Healthy weight loss is a process. It’s essential to focus on sustainable lifestyle changes rather than quick fixes. Patience and consistency are key to achieving and maintaining a healthy weight.
Core Principles of Losing Weight for Obesity:
- Calorie Balance:
At its core, losing weight revolves around a simple maths: consume fewer calories than the body burns. Achieve this through a mix of diet adjustments and enhanced physical activity.
- Nourishing Diet:
Embrace a diet brimming with fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and beneficial fats. This ensures nutrient-rich consumption that supports weight loss.
- Physical Activity:
Incorporate exercises, especially aerobic ones like walking, cycling, or swimming, to torch calories, elevate metabolism, and maintain muscle mass.
- Habitual Changes:
Recognizing and transforming unhealthy eating patterns is key. Cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) can be a beneficial tool in this journey.
- Mindful Consumption:
Savour meals, eat slowly, and tune in & be responsive to the body’s hunger and fullness signals to prevent excessive eating.
Medical Guidance:
- Consult a Healthcare Professional: Work with a doctor or registered dietitian to create a personalized plan for weight loss.
- Consider Medications or Surgery: In some cases, medication or surgery may be recommended.
Role of Approved Medications For Weight Loss:
Several drugs have been approved by Drug Administration/ regulators:
- Orlistat: Reduces fat absorption by inhibiting an enzyme in our intestines.
- Phentermine/topiramate; bupropion/ naltrexone; liraglutide; semaglutide.
- Each functions differently, impacting appetite or metabolism. It’s paramount to understand their specifics and potential side effects.
- Combined Approach: Some patients might reap benefits from a mix of medications, optimising results while curbing side effects.
- Supplementing Lifestyle Changes: These drugs aren’t magic pills. They’re meant to complement dietary shifts and physical activity, offering an added push towards weight loss targets.
As with any health journey, collaboration with healthcare experts ensures a tailored, safe, and effective approach. Lasting weight loss is a marathon, not a sprint, rooted in long-term dedication to wholesome habits.