The American Heart Association recommends surgery for those who are healthy enough for the procedure and have been unsuccessful with lifestyle changes and medication. If changing your diet, getting more physical activity and taking medication haven’t helped you lose enough weight, bariatric or “metabolic” surgery may be an option. Keep in mind that medication can be expensive and have side effects. Some people can benefit from medication to help with weight loss for extreme obesity. “Reduce calories by 500 calories per day to lose about a one pound a week, or cut 1,000 calories a day to lose about two pounds a week.”Ĭonsider adding physical activity after reaching a minimum of 10 percent weight-loss goal. “You have to become a good record-keeper,” Dr. To lose weight, you have to reduce the number of calories you consume. You may be referred to a dietician who can help you with a plan to lose one to two pounds per week. Talk to your doctor about the health benefits and the risks of treatment options for extreme obesity:Ĭhange your diet. “Some people with extreme obesity may have health issues like arthritis or heart disease that could limit or even be worsened by exercise.” Treatment Options “You can continue the level of physical activity that you’re already doing, but check with your physician before increasing it,” Dr. Eckel recommends that you become more active, but not to start a vigorous workout program without getting physician advice and not until you’ve lost about 10 percent of your body weight. “Bonding with your physician is the best way to get past first base and on the path to better health.” Boettcher II Chair in Atherosclerosis at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus in Aurora, Colo. Eckel, who is also professor of medicine and Charles A. “The key to getting started is to find a compassionate doctor with expertise in treating extreme obesity,” said Dr. You may have had trouble losing weight or maintaining your weight loss, been diagnosed with medical problems and endured the social stigma of obesity. If you’re extremely obese, taking action to lose weight and improve your health may seem overwhelming. To reach a healthy BMI of 25.0, he would need to lose 120 pounds to reach a weight of 195 pounds.ĭoctors use BMI to define severe obesity rather than a certain number of pounds or a set weight limit, because BMI factors weight in relation to height. To reach a healthy BMI of 24.8, she would have to lose 90 pounds to reach a weight of 145 pounds.Ī man is extremely obese if he’s 6 feet, 2 inches tall and weighs 315 pounds, making his BMI 40.4 kg/m2. )Ī woman is extremely obese if she’s 5 feet, 4 inches tall and weighs 235 pounds, making her BMI 40.3 kg/m2. (Note: BMI in children is determined using a different BMI calendar from the CDC (link opens in new window). If your body mass index is 40 or higher, you are considered extremely obese (or morbidly obese.) Check out the American Heart Association’s BMI calculator for adults to determine if your weight is in a healthy range. Understanding Extreme ObesityĪ healthy BMI ranges from 17.5 - 25 kg/m2. It can also help lower your total cholesterol, triglycerides and raise “good” cholesterol - HDL. Losing weight can reduce your risk of heart disease and stroke risk factors like high blood pressure, plasma glucose and sleep apnea. “Metabolic improvements start to occur when people with extreme obesity lose about 10 percent of their body weight.” If you’re extremely obese, losing weight can mean “less heart disease, less diabetes and less cancer,” said Robert Eckel, M.D., past president of the American Heart Association. The good news is that there are steps you can take to get healthier - and even losing a little body weight can start you on the right path. Too much weight can take a toll on your body, especially your heart.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |