Approaches to Treating Obesity

Remember, obesity is a chronic disease. There are a range of obesity treatment approaches for people living with obesity to consider, from lifestyle changes, such as diet and exercise, to the use of anti-obesity medications or even surgical interventions.1,2 Your doctor can help you determine which tools are appropriate for you.
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Approaches to Treating Obesity

Remember, obesity is a chronic disease. There are a range of obesity treatment approaches for people living with obesity to consider, from lifestyle changes, such as diet and exercise, to the use of anti-obesity medications or even surgical interventions.1,2 Your doctor can help you determine which tools are appropriate for you.

Lifestyle changes

Eating for wellness
Eating for wellness

As we all know, a balanced, healthy diet can provide essential nutrients while often helping to keep caloric intake in check. There is no single diet that works for everyone—each person has different needs that can depend on many factors.3,4 Calorie-restrictive diets can be challenging,1  but support is available.5 You can talk to a registered dietitian or nutritionist for expert advice.

Staying active
Staying active

Movement is an important part of your health journey.5,6 In addition to burning calories, regular physical activity also boosts your metabolism, which in turn can help you in your efforts to maintain a healthy weight.3,7 Physical activity doesn’t need to happen in a gym; simple changes like adding more steps to your day, opting for stairs instead of the escalator, playing with your children, or walking your dog can also make a difference.8 The benefit of physical activity goes beyond the impact on metabolism—it can boost your emotional well-being too.7

<span>Anti-obesity medications</span><sup>9</sup>
Anti-obesity medications9

Anti-obesity medications may be an option in certain cases that fall within specific BMI ranges. Their use requires a comprehensive evaluation by a specialist and it should be only after prescription. These medications are not for cosmetic use and are for people who have obesity or who have overweight with obesity-related complications. They work through mechanisms such as appetite reduction, which can make it easier to adhere to dietary changes. These medications can cause side effects and are not suitable for everyone, and some are not for use in people younger than 18 years of age.

<span>Surgery</span>
Surgery

Bariatric or metabolic surgery may be an option for obesity treatment for those within specific BMI ranges who have obesity- related complications.10,11 These non-cosmetic procedures, performed by surgeons, alter the digestive tract to restrict food intake (e.g., sleeve gastrectomy, gastric banding) or redirect food to the intestine to reduce hunger (e.g., gastric bypass).10,12 Surgery requires comprehensive preoperative evaluation, a lifelong commitment to dietary and lifestyle changes as well as lifelong nutrient and trace element supplementation, and ongoing medical monitoring10,11 There can be side effects and complications, so it is not suitable for everyone.10

ReferencesExpand Icon
  1. Obesity and overweight. WHO. Available at: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/obesity-and-overweight. Accessed on 04-04-2025
  2. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. Overweight and obesity: treatment. Updated March 24, 2022. Accessed August 5, 2024. https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/overweight-and-obesity/treatment
  3. Melby CL, Paris HL, Foright RM, Peth J. Attenuating the biologic drive for weight regain following weight loss: must what goes down always go back up? Nutrients. 2017;9(5):468. doi:10.3390/nu9050468
  4. Cena H, Calder PC. Defining a healthy diet: evidence for the role of contemporary dietary patterns in health and disease. Nutrients. 2020;12(2):334. doi:10.3390/nu12020334
  5. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Eating & physical activity to lose or maintain weight. Reviewed May 2023. Accessed August 5, 2024. https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/weight-management/adult-overweight-obesity/eating-physical-activity
  6. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Physical activity and your weight and health. Updated December 27, 2023. Accessed August 5, 2024. https://www.cdc.gov/healthy-weight-growth/physical-activity/index.html
  7. American Diabetes Association. Health and wellness: anaerobic exercise and diabetes. Accessed August 5, 2024. https://diabetes.org/health-wellness/fitness/anaerobic-exercise-diabetes
  8. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. Exercise and fitness: guide to physical activity. Accessed August 5, 2024. https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/educational/lose_wt/phy_act.html
  9. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Prescription medications to treat overweight & obesity. Reviewed June 2024. Accessed August 5, 2024. https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/weight-management/prescription-medications-treat-overweight-obesity
  10. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Types of weight-loss surgery. Reviewed September 2020. Accessed August 5, 2024. https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/weight-management/bariatric-surgery/types
  11. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Potential candidates for weight-loss surgery. Reviewed September 2020. Accessed August 5, 2024. https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/weight-management/bariatric-surgery/potential-candidates
  12. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Weight-loss (metabolic & bariatric) surgery. Reviewed July 2016. Accessed August 5, 2024. https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/weight-management/bariatric-surgery