Obesity is a common and serious health problem. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than one-third of Americans are overweight or obese. Having excess weight contributes to many serious conditions, such as stroke, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and certain types of cancer. The annual medical cost of obesity is estimated to be around $100 billion dollars a year.
Medical and Health Risks
Usually, overweight people should first try to lose weight by dieting and exercising. However, some people do not respond to this regimen. Medical weight loss is ideal for a person who has not has success with other tactics and the individual has health risks associated with obesity. Medical risks include:
Body Mass Index (BMI)
Anyone with a BMI 25 or more is a candidate for medical weight loss. Body mass index (BMI) is a simple calculation of weight-for-height, which is often used to classify people who are overweight. BMI is a person’s weight in kilograms divided by the square of his/her height in meters (kg/m2). This classification is the most useful population-level measure of excess weight because it is general for all ages of adults and both sexes. The World Health Organization (WHO) classifies weight by:
Prescription Medications
Weight loss drugs should only be considered when all other efforts are exhausted. Most prescription medications for obesity have side effects, so care must be taken when using these drugs. Medications for weight are prescribed for overweight patients with a BMI of 25 or greater and obese patients with a BMI of 30 or greater. When used along with a low-calorie diet and regular exercise, weight loss drugs produce an average loss of 5-10 percent of total body weight during a 12-month timeframe. Losing up to 10 percent of your total body weight can improve health by decreasing blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and blood sugar levels.
Medical Weight Loss Guidelines
