Overview of Medical Weight Loss, Miami
Health care providers use the Body
Mass Index (BMI), which is a measure of your weight in relation to
your height, to define overweight and obesity. Being overweight or obese may
increase the risk of health problems. Your health care provider can assess your
individual risk due to your weight.
If you are struggling with your weight, you may find that a
healthy eating plan and regular physical activity help you lose weight and keep
it off over the long term. If these lifestyle changes are not enough to help
you lose weight or maintain your weight loss, your doctor may prescribe
medications as part of your weight-control program.
A major impediment to controlling obesity is the simple fact that
there are so many causes, and a multipronged strategy that addresses each cause
is more effective in weight loss and control.
How do
weight-loss medications work?
Prescription medications to treat overweight
and obesity work in different ways. For example, some medications may help you
feel less hungry or full sooner. Other medications may make it harder for your
body to absorb fat from
the foods you eat.
Who might
benefit from weight-loss medications?
Weight-loss medications are meant to help
people who may have health problems
related to overweight or obesity. Before prescribing a
weight-loss medication, your doctor also will consider
·
the likely benefits of weight loss
·
the medication’s possible side effects
·
your current health issues and other medications
·
your family's medical history
·
cost
This multimodal program
must address and circumvent every known factor involved in excess age-related
fat storage to have maximum effect.
Can children or
teenagers take weight-loss medications?
The U.S. Food and Drug
Administration External link (FDA)
has approved most weight-loss medications only for adults. The prescription
medication orlistat NIH external link (Xenical)
is FDA-approved for children ages 12 and older.
Can medications
replace physical activity and healthy eating habits as a way to lose weight?
Medications don’t replace physical activity or
healthy eating habits as a way to lose weight.
Studies show that weight-loss medications work best when combined with a
lifestyle program. Ask your doctor or other health care professional about
lifestyle treatment programs for weight management that will work for you.
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