Diagnosis
To diagnose obesity, your doctor will usually start with a physical examination and recommend some tests.
These examinations and tests generally include:
- Review your previous medical history. Your doctor may review your weight history, your attempts to lose weight, physical activity and exercise habits, eating patterns and appetite control, other conditions you have, medications, stress levels, and other health problems. Your doctor may also review your family health history to see if you are at risk for certain diseases.
- General physical examination. This includes measuring your height; Check your vital signs, such as heart rate, blood pressure, and temperature; listening to your heart and lungs; And examine your abdomen.
- Calculating body mass index. Your doctor will check your body mass index (BMI). When the BMI is 30 or higher, it is considered obesity. BMI numbers higher than 30 also indicate a greater health risk. Your body mass index should be checked at least once a year, as this may help determine potential risks to your general health condition and what treatments may be appropriate.
- Measure waist circumference. Fat stored around your waist, sometimes called visceral or belly fat, may increase your risk of heart disease and diabetes. Women with a waist measurement greater than 35 inches (89 cm) and men with a waist measurement greater than 40 inches (102 cm) may have more health risks than people with a smaller waist measurement. As with BMI, waist circumference should be measured at least once a year.
- Get tested to detect other health problems. If you have known health problems, your doctor will evaluate them. Your doctor will also check for other possible health problems, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, underactive thyroid, liver problems and diabetes.
Collecting this information will benefit you and your doctor in choosing the type of treatment that will suit you most.
treatment
Obesity treatment aims to achieve and maintain a healthy weight. This improves overall health and reduces the risk of obesity-related complications.
You may need to collaborate with a team of health care professionals; It includes a dietitian, behavioral counselor, or obesity specialist, to help you understand and make adjustments to your eating habits and lifestyle activities.
Initial treatment usually aims for a modest weight loss of 5% to 10% of total body weight. This means that if you weigh 200 pounds (91 kg), you will need to lose about 10 to 20 pounds (4.5 to 9 kg) just for your health to start improving. But the more weight you lose, the more benefits you reap.
All weight loss programs require changes to eating habits and increased physical activity. However, the appropriate treatment methods for you depend on your level of obesity, your overall health, and your willpower to participate in the weight loss plan.
Changes in diet
It is important to reduce calories and practice healthier eating habits to treat obesity. Although you can lose weight quickly at first, losing weight at a steady rate over a long period of time is the safest way to lose weight and the best way to get rid of it permanently.
There is no perfect way to lose weight. Choose a method that includes healthy food that feels right for you. Dietary changes to treat obesity include:
- Reduce calories. The key to losing weight is reducing the number of calories you consume. The first step is to review your normal eating and drinking habits to find out how many calories you usually consume and how to reduce them. In conjunction with your doctor, you can decide how many calories you need to consume daily to lose weight, but the normal amount is 1,200 to 1,500 calories for women and 1,500 to 1,800 for men.
- Feeling full when eating little food. Some foods, such as sweets, candy, fats, and processed foods, contain a large amount of calories in a small portion. Conversely, fruits and vegetables provide more food with fewer calories. By eating larger portions of lower-calorie foods, you eliminate hunger pangs, consume fewer calories and feel more satisfied with your meal, which contributes to how satisfied you feel overall.
- Prefer healthy options. To make your overall diet healthier, eat more plant foods such as fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Also focus on lean protein sources, such as legumes, lentils, soy, and lean meats. If you are a fish lover, try including fish in your meals twice a week. Reduce your intake of salt and added sugar.
- Reducing specific foods. Some diets require that you limit the amounts of certain food groups, such as high-carbohydrate or high-fat foods. Consult your doctor about which diet plans are most effective and which ones are best for you.
- Meal replacements. These plans suggest replacing one or two meals with component products, such as shakes or low-calorie meal bars, as well as eating healthy snacks between meals and eating a third, healthy, balanced meal that is low in fat and calories.