Treatment of obesity

Obesity can be treated through a weight loss program involving a nutritionist, endocrine doctor or psychiatrist. The initial goal of this program is to lose weight safely, about 3 to 5% of total body weight. As part of this program, patients are advised to change their diet and physical activity. However, this change must be adjusted to general health conditions, as well as obesity rates in patients.

Weight loss programs include:

• Diet changes. This change aims to reduce calorie intake and adopt healthier eating habits. By reducing calorie intake, it is recommended that people reduce their energy intake by 600 calories per day. The recommended daily calorie intake for women is 1400 calories, while men are 1900 calories. The best way to do this is to replace high-calorie foods or drinks with a choice of high-fiber foods such as vegetables and fruits, and avoid foods that are high in salt and sugar, or foods or drinks with artificial sweeteners.
• Increase physical activity In addition to reducing calorie intake, increasing physical activity that consumes energy can also maintain safe weight loss. In addition, increased physical activity can also have many health benefits, such as reducing the risk of type 2 diabetes. This increase is achieved by exercising regularly, at least 150 minutes per week. to avoid gaining weight and maintaining a healthy weight loss. . To reduce weight significantly, it is recommended to exercise at least 300 minutes every week. This increase must be done in stages, depending on improving physical fitness and physical stamina, as well as the types of exercises that can be practiced, including brisk walking, jogging, running, cycling or swimming. Besides exercising, physical activity can be increased by doing activities that burn more calories in daily activities. An example is if you don't travel too far, you would rather walk than drive a car.
• Changes in behavior. This effort can be done by following a psychotherapy or support group to change the mentality and overcome emotional or behavioral problems related to food consumption.

If changes in the diet and increased physical activity have not succeeded in losing weight, doctors can help by prescribing weight-loss drugs. However, this drug is only given if the BMI value exceeds 30 and the patient has an accompanying disease, such as diabetes, hypertension or sleep apnea. Commonly prescribed drugs are orlistat and liraglutide.

Before giving the medicine, the doctor will review the medical history and possible side effects. When taking medication, the doctor will monitor and monitor the patient's condition.

Other actions that doctors can take to treat obese people are surgeries that allow you to lose weight, also called bariatric surgery. This operation will modify the digestive system, thus limiting food intake, thereby reducing calorie absorption. Bariatric surgery can only be done if the patient has undergone a method of weight loss, but is unsuccessful, and is very obese with a BMI of more than 40 or a BMI of more than 35 with comorbidities such as hypertension or diabetes.

Bariatric surgery that can be done includes:

• Gastric bypass. During this operation, the surgeon will make a small bag above the stomach and connect directly to the small intestine. The flow of food and drinks will go into the bag to enter the small intestine and will not pass through the stomach.
• Gastric ring that can be adjusted laparoscopically. In this operation, the stomach will attach to the stomach expansion.
• Biliopancreatic transfer with duodenal switch. In this procedure, the abdomen will be removed and the tip of the abdomen will be cut off and directly connected to the tip of the small intestine. The cut off part of the small intestine will be reconnected so that the bile and digestive enzymes continue to flow.
• Gastric tract. During this operation, the surgeon will remove the abdomen, reducing the stomach to store food. 

All weight loss programs require time and a strong commitment from the patient to do it well. In addition, it is necessary for patients, doctors and families to regularly monitor weight loss goals so that the program can function stably. Thus, the risk of obesity-related complications can be reduced.

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