sex having similar social demographics, obese people suffer from an increase in chronic conditions of approximately 67 percent. In contrast, the increase for normal-weight daily smokers is only 25 percent; and for normal-weight heavy drinkers, only 12 percent. A comparable factor is aging. In terms of chronic conditions, being obese is like aging from 30 to 50. Poverty is also a significant health threat: The increase in chronic conditions for people living in poverty is approximately 58 percent.

What is considered Health Risks of Obesity: Obese Individuals spend more on health care

Yet in another study it shows health care expenditures for obese individuals, current smokers, past smokers, heavy drinkers, and people who have aged from 30 to 50, as compared with a baseline of normal-weight individuals of the same age and sex with similar social demographics. It was established that obese individuals spend more on both services and medication than daily smokers and heavy drinkers. For example, obese individuals spend approximately 36 percent more than the general baseline population on health services, compared with a 21 percent increase for daily smokers and a 14 percent increase for heavy drinkers. Obese individuals spend 77 percent more on medications. Only aging has a greater effect and only on expenditures for medications.

What is considered Health Risks of Obesity: Obesity Has Become an Epidemic

Not only does obesity have more negative health consequences than smoking, drinking, or poverty, it also affects more people. Approximately 23 percent of Americans are obese. An additional 36 percent are overweight. By contrast, only 6 percent are heavy drinkers, 19 percent are daily smokers, and 14 percent live in poverty. Obesity rates are increasing dramatically. These rates used to be fairly stable: Between 1960 and 1980, there was only a minor increase in the number of Americans who were overweight or obese. Since 1980, however, not only has the percentage increased, but much of the increase is concentrated in the “obese” category, which grew by 60 percent between 1991 and 2000. Because this increase is relatively recent, its full impact is not known. Some chronic conditions take years to develop. Current research may, if anything, understate the public health consequences of obesity. The past 20 years have witnessed a significant lifestyle change: Americans are exercising less while maintaining at least the same caloric intake. Desk jobs, an increase in the number of hours devoted to television watching, and car-friendly (and pedestrian- and bike-hostile) urban environments are some of the environmental changes that have combined to discourage physical activity. These changes affect other industrialized countries, too. For example, over the past 20 years, Great Britain and Germany have experienced obesity growth rates similar to those in the United States. But because they started from lower levels, obesity in those countries has not yet become an epidemic-level threat to public health.

What is considered Health Risks of Obesity: Solutions

The dangers of both smoking and heavy drinking have been on the national health agenda for years. A variety of measures, such as increased education, access control (including smoking bans in many buildings nationwide), taxation, better enforcement of laws relating to minors, curbs on advertising, and increased clinical attention, have resulted in decreased rates for both smoking and drinking. Doctor Akoury suggests that weight reduction or management should be an urgent public health priority. The prevalence of obesity, and its strong association with chronic conditions, indicates that weight reduction would mitigate the effects of obesity on the occurrence of specific diseases and would significantly improve quality of life. The public awareness must also be increased so that more people are able to consult with the experts from time to time says doctor Akoury.

What is considered Health Risks of Obesity: Worse than Smoking, Drinking or Poverty

Prevention of Cancer using Nutrition and Exercise

April 10, 2015

Prevention of Cancer using Nutrition and Exercise: The Experts opinion about Prevention

Prevention of Cancer using Nutrition and Exercise is very essential if we are to stop the vicious circle of transferring cancer from one generation to another.

It is estimated that a third of all cancer patients’ deaths are associated with diet and physical activity not just in the US but also globally. This is not a small number to be overlooked. The need to reduce the risk of development of certain types of cancers becomes very necessary. And because the association is majorly on the physical activities and diet, we must as well start the corrective measures from there. It is therefore very important that we get down to the business of addressing the prevention of cancer using nutrition and exercise professionally and immediately. Cancer is one of the most traumatizing diseases and having to go through the treatment procedures would be very difficult both physically and psychologically. We can avoid all this by doing all it takes to keep this disease away from our live. Owing to the nature of the disease, we may not be able to understand better what must be done as laymen. Therefore we are going to engage doctor Dalal Akoury who been in the medical practice for over two decades in the same discipline. Doctor Akoury is the MD and founder of AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center and she has been instrumental in helping many people overcome their weight problems and you too can benefit from her expertise by scheduling for an appointment with her today.

Prevention of Cancer using Nutrition and Exercise: Body weight and cancer

Women who are overweight may have a greater risk for cancers of the breast (after menopause), endometrium, cervix and ovaries. The weight that is gained during adulthood may also increase the risk for cancer of the endometrium, and breast in postmenopausal women. Women who gain weight around their waistline are at great risk for these cancers. The body mass index (BMI) can indicate if a weight is healthy. The BMI is calculated using a person’s weight in relation to their height. A BMI chart is an easy way to look this up. A BMI between 18.5 and 24.9 is healthy, BMI between 25 and 29.9 is overweight, and BMI of 30 and above is obese. Women should aim for a healthy BMI.

Prevention of Cancer using Nutrition and Exercise: Physical activity and cancer

From the various studies it has been established that physical activities whether moderate or vigorous are essential in lowering certain diseases including breast cancer risk. Being active is also capable of protecting women against post-menopausal breast cancer. Besides that physical activity may also help reduce the risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, osteoporosis and diabetes. Doctor Akoury encourages that people need not to get scared of registering for exercise. She says that it is not all about working out that delivers result. In fact even that little that could easily go unnoticed is good enough to make a difference. Therefore for starters, it would be appropriate that they start slowly by going at least 30 minutes of moderate physical activity every day. Moderate activities include dancing, brisk walking, and cycling. To help prevent excessive weight gain, 60 minutes or more of moderate activity every day, or 30 minutes or more of vigorous activity is suggested. Vigorous activities include jogging, running and tennis. However, as for much older women of over 50 years of age, with serious medical problems, it would be most appropriate for them to consult with their doctor before commencement of any intense physical activity program.

Prevention of Cancer using Nutrition and Exercise: Diet and cancer

When planning a healthy diet with cancer in mind, it is different from when you are doing the same for your daily feeding practice. For that kind of program to work effectively, it would be very important that you seek for the expert’s opinion. Doctor Dalal Akoury suggests the following guidelines:

Shun from taking foods and drinks rich in sugar – Food elements like sodas, sports drinks, fruit drinks, cakes, pies, and cookies are very high in empty calories and fat and low in important nutrients like vitamins, minerals, and fiber. They are not the type to go for under these circumstances.

Go for more of fresh produced foods of a variety of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, peas, beans, lentils – A plant-based diet is made up of foods that come mostly from plants. Plant-foods are more wholesome and are rich in fiber, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and phytonutrients (plant nutrients). Phytonutrients help to protect the cells in the body from damage and help boost the immune system.

Limit processed meats and red meats – Processed meats are generally smoked, cured or salted. Processing of cold cuts, sausage, bacon, ham and hot dogs adds cancer-causing substances like salt or sodium nitrite. Studies have linked eating large amounts of processed meats with an increased risk of colorectal cancer. Health experts recommend that red meats like beef, lamb, and pork should be limited to no more than 18 ounces a week. If meat is part of the diet, it is better to eat lean meats, fish, poultry, or beans. Cook by baking broiling, poaching or steaming, instead of frying.

Avoid alcohol – Women who drink alcohol should drink no more than one drink a day (no more than two per day for men). One drink of alcohol is 12 ounces of beer, 5 ounces of wine, or 1½ ounces 80-proof distilled spirits. Drinking alcohol can cause cancers of the breast, mouth, throat, esophagus, liver, colon and rectum. Studies show that the risk for breast cancer increases, when the drinking of alcohol increases.

Limit the use of salty foods and foods processed with salt (sodium) – Too much salty may increase the risk of stomach cancer as well as high blood pressure. Salt in the diet should be less than 2,400 milligrams a day; about one teaspoon. Cut back on the added in cooking, and avoid salty foods and snacks.

Avoid using supplements for cancer prevention – Taking large doses of supplements may have serious side effects, especially if taken with certain medications. Women should also avoid taking soy pills, unless a doctor approves. In certain cases, a woman may need calcium or vitamin D supplements to prevent osteoporosis (brittle bones), but this should be prescribed by a doctor.

Phytonutrients and antioxidants – Studies have shown that food items from the vegetation (plants) contain thousands of phytonutrients that may have cancer fighting benefits. Plant foods are rich in antioxidants like vitamin A, C, E and beta carotene. These include cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, cabbage, collard greens, kale, cauliflower and Brussels sprouts. Other excellent sources of phytonutrients are: Green tea, grapes, wine, berries, citrus fruits, apples, whole grains, soy, and nuts. Brightly colored vegetables and fruits are the best sources of phytonutrients. Since no single food can provide all of the health benefits to reduce cancer risk, it is best to eat a variety of vegetables, fruits, whole grains and beans.

Prevention of Cancer using Nutrition and Exercise: The Experts opinion about Prevention

Are Medical professionals setting a Good Example to Patients

March 31, 2015

Are Medical professionals setting a Good Example to Patients: Walk the Talk?

Are Medical professionals setting a Good Example to Patients. This is the biggest question everyone is asking especially when it comes to addiction and weight management

In my several decades of offering medical services to people across the globe, I have been disturbed immensely with what we do in relation to what we say in the line of duty. Medics all over the world are not just employees of the institutions they are working for but their profession is a calling. In other wards professionalism and integrity are supposed to be part of life in this profession. On various occasions I have come across people wasting their lives in drugs and other unhealthy activities. Up to that point let me call them people but being more specific. I often walk on my way to and from work and one of the spot along the way to my work station is a small section set aside for smokers. It is often referred to us smokers zone or corner. Every time I pass through that place it will be very unusual to find it empty. It is always full with people smoking and the smoke billow from that zone is so huge that you will wonder if the small booth is on fire. Before I continue with the story allow ne to ask “are medical professionals setting a good example to their patients?” now back to the story over the years I see several medical doctors, nurses and hospital support staff and administrators enjoying (or do I say smoking their lives out) their cigarette in unison.

The amazing point is that this is a public smoking place and because of its promiscuity to the health facility more than half of people I often see there are either doctors or nurses and other hospital stuff. In my observation, it occurred to me that in broad day light we preach water and we are comfortably taking wine. Let me pose another question “for how long are we going to be encouraging patient and other people to make healthy lifestyle choices as part of our responsibilities when we are doing exactly the opposite? Yes we are humans but what morals do we have to give this advice if we are equally subject to the temptations of drug use, smoking, alcohol abuse and overeating? My fellow colleagues don’t miss understand me. This article is not targeting the professionals or being judgmental or a sermon to the few who engages in such habits. Certainly not, we are all grown-ups and are equally enjoying the freedom to making choices as we may wish. But allow me to pose and say that there are certain special cases in which we do need to view our actions through the eyes of our patients. Help me in considering these pertinent questions with a view of understanding the magnitude of the matter:

Can overweight nurses’ advice patients about weight loss?
How is stress affecting nurses and their patients?
Will patients listen to advice on smoking cessation when you smell like an ashtray?

Are Medical professionals setting a Good Example to Patients: Can overweight nurses’ advice patients about weight loss?

This is very interesting and I can imagine of what is going on in your mind. However a number of studies have been done in the past which examine the health habits of nurses all round whether good or bad and the impact of the outcome to the patients they attend to. Like for instance the prevalence of obesity across the globe is steadily increasing even as we speak right now it is becoming to an epidemic level. And the consequences of the same are risks of development of several chronic health complications. With these concerns about whether overweight nurses can advise patients about weight loss I suggest that patient’s education about the risks of obesity and the importance of proper weight management and exercise must remain continuous responsibilities of the nurses irrespective of their condition and sizes.

In fact, studies have generally shown that although the vast majority of nurses concede that obesity is a diagnosis which requires intervention, majority of the nurses do not pursue this issue with obese patients. The reason for this isn’t exactly clear. But it is perceived that the reasons could include:

That the nurses are uncomfortable discussing this with their patients
Overweight nurses may be feeling that they lack the credibility to have that conversation due to their own appearance.
Another possibility is that the nurses themselves need more education and validation of the health risks that obesity can cause.

Are Medical professionals setting a Good Example to Patients: How is stress affecting nurses and their patients?

Another condition of concern in the nursing population includes the physical and emotional complications from stress. Many nurses work in stressful environments, taking care of everyone else before taking care of themselves. We know that the physical effects of stress can include insomnia, gastric ulcers, heart disease, headaches, fertility problems, and eating disorders. Other negative effects include disruption of family life, anxiety, and a reduction in the quality of life.

We know that it is important to advise our patients that they should listen to their own bodies with regards to stress management and relaxation therapies, yet we typically do not take our own advice in this area. We teach the concepts of holistic care to students, yet we do not always lead by example when it comes to our own health. Perhaps we need to be better role models for our patients, students and new nurses with regards to how we acknowledge and manage stress in our lives.

Are Medical professionals setting a Good Example to Patients: Will patients listen to advice on smoking cessation when you smell like an ashtray?

Smoking I actually addictive and nurses being human can also be addicted just like anybody else. We also know that stress may be a factor in the prevalence of smoking. However it is unethical and unhealthy to take care of patient under the influence of a drug. It is absolutely wrong for nurse’s to resume duty after a smoking break the stench of cigarettes. Surely it isn’t a good idea, no matter what the patient’s diagnosis. Nurses are on the front lines of patient care. They spend more time with patients than any other category of health care provider. But even in all these nurses must know that they are not immune to diseases caused by their own unhealthy habits like smoking. If the patients they are caring for are down with cigarette smoking then they too can be down and it will be prudent that they too lead by example. Finally doctor Akoury reaffirms that one of the basic doctrines of an effective nurse-patient relationship is TRUST. These are all part of nurses responsibility and so nurses must take the challenge of leading from the front by setting a good example for patients.

Are Medical professionals setting a Good Example to Patients: Walk the Talk?

Diet and Nutrition for perfect Healthy weight

March 17, 2015

Diet and Nutrition for perfect Healthy weight: The impact of good lifestyle

Diet and Nutrition for perfect Healthy weight is the best foundation we can lay for our future generations

At the mention of the word diet this day’s people often switch their minds to weigh loss. And so I ask does the word diet make you think of an unpleasant weight-loss regimen? If your answer is yes, then you are not alone. It has been made so and even the institutions producing food products use this term diet in their marketing strategies like for instance diet soda and many more. Even though this is what is in the market circle diet and nutrition for perfect healthy weight is completely something different. Diet actually refers to the food and drink a person takes daily and the mental and physical circumstances connected to eating. It can be defined further as the act or process of nourishing or being nourished. When this happens effectively then the public notion of diet will change and people will apply diet as it should be. It therefore means that food involves many different things, including love, satisfaction, and enjoyment.

Nutrition involves more than simply eating a good diet. It is about nourishment on every level. It involves relationships with family, friends, nature (the environment), our bodies, our community and the world. Choices about nourishment are very much linked to other human beings and other life forms on this planet, so healthy and unhealthy decisions have great impact not just on your weight but also in your general health.

Diet and Nutrition for perfect Healthy weight: How Does Diet Impact on your weight and Health?

It goes without doubt that diet and nutrition are very instrumental to our wellbeing. And it is also true that the trends of diets and nutrition keep changing almost on a daily basis. Yet amidst all the changes, study after study indicates that good food choices have a positive impact on health, and poor diets have negative long-term effects including being overweight. It is therefore very important that we have certain facts right as follows:

It is important to appreciate that a healthy diet gives your body the nutrients it needs for the general body functionalities like to perform physical activities, maintain wellness, and fight disease. That means that people whose dietary patterns include fresh, whole foods like fruits and vegetables, whole grains, legumes, lean meats, and fish have a reduced risk of contracting major chronic disease which are associated with being overweight or poor nutrition.
Unfortunately, the standard food consumed by many people today is rich in saturated fats, partially-hydrogenated oils, refined carbohydrates, and highly processed foods. Does this describe the content of your refrigerator?
This diet, in combination with a sedentary lifestyle, large portion sizes, and high stress, is blamed for the increase in obesity and associated diseases not just in the U.S but across the globe. (Research according to the Center for Disease Control indicates that in U.S alone over a third of the adult population is obese). This translate to this population being vulnerable to all the diseases which are associated with being overweight or obese like type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, coronary heart disease, stroke, gallbladder disease, osteoarthritis, sleep apnea, respiratory problems, and certain cancers, including breast cancer in women.

Doctor Akoury says that what we eat and how we eat is crucial to our health. Good food will acts as medicine to maintain good health as well as preventing and offering treatment to various diseases. You may not understand how this can be possible. If this is your concern, then you are at the right place and with the correct professional. You can schedule for an appointment with doctor Dalal Akoury today to get the insight of healthy living through good diet and nutrition for perfect healthy weight.

Diet and Nutrition for perfect Healthy weight: Eating too much or too little

In the meantime obesity is increasing rapidly and as indicated above, being obese or overweight is associated with several chronic and life threatening diseases. Even with this increase in overweight, things are not getting better either because eating disorders, including anorexia nervosa, bulimia (binge eating and purging), and binge-eating disorder, are also on the rise. According to the National Eating Disorders Association, in the United States alone, 20 million women and 10 million men have suffered from an eating disorder at some time in their lives. These disorders are significant threats to health and are often chronic. It is not a very good practice to be overweight at the same time suffer from an eating disorder. If this describes your situation, then you need not to get discouraged. You are not the only one in this situation. You can still get help if you seek for that with the experts at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center under the able leadership of Doctor Akoury’s care today.

Diet and Nutrition for perfect Healthy weight: Nourishing ourselves

The increase in both eating disorders and obesity dramatically demonstrate that diet is not just about giving your body sustenance. Nourishing yourself engages every aspect of your being physical, social, emotional, mental, and spiritual. When any of these aspects are unbalanced, eating behaviors can suffer. Therefore a good nutrition will involves our relationships with family, friends, community, the environment, and the world. We need to make decisions about what and how we eat that foster not only our health and wellbeing, but the health of those around us and of our planet and environment.

Diet and Nutrition for perfect Healthy weight: What Experts Recommend for Healthy Eating

For a good diet to be observed, the following practices must be incorporated. Eat food, don’t eat too much and most of your food should be plants. This may sound very traditional and out of class as the current generation may put it, but it is the best approach. This approach will include choosing whole grains, eating lean protein like fish and chicken instead of red meat, drinking plenty of water, using healthy oils, and filling almost half your plate with healthy produce. If you can adopt this approach together with the following guidelines, then your road to good health will be up and straight:

Know your healthy body weight range, and eat and live to maintain (or achieve) it.
Combine healthy eating with physical activity.
Use the dietary guidelines, including recommendations for alcohol consumption, as an outline to help steer you toward the right foods and day-to-day proportions of foods.
Drink a significant amount of water (up to 2 quarts) per day.
Pay attention to when, why, and where you eat. When you start to notice unhealthy patterns, you will be better able to change them.

Finally ensure that you involve the experts all the way so that mistakes can be avoided before they become huge mountains to climb. Doctor Akoury will be waiting to receiving you at her office in AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center any time any day. She is just a phone call away and your concerns will be professionally addressed.

Diet and Nutrition for perfect Healthy weight: The impact of good lifestyle

Expectations from Your Doctor’s Office about Obesity

March 9, 2015

Expectations from Your Doctor’s Office about Obesity: Medical Treatment for Obesity

Expectations from Your Doctor’s Office about Obesity can be very high however, your determination and acceptance of the condition is very important for progress to be made

When your efforts to losing weight are not working to your expectations, you may need to seek the expert’s opinions on the best way to go. Weight loss is a process and will take some time for it to be convincing to the patients. However when you visit a specialist, it is only natural that the expectations from your doctor’s office about obesity will be very high owing to the fact that your own efforts have not been pleasing. In that case certain prescription medications may be necessary for weight related health issues. While appreciating the fact that many people relay on over the counter supplement to lose weight, the best way to ensuring long term solutions will be based on behavioral weight loss measures which are readily available at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center under the able leadership of doctor Dalal Akoury. At this facility, our strategy when talking about behavioral weight loss measure is to target unhealthy dietary habits and incorporate physical activity into daily life. Remember that obesity associated eating disorders require treatment by a qualified therapist and may also require medication. When you visit this facility, we will explore all the treatment options for obesity professionally guided by the following:

Your age, overall health, and medical history
Extent of the condition
Your tolerance for specific medications, procedures, or therapies
Expectations for the course of the condition
Your opinion or preference

After evaluating your condition and determining the accuracy of your BMI, it will also be very necessary to measure your blood pressure and percentage of body fat and order for further blood tests to check cholesterol levels and determine how well your thyroid is functioning.

Expectations from Your Doctor’s Office about Obesity: Treatment Options

A good treatment for obesity is that which will not only target losing weight but also maintaining a healthy weight thereafter. The success of will involves a blend of diet, exercise, and other lifestyle modifications. Although some medications, herbs, and supplements may help you lose a little weight, you still must eat fewer calories and exercise more to see any real effect. And you must make those behavioral changes stick to keep weight off. For severe obesity, bariatric surgery (which physically restricts the amount of food a person can eat) may be a better option says doctor Akoury.

Lifestyle

Calories are the major culprit to losing weight. Therefore to effectively do this, you must eat fewer calories and increase your physical activity to burn more calories. The key to losing and keeping off weight is to set realistic goals, and incorporate effective lifestyle changes into your daily routine.

Exercise

Exercise can help you lose weight, especially in the first 6 months, and maintain your desired weight in the long term. Exercise not only contributes to weight loss, it also decreases abdominal fat and improves heart health, lowers blood pressure, and helps keep blood sugar levels in check. However if you are not used to exercising, you can start this gradually in small bits like 30 minutes daily consistently for at least five days in a week. Activities like swimming, walking or biking, strength training and stretching are ideal for a start. Nevertheless if you are extremely obese or have other medical problems, it will be very important that before the commencement of these activities, your doctor’s opinion would be highly recommended.

Expectations from Your Doctor’s Office about Obesity: Drug Therapies

It is important to note that while it is true that some medications may help in promoting weight loss, there are no drugs to cure obesity. Weight loss medications should be used in addition to diet, exercise, and other lifestyle modifications. Many of these drugs are available by prescription only and some have serious side effects.

Expectations from Your Doctor’s Office about Obesity: Prescription Medications

Sibutramine (Meridia) boosts metabolism, enhances energy level, and promotes a feeling of fullness. Meridia is moderately effective; studies show that people who take Meridia lose about 10 pounds more than those who just followed a low calorie diet. Side effects include dry mouth and insomnia. Meridia cannot be taken by people with a history of stroke, seizures, or heart, liver, or kidney diseases.
Orlistat (Xenical) reduces the absorption of fat from foods; side effects include oily stools, flatulence, and diarrhea. It is approved for over the counter sale in the U.S. as Alli.
Phentermine suppresses appetite; serious potential side effects include pulmonary hypertension and heart valve defects. Phentermine is similar to an amphetamine and should not be taken by people with high blood pressure, heart disease, glaucoma, or those taking antidepressant medications.

Expectations from Your Doctor’s Office about Obesity: Surgical Procedures

Bariatric or weight loss surgery may be considered in cases where people are severely obese and lifestyle changes have not worked. It uses bands or staples to create a small pouch at the top of the stomach. The pouch reduces the amount of food that can be taken into the stomach. Physicians carefully select individuals for surgery, and patients must undergo psychological testing and counseling. It is important that patients who have had bariatric surgery must be monitored by their doctor afterward to make sure they get enough essential nutrients. Procedures include:

Roux-en-Y procedure (gastric bypass) permanently reduces the size of the stomach; vomiting is the most common side effect.
Gastric banding an adjustable silicone band is placed around the stomach, decreasing the amount of food that can be eaten. The band can be adjusted or removed.
Laparoscopic vertical sleeve gastrectomy. The stomach is restricted by stapling and dividing it vertically and removing more than 85% of it. The stomach that remains is shaped like a very thin banana.

Expectations from Your Doctor’s Office about Obesity: Complementary and Alternative Therapies

In this arrangement diet plans are often very popular. They range from traditional low-fat, high-carbohydrate diets to high-protein, high-fat, and low-carbohydrate diets. The truth is, no specific diet works for everyone, and no diet works without the other essential components of weight loss exercise and stress management. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services says a healthy diet:

Emphasizes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and fat-free or low-fat dairy products
Includes lean meats, poultry, fish, beans, eggs, and nuts
Is low in saturated fats, trans fats, cholesterol, salt, and added sugar

Among many weight loss plans available, the ones that generally result in a balanced diet include the Weight Watchers plan, the South Beach Diet, and the American Heart Association No Fad Diet. In everything you do concerning diet, professionalism is very ideal. Therefore beware of diets that promise quick, substantial weight loss because they often don’t contain adequate nutrients your body needs to stay healthy, and you’re more likely to go off the diet and engage in binge eating, gaining the weight back. Weight loss of about 1 – 2 pounds per week is considered safe and sustainable. Finally before you get into any diet, it is important to consult widely with your practitioner to determine which plan is right for you. If you are within reach then you can visit doctor Akoury in her office or schedule for an appointment with her for more in depth information that will be suitable for you.

Expectations from Your Doctor’s Office about Obesity: Medical Treatment for Obesity

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