Skip to main content
  • Obesity
    Worldwide obesity has more than doubled since 1980. In 2014, more than 1.9 billion adults, 18 years and older, were overweight. Of these over 600 million were obese. 39% of adults aged 18 years and over were overweight in 2014, and 13% were obese. Most of the world's population live in countries where overweight and obesity kills more people than underweight. 42 million children under the age of 5 were overweight or obese in 2013. Obesity is preventable.
Submitted by PatientsEngage on 22 February 2016

While Obesity should be managed by making lifestyle changes as described in Obesity Management section, in some cases you may need medications or surgery as prescribed by your doctor. 

Medications
If your BMI is 28 or more medications like

  • Sibutramine (Meridia®)
  • Orlistat (Xenical® and Alli®): This drug reduces the absorption of fats, fat calories, and vitamins A, D, E, and K thereby promote weight loss. Causes most of the weight loss within the first 6 months of taking the medicine. These medicines can cause mild side effects, such as oily and loose stools.
  • Lorcaserin Hydrochloride (Belviq®) and Qsymia™: Recommended for chronic (ongoing) weight management. These drugs should be combined with low-fat diet and weight loss strategies.
  • Medicines to treat depression, seizures (topiramate and zonisamide), diabetes (Metformin) causes small amounts of weight loss. It's not known how this medicine causes weight loss, but it has been shown to reduce hunger and food intake.

Others:

  • Ephedra a plant product causes short-term weight loss, but it also has serious side effects. It causes high blood pressure and stresses the heart. In 2004, the FDA banned the sale of dietary supplements containing ephedra in the United States.
  • Chromium reduces body fat. While studies haven't found any weight-loss benefit from chromium, there are few serious side effects from taking it.
  • Diuretics and herbal laxatives makes lose water weight, not fat. They also can lower your body's potassium levels, which may cause heart and muscle problems.
  • Hoodia is a cactus that acts as an appetite suppressant. 

All these products have side effects.

Surgery

  • Banded gastroplasty and 
  • Roux-en-Y gastric bypass. 
  • Gastroplasty: At top of the stomach a small pouch is created by using a band or staples. This advantage of the surgery is that it limits the amount of food and liquids, the stomach can hold.
  • Gastric bypass: A small stomach pouch is created by a bypass around a part of the small intestine where most of the calories you eat are absorbed. This causes reduced food intake and also reduces the calories the body can absorb.
  • Multivitamins and minerals should be supplemented to prevent nutrient deficiencies and life-long follow-up is recommended along with balanced diet and appropriate physical activity.
  • Bariatric surgery is recommended for severely obese patients if no other measures have responded and also for people with BMI >50

 

Condition

Stories

  • Blood Clot Risk and What You Can Do
    This World Thrombosis Day, Dr Manohar B Kalbande, Cardio vascular & thoracic surgeon warns that diabetes, high cholesterol, obesity and sedentary lifestyle increase risk of Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) and recommends early diagnosis, complete treatment and regular follow up to get give good relief from this disease. What is Thrombosis? Blood returning to the heart i.e. venous blood is drained by two sets of veins in our body- superficial and deep. The deep veins are located deep in the…
  • Image of dumbbells, muesli bowl and measuring tape and text healthy approach to weight loss
    11 Tips On How To Reduce Weight
    Obesity or being overweight is the causative factor for several chronic non-communicable diseases including heart disease, diabetes and certain types of cancers #tbl tr td:nth-child(0) { { width:44px!important; } #tbl tr td:nth-child(1) { { width:141px!important; } #tbl tr td:nth-child(2) { { width:77px!important; } #tbl tr td:nth-child(3) { { width:44px!important; } #tbl tr td:nth-child(4) { { width:141px!important; } #tbl tr td:nth-child(5) { { width:77px!important; } A dramatic increase in…
  • Overview of Digestive Disorders and Gastrointestinal Diseases
    Endoscopy guru and leading gastroenterologist Dr Vipulroy Rathod’s comprehensive interview on gastrointestinal diseases and cancers makes for an enlightening and interesting read. What is Gastroenterology? Gastroenterology is the branch of medicine focused on the digestive system and its disorders. Diseases affecting the gastrointestinal tract, which include the organs from mouth to anus, along the alimentary canal, are the focus of this specialty. Physicians practicing in this field are called…
  • Are you hungry after eating a healthy salad for lunch?
    Sujata Din, a Certified Holistic Health Coach and Certified Professional Cancer Coach based in Singapore shares two recipes of satisfying lunchtime salads that keep you full.   Salads are an excellent option for a main meal; they are jam packed with nutrients as made with lots of vegetables.  However, having a salad for lunch can at times leave you feeling hungry. The main reason a healthy salad meal leaves the stomach rumbling is because it lacks sufficient protein,…
  • Myth or Fact: A fat child is a healthy child
    Childhood obesity is a matter of concern in both developed and developing countries, differing perhaps in degrees, and can only be controlled through combined effort of public health programmes initiated at government or equivalent levels and the conscious effort of parents, says Dr Sitanshu Kar. Also, tips for parents. 1. The social inequality that has a direct association with obesity seems to be reversed in developed countries. In developed countries such as the USA, the lower socioeconomic…
  • Benefits of Juicing To Improve Your Health
    Sujata Din, a Certified Holistic Health Coach and Certified Professional Cancer Coach based in Singapore shares benefits and tips on juicing I'm often asked if juicing is good and what the downsides are to it. I love it, in fact I have one every day.  My favourite is apple, carrot, beet, kale, wheatgrass, ginger and turmeric.      If you are the type of person who doesn't eat many fruits or vegetables, juicing is an excellent way to get your recommended daily portions,…
  • Obesity Management
    Management of Obesity includes:  Weight Loss Set certain goals for losing weight Fix a target to lose 5-10% of your current weight over 6 months. this will also reduce the risk of other systemic conditions like diabetes and coronary heart disease  Lose weight slowly at the rate of 0.5 to 1 kg per week which would make it as a habit thereafter.  Joining local Weight loss group Lifestyle changes can help in achieving long-term weight-loss success. Focusing on balancing energy…
  • Obesity Prevention
    If you would like to prevent becoming obese, you must take the following precautions: Track your weight, body mass index, and waist circumference. These should be especially tracked among children. Most countries are now looking at National childhood obesity prevention programs. They vary from country to country. They are typically designed for parents and caregivers to help children 8 to 13 years maintain a healthy weight.  Encourage healthy eating  Increase physical activity…
  • Obesity Treatment
    While Obesity should be managed by making lifestyle changes as described in Obesity Management section, in some cases you may need medications or surgery as prescribed by your doctor.  Medications If your BMI is 28 or more medications like Sibutramine (Meridia®) Orlistat (Xenical® and Alli®): This drug reduces the absorption of fats, fat calories, and vitamins A, D, E, and K thereby promote weight loss. Causes most of the weight loss within the first 6 months of taking the medicine. These…
  • Obesity Tests and Diagnosis
    The most simple and reliable method of diagnosing obesity is through measuring the BMI Range of BMI: Below 18.5: underweight 18.5-24.9: normal 25-29.9: overweight 30 or higher: obese Categories of obesity Obesity level l: BMI of 30-34.9 Obesity level ll: BMI of 35-39.9 Obesity level lll: BMI of 40 or higher, which some also call as "morbid" obesity   The Edmonton Scale Obesity experts also use the Edmonton obesity staging system. It takes BMI a step further by relating it to your…