Obesity increases the risk for high blood pressure, diabetes, stroke, heart attack, high cholesterol and other serious health conditions. Excess weight also puts strain on the joints and muscles, making it difficult to carry out physical activities. Those who want to lose 50 lb. or more should consider several weight loss methods in order to reduce these risks.
Cut Calories
In order to lose weight, you must burn more calories than you take in. This means you need to reduce the number of calories you consume or increase the number of calories you burn through exercise. The number of calories you need to eat each day depends on your age, gender, current weight and activity level. Someone who participates in regular physical activity needs more calories than someone who leads a sedentary lifestyle. One lb. of fat consists of 3,500 calories, so reducing your caloric intake by 500 calories per day would result in 1 lb. of weight loss per week if you maintain the same activity level.
Increase Physical Activity
Physical activity burns calories and has several other benefits. Aerobic exercise improves the function of the heart and lungs, reduces stress, improves blood flow to the muscles, boosts mood and increases lifespan. Someone who wants to lose 50 lb. should increase activity levels gradually to prevent injury. Instead of parking as close to a building as possible, park far away and walk through the parking lot. Use the stairs instead of taking the elevator. Participate in physical activity with your children instead of watching from the sidelines. Once you feel confident about increasing your activity level, try walking for 30 minutes at a time at least five times per week. You can also burn calories by participating in aerobics classes, tennis, badminton, rollerblading and other activities.
Make Dietary Changes
Eating the right foods has an impact on weight-loss efforts. Even if you cut calories, eating chips, pretzels, ice cream, doughnuts and other junk foods does not provide the proper amount of nutrients needed to lose weight and maintain energy levels. Your diet should include whole grains, lean meats, fruits and vegetables instead of fatty meats, refined grains and fast food. Eating a balanced diet provides the right amount of vitamins, minerals, protein, fat and carbohydrates.
Weight-Loss Medications
For those who have difficulty losing weight, two FDA-approved medications help you lose weight by preventing the body from absorbing fat or suppressing the appetite. Orlistat prevents fat absorption, while sibutramine acts as an appetite suppressant. The Center for Young Women's Health explains that these weight-loss drugs are only for people who have a body mass index of 30 or higher or those who have weight-related health issues and a body mass index of 27 or higher. Body mass index represents the amount of fat a person has based on his height and weight.
Weight Loss Surgery
Three types of weight-loss surgery help those who are obese lose weight. Someone who undergoes bariatric surgery should have a body mass index of 40 or higher or have weight-related health issues and a body mass index of 35 or higher. This type of surgery is only for people who have tried other weight-loss methods and failed. Roux-en-Y gastric bypass involves using surgical staples to create a stomach pouch. This makes it necessary to decrease the amount of food you eat. The pouch makes food bypass the stomach and upper part of the small intestine, reducing the absorption of calories.
In gastric banding, a surgeon places a band around the upper part of the stomach, which creates a narrow passage into the other part of the stomach. This also reduces food consumption. Biliopancreatic diversion involves removing a large part of the stomach and leaving a small pouch connected to the end of the small intestine. This reduces calorie absorption and makes it necessary to eat less food. All three types of surgery have serious risks including hernia, infections, malnutrition and pulmonary embolism.
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