Severe excess weight continues to be a problem nationwide. In 2022, almost 42% of American adults were diagnosed with obesity. This prevalence has compelled authorities to classify the condition as an epidemic. Consequently, obesity is now regarded as a public health crisis that must be addressed.
In the hopes of finding a solution, many have turned to medical interventions for assistance. One such treatment is non-surgical medical weight loss programs prescribed by healthcare professionals. This article explores what this entails and when it is necessary to undergo the treatment. Keep reading if you want to know more.
What is medical weight loss?
Obesity is a complicated and layered disease that extends beyond diet and lack of exercise. Genes, hormones, and psychological well-being are just a few of the key players that can contribute to this condition. Even socioeconomic status and poor quality of life indicators such as insufficient sleep can lead to obesity. Overall, these complex elements make obesity a challenging disease to overcome.
This is when medical weight loss comes in. This remedy comes in the form of prescribed medications paired with lifestyle programs that address the causes of severe weight gain. Modern medical weight loss treatments are becoming more effective, with newer medications producing “an average of 15% weight loss”. This shows how far the industry has come a long way since the first medication for chronic weight management received FDA approval in 1959, and it has further to go still. Currently, the medications available to address the biological factors of weight include Liraglutide, Orlistat, and Naltrexone-Bupropion.
One thing to note about these medications is that they were originally intended to treat other conditions. For example, Liraglutide was initially meant to address diabetes, and Naltrexone-Bupropion was created to manage depression and substance abuse. Their appetite-suppressant qualities were only discovered as a side effect later on. Therefore, taking these medications can induce a handful of other side effects, such as nausea, headache, and constipation. They are also administered in different ways. Some of these medications, like Semaglutide, are injected once a week, whereas others, like Phentermine-topiramate, come in capsules and are taken daily. The best way to determine which medication works for a patient is to consult a doctor.
When is it necessary to undergo treatment?
Seeing a physician is heavily emphasized when discussing medical weight loss because it is not as simple as shedding a few pounds. This intervention is for those who have put a lot of effort into losing weight but still don’t achieve any results. This is usually an indicator that there are other biological factors preventing weight loss and that medical attention is necessary. When this happens, a doctor will still have to evaluate whether a person is eligible for weight loss medication or not.
Several criteria must be met in order to qualify for medical weight loss. The most important indicator is a patient’s body mass index (BMI). This is determined by comparing a person’s height with their weight. BMI dictates if an individual falls into the overweight vs obesity category. A person is overweight if their BMI falls in the 25 to 29.9 range, and they’ll be allowed to take weight loss medication to support their weight loss efforts, like proper diet and exercise. Meanwhile, when an individual has a BMI of 30 and above, they qualify as obese, which is the case for more than 40% of adults in the US. Since obesity is a chronic disease, people with this condition are qualified to undergo weight loss surgery and take medication. It will help them address other factors that prevent them from losing weight, like genetics, by altering their weight regulation hormones and decreasing their stomach size.
Apart from this, only adults and non-pregnant women are eligible for treatment since the FDA prohibits children and expecting mothers from taking some of these medications. As briefly mentioned above, those who are obese and have a hard time losing weight due to factors like genetics, hormonal disorders, and underlying conditions like type 2 diabetes are permitted to participate in medical weight loss. Doing so will assist their efforts in losing weight, allowing them to reach their goals.
This type of medical assistance is steadily gaining popularity as a solution for obesity nationwide. This can be seen in Atlanta as the state government managed to lower obesity rates after ranking high in a list of cities with the highest obesity rates in 2020. These promising results show that it is through awareness and ample healthcare support that medical weight loss assistance can be provided to those who really need it. Lastly, it gives people hope, letting them know that weight loss and better health are possible with the right approaches.
