In the contemporary world, obesity is regarded as one of the biggest problems that have been embedded on the fabric of the health care system. The process of treating obesity is multifaceted, as it involves analyzing the physiological, emotional and psychological components of a patient. Treatment models for obese people will therefore vary depending on the assessment of the long term health effects as well as the exposure to certain risk factors. Lifestyle programs, herbal medication, Aspiration therapies, surgical procedures and behavioral treatments can be used to treat obesity depending on the age and BMI level of the person in question.
Weight Loss Treatment Goals
The treatment of obesity encompasses the establishment of a comprehensive list of goals that should be achieved at the end of the period (). The success of a procedure will therefore only be possible if an individual adheres to the instructions and guidelines that have been outlined by a medical practitioner. Weight loss treatment is normally geared towards the goals of preventing further weight gain and reducing the overall body weight so that the risk of other health complications may be reduced. In addition to this, obese individuals are often challenged to maintain a lower body weight over a long period of time by substituting their current weight with a healthier benchmarking BMI. These goals can only be achieved if obese individuals monitor their calorie intake and physical activity. For instance, a person can set a reasonable goal for weight loss at 1 to 2 lbs. per week. It is, however, important to note that the weight-loss goals of patients will vary depending on their BMI levels.
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Treatments for Persons with a BMI between 25 and 30
A research done by Liu et al. (2017) shows that herbal medicine can act as a viable treatment method for persons with obesity. Even though there have been many controversies surrounding the use of these medications to reduce BMI, clinical results show that they can indeed reduce a significant amount of body fats if used properly. For instance, Rhizoma coptidis reduces weight and lowers lipid concentration by reducing its synthesis within the body. Green tea on the other hand contains popyphenols, caffeine, catechins and amino acids which induce weight loss by inhibiting cholesterol synthesis and fat accumulation. A recommended dose of these herbal medications can be used alongside a change in lifestyle to lower the BMI levels to the normal range. Lifestyle programs are also considered as effective weight loss procedures because they monitor and change eating behaviors ( Wing, 2004 ). Obese individuals can do this through calorie restriction, engagement in physical activities and a change in behavioral strategies. This involves a reduction in the daily fat intake, a proactive engagement in recommended physical activities and avoiding high calorie foods through self-regulation. Individuals with relatively high BMIs can therefore lose their weight by adopting a change in their lifestyle as recommended by a physician.
Treatments for Persons with a BMI between 30 and 40
According to Norén, Erik & Forssell (2016) , Aspiration therapy is a very effective method of treating individuals who are morbidly obese. A BMI that is above 30 may interfere with a person’s physical activity and increase their risk to serious health complications such as cardiac arrests and diabetes. The aspiration therapy is used alongside a lifestyle modification program to provide patients with a procedure for controlling their portion intake. The procedure is not only reversible, but also easy to perform with no potential risks related to abdominal surgery. This therapy involves the placement of an endoscopic gastronomy tube and siphon for the purpose of allowing subjects to aspire internal gastric contents after a meal. Results have shown that it removes an approximated 30% of the ingested calories because it is conducted three times daily, 20 minutes after the intake of a meal. This is a very effective and safe alternative to the conventional bariatric weight loss surgery. Aspiration therapy therefore improves an obese individual’s quality of life by enabling them to lose more than half of their weight over a 12-month duration.
Treatments for Persons with a BMI above 40
Individuals who have BMI of 40 and above are normally at risk of serious health complications such as heart attacks, cardiac arrests, diabetes and certain types of cancer. A treatment method for these individuals must be carefully selected because they at a critical stage. These individuals need to undergo psychological therapies so that they can be given the hope of regaining healthy and normal lives. A progressive change in their lifestyles is also required if they are to lose weight under a specific program. A research done by Demos et al. (2017) shows that morbidly obese individuals usually have low self- esteem and a sense of worthlessness and as such, they resort to food as their consolation. Physicians must therefore address their emotional problems by engaging them in counselling sessions so that they can deal with issues such as binge eating. The most effective method of treating obese individuals at this stage is though the gastric bypass surgery. Akabas, Lederman & Moore (2012) define this as a surgical procedure that changes the way the stomach handles food by making it to bypass a part of the gut (intestines) so that fewer calories are absorbed by the body. This means that after the procedure, the size of the stomach will be reduced in such a way that a person eats less food. It is important to note that this procedure is highly risky and is only done on those with BMI’s above 40 that can pose serious health problems.
Treatment of Childhood and Adolescent Obesity
The success of an obesity treatment procedure is highly dependent on an individual’s response towards it. Consequently, self-regulation is defined as a person’s effort or consciousness to alter his or her emotions, thoughts, impulses, behavior and attitude so that they can achieve a set goal. Children and teenagers often experience a lot of physiological and environmental changes and as such, a treatment model must be customized to meet their complex needs. Self-regulation for the young generation is therefore not only about controlling the food intake, but also inhibiting their control and sensitivity to the goal of losing weight ( Halberstadt et al., 2017 ). A child’s degree of motivation will be highly influenced by his or her psychological perception of the treatment procedure. Consequently, this means that children and teenagers who have a lower ability to self-regulate themselves are more prone to obesity. Obese children and adolescents will therefore exhibit higher sensitivities towards reward coupled with a lower ability to inhibit their personal control of food intake. They will therefore be more likely to drop out of weight loss programs and other interventions that may be helpful to their health. Behavioral treatment is therefore a very effective method of improving their ability to self-regulate their eating behavior. With the information provided above, critical areas of future research for obesity treatment programs have been initialized for investigating the psychological effect of the increasing overweight trends.
References
Akabas, S. R., Lederman, S. A., & Moore, B. J. (2012). Textbook of obesity: Biological, psychological, and cultural influences . Chichester, West Sussex, UK: Wiley-Blackwell.
Demos, K. E., McCaffery, J. M., Thomas, J. G., Mailloux, K. A., Hare, T. A., & Wing, R. R. (2017). Identifying the mechanisms through which behavioral weight-loss treatment improves food decision-making in obesity. Appetite , 114 , 93-100.
Halberstadt, J., de Vet, E., Nederkoorn, C., Jansen, A., van Weelden, O. H., Eekhout, I., ... & Seidell, J. C. (2017). The association of self-regulation with weight loss maintenance after an intensive combined lifestyle intervention for children and adolescents with severe obesity. BMC obesity , 4 (1), 13.
Liu, Y., Sun, M., Yao, H., Liu, Y., & Gao, R. (2017). Herbal Medicine for the Treatment of Obesity: An Overview of Scientific Evidence from 2007 to 2017. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine , 2017 .
Norén, Erik, and Henrik Forssell. (2016). "Aspiration therapy for obesity; a safe and effective treatment." BMC obesity 3.1 (2016): 56.
Wing, R. R. (2004). Behavioral approaches to the treatment of obesity. Handbook of obesity: Clinical applications , 2 , 147-167.
