Over two-thirds of Americans are overweight, and approximately half of those suffer from obesity, according to the Weight-control Information Network, an information service of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Being overweight may cause a variety of other conditions, including type-2 diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, stroke, arthritis, breathing problems and some forms of cancer. Many people have an interest in losing weight, and a variety of reasons may be given for why dramatic weight loss occurs.
Anorexia
An eating disorder such as anorexia results in dramatic weight loss. This condition, also known as anorexia nervosa, can affect anyone, although the FamilyDoctor website indicates that it commonly occurs in teenage girls. Anorexia presents as a fixation on being thin. Those with anorexia obsess over the foods they eat, starving themselves and often exercising too much. Signs and symptoms of anorexia include extreme weight loss, abnormal blood counts, fatigue, insomnia, brittle nails and hair, constipation, dry skin, low blood pressure, dehydration, irregular heart rhythm and swelling in the arms and legs. Additionally, a hallmark of anorexia is the development of soft, fine hairs all over the body. Anorexics who lose extreme amounts of weight will likely need hospitalization and a year or more of counseling to help treat the problem.
Bariatric Surgery
Obese patients may opt for bariatric surgery to encourage extreme weight loss. Types of bariatric surgery include gastric bypass, gastric banding, gastric sleeve, duodenal switch and several varieties of incision-free surgery. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicates that 34 percent of Americans over the age of 20 are obese, and the Bariatric City website reveals that in 2008, approximately 200,000 bariatric surgeries for weight loss were performed. Bariatric surgeries reduce the size of the stomach, which decreases the amount of food a person can eat. This allows obese people to lose extreme amounts of weight.
Dieting
Dieting, or altering the diet, may cause dramatic weight loss. A variety of diets exist, from those that limit calories or carbohydrates to liquid diets. The Weight-control Information Network encourages those who are obese to consult their physician to determine the best method of eating for weight loss and notes that safe, effective diets should reduce calories but not forbid certain foods, encourage inclusion of low-fat versions of foods and promote slow, steady weight loss. Diets that restrict calories to 800 calories per day or less should only be undertaken with a physician's supervision. A 2005 article from CBS News Healthwatch indicates that of 10 of the most popular diet plans in the United States, only Weight Watchers -- a diet plan that cuts calories and encourages group meetings -- effectively helped people lose weight and keep it off. However, not enough scientific data is available to prove this theory.
References
- Weight-Control Information Network: Statistics Related to Overweight and Obesity
- MayoClinic.com: Anorexia nervosa
- Consumer Guide to Bariatric Surgery: What You Need to Know About Weight Loss Surgery
- CBS News Healthwatch: Diet Plan Success Tough to Weigh
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: FastStats: Obesity and Overweight
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