Outcome Measures & Treatment for Obesity

Obesity is a serious problem in the United States and other developed countries.

Obesity is a serious problem in the United States, as well as other developed countries around the world. Now that people can afford to buy all the food they need, and many foods contain unhealthy ingredients, people are eating more calories than ever before. Today's increasingly sedentary lifestyles mean that people do not burn these calories, which turn into fat. Obesity is easily measured, but treating the problem can be difficult for many who are loath to change their lifestyle and diet.

Obesity

According to the Mayo Clinic, a person can be considered obese when he has an excess of body fat. Obesity is a serious problem because it decreases a person's mobility and increases his risk of heart problems and other health issues. About one third of Americans are obese, and this figure is rising. However, even losing a moderate amount of weight can greatly improve a person's health.

Outcome Measures

One obvious outcome measure for obesity is a person's waistline, determined by measuring the circumference of the waist. This is telling, as some people only accumulate fat around their abdomens.

There are three main treatments for obesity: better diet, more exercise, and medical intervention via drugs and surgery.

Dietary Changes

A person should strive to eat fewer calories, as well as eat healthier foods. If a person reduces his calorie intake, but still only eats fast food and candy, he will not be healthy. Therefore, a person should eat less and eat better foods. In general, this means eating more plant-based foods such as fruits, vegetables and whole grains, as well as limiting sugar and salt.

These dietary changes are much better than fad diets in which people eat only certain foods or skip meals. These may result in temporary weight loss, but don't help a person make healthy life changes. According to the Mayo Clinic, weight will likely return when a person goes off these diets.

Lifestyle Changes

A change in diet should also be coupled with more exercise, although it does not need to be strenuous to be effective. According to "The New York Times," exercise for men in general is more effective for weight loss, as they are less likely to feel hungry after a workout than women. However, women who do exercise regularly are able to maintain their weight more easily and avoid large weight gains. In addition, once a person has lost a significant amount of weight, exercise is key to not gaining it back in the future.

Drugs and Surgery

There are some prescription weight-loss drugs, such as Sibutramine, which makes the brain think it is full with less food, and Orlistat, which blocks the digestive system from absorbing foods. In very serious cases, when a person's obesity is life-threatening, weight-loss surgery may be recommended. Common weight-loss surgeries include gastric bypass surgery, laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding and biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch, all of manipulate the stomach, according to the Mayo Clinic.

References

• Mayo Clinic: Obesity
• Nature.com: Obesity
• Mayo Clinic: Obesity Treatment and Drugs
• New York Times: Weighing the Evidence on Exercise