Patient education: Weight loss treatments (The Basics)

How do I know if I am at a healthy weight? — This depends on your height and your overall health.

Doctors use a special measure called "body mass index," or "BMI," to help understand a person's weight. Your weight and height are used to calculate your BMI (figure 1). Based on this number, you fall into 1 of the following categories:

●Underweight – BMI under 18.5

●Healthy weight – BMI between 18.5 and 24.9

●Overweight – BMI between 25 and 29.9

●Having obesity – BMI 30 or greater

Your doctor or nurse will often want to calculate your BMI at your medical appointments. But it's important to remember that your weight and BMI are just 1 piece of your overall health. Someone with a lower BMI might not be healthy overall, and someone with a higher BMI can still be healthy.

How does my weight affect my health? — Having obesity increases the risks of many different health problems. It can also make it harder for you to move, breathe, and do other things that people who are at a healthy weight can do easily.

People with obesity are more likely to get diabetes, heart disease, cancer, and lots of other health problems. People with obesity also live less time than people of healthy weight. That's why it's important to try to keep your weight in a healthy range.

What should I do if I want to lose weight? — If you would like to lose weight, you can start by talking to your doctor or nurse. They can help you make a plan to do this in a healthy way. They can also help you understand how many calories your body needs for energy. Losing weight takes work and can be hard, so it helps to have support.

The best weight loss plans help you have a healthy view of eating and exercise. With a good weight loss plan, many people can lose weight and keep it off. Reducing calories in your diet, burning calories through exercise, or both can help you lose weight:

●Diet – There is no specific diet plan that works for everyone. Many "trendy" weight loss programs can end up being more harmful than helpful. Any diet that reduces the number of calories you eat can help you lose weight, as long as you stick with it. You should try to find an eating pattern that works for you.

It can also help to work with a dietitian (food expert). They can help you make healthy changes to your diet while making sure that you get the nutrients your body needs.

●Movement – Even gentle forms of exercise are good for your health. You can walk, dance, garden, or even just move your arms while sitting. For weight loss, the important thing is to increase the number of calories you burn by moving more.

Combining a healthy diet with regular physical activity can help you get the best results. This is important even if your doctor recommends treatment for weight loss.

If you change your eating or exercise habits for a short time, you might lose weight. But you will regain the weight if you go back to your old habits. Weight loss is about changing your habits for the long term.

Can medicines help with weight loss? — Sometimes. Prescription weight loss medicines work by reducing your appetite or by changing the way you digest food. Your doctor might recommend medicine if you have not been able to lose weight in other ways and you:

●Have a BMI of 30 or greater, or

●Have a BMI between 27 and 29.9 and also have weight-related medical problems, such as diabetes, heart disease, or high blood pressure

Doctors sometimes prescribe "incretin-based" medicines to help with weight loss. These include semaglutide (brand name: Wegovy) and tirzepatide (brand name: Zepbound). They were originally used in treating diabetes. But they can also help with weight loss in some people without diabetes. There are other medicines that can be used for weight loss, too.

Even if your doctor does prescribe medicine to help you lose weight, they will also still recommend making lifestyle changes. This can help improve your overall health.

If you are interested in taking medicine to help you lose weight, talk with your doctor. They can help you understand your options.

Can I try herbal or non-prescription medicines to lose weight? — Be careful about non-prescription ("over-the-counter") products advertised to help with weight loss:

●Many herbal weight loss medicines do not work, and some are unsafe. Check with your doctor or pharmacist before you take any herbal weight loss medicines.

●There is also an over-the-counter version of a prescription medicine called orlistat (brand name: Alli). It is probably safe to try, but it can cause unwanted side effects, such as cramps, burping, and gas.

●Some weight loss medicines are sold over the internet. However, they can contain harmful ingredients and be unsafe.

How does weight loss surgery work? — Surgical procedures for weight loss work by making your stomach smaller. Some types of surgery also change the path that food takes through your digestive system. With these types, your body absorbs fewer calories and nutrients from food.

Weight loss surgery is not an option for everyone. If you are thinking about surgery, your doctor can talk to you about your situation and options. They can also talk to you about the risks and benefits of surgery.

How do I decide if weight loss treatment is right for me? — If your doctor suggests weight loss treatment, ask these questions:

●About how much weight can I expect to lose, and how long will that take? – This depends on the treatment. Some weight loss medicines start working quickly, often within a few months. For surgery, the amount of weight loss and how long it takes will depend on which procedure you have.

●What are the risks of treatment for someone like me? – All weight loss medicines can have side effects. All weight loss surgeries can lead to infection, bleeding, the need for other operations, and even death. To reduce the risk of these problems with surgery, make sure that your surgeon is very experienced and that you are treated at a certified "Center of Excellence."

●What changes will I need to make to my diet and lifestyle? – Weight loss treatments are not "shortcuts" that you can take to avoid making lifestyle changes. People must also change how they eat and how active they are. No single weight loss treatment works on its own. Sometimes, people can get surgery only after they lose some weight on their own through diet and exercise first. Working with a dietitian can help.

●Will I be able to process food normally? – Some types of weight loss surgeries leave people unable to get all of the nutrients that they need from food. People who have this problem must take vitamin and mineral supplements for the rest of their lives.

More on this topic

Patient education: Understanding body mass index (BMI) (The Basics)
Patient education: Health risks of obesity (The Basics)
Patient education: Weight and health in children (The Basics)
Patient education: Weight loss surgery (The Basics)
Patient education: Losing weight through diet (The Basics)
Patient education: Exercise and movement as you get older (The Basics)

Patient education: Losing weight (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Weight loss surgery and procedures (Beyond the Basics)