Obesity is a complex disease and weight loss is its primary treatment. Losing weight is a long process requiring consistency and effort to see positive results. People with obesity might look for shortcuts to obesity treatment and wish to lose it quickly.
The question here is: Is there an ultimate weight loss hack? Is there a shortcut to losing weight or being free from obesity?
Is There a Shortcut To Losing Weight?
According to WHO as well as published articles, Obesity is a multifactorial disease, and anything from genetics to environmental aspects can affect your weight. 1 Different people with obesity gain weight differently. Someone’s genes can make them overweight, while others may gain some pounds because of a sedentary lifestyle.
Other factors like stress and sleep deprivation can also affect one’s health and result in weight gain. As there are multiple causes of obesity, how can a single obesity treatment work for everybody?
This is true, there is no single shot cure for obesity.
People gain weight for different reasons and therefore, a single weight-loss treatment does not work for everyone. There is no shortcut or a hack to lose weight overnight. Lifestyle changes and if required, medical treatments are key to losing weight steadily and safely.
Why Do People Look for Weight Loss Shortcuts?
People with obesity face stigma that makes it more challenging to open up about their condition and ask for medical help. 2 Even if people with obesity decide to lose weight, they want to lose it all quickly as the desire for the cosmetic effects of weight loss exceeds the desire for the health benefits of weight loss. 3 Hence, patients set up unrealistic weight-loss goals that are unhealthy and unsafe. 3
To lose weight quickly, people with obesity often look for hacks and shortcuts. The internet is filled with unhealthy ways of losing weight that is not good for your health. These shortcuts may look promising but can be harmful to your overall health in the long run.
In conclusion, people find ways to deal with the stigma related to obesity with cosmetic treatments. Such treatments might help lose weight quickly but are less effective in the long run and in managing the risk of obesity-related diseases.
Another question here arises: What is the possible treatment for obesity?
Treating Obesity The Right Way
Obesity is a complex disease where multiple factors are at work. With multiple causes of obesity, the first step towards its treatment is to know the root cause behind your weight gain. Consult an obesity specialist to understand the cause of your obesity and choose the best treatment for obesity.
If the management or treatment of Obesity is delayed, it can impose a risk of related diseases like hypertension, heart attacks, infertility, Type-2 Diabetes, etc.
To decrease the risk of such diseases, obesity specialists also recommend weight loss for the better outcome of treatment.
You might require a combination of diet, exercise and other treatment methods to treat obesity. Let’s learn about these elements separately.
Managing Obesity with Diet, Exercise and Other Elements
In one of our recent blogs, we detailed how losing just a small amount of weight can improve health functions. Losing even 5-10% of total body weight has positive health benefits. 6
Due to the sedentary lifestyle and modern eating choices, weight gain comes easily. To begin with your weight loss journey, you can change your diet and indulge in physical activity every day.
You can cut down on excess calories to go on a calorie deficit. When you consume only the required calories, you will most likely not gain additional weight. 7 There are many proven weight-loss diets like the Keto diet, Paleo diet, Intermittent Fasting among others. You can choose one which suits you best to start losing weight.
The primary aim of obesity diets is to either restrict your calorie intake or add or remove certain food items from your diet. We have a separate detailed blog on different diets for obesity that gives information on several diets.
You can accelerate your weight loss results by adding a physical exercise routine to your daily life and cultivating healthy eating habits. Several studies show that exercise has a significant positive impact on a weight loss program.
Initially, you may start with cardio exercises and gradually add in strength training to maintain muscle mass. Try to decrease sedentary behavior and build a habit of moving your body every day. To know how exercise can help you lose weight, read our relevant blog here.
Apart from diet and exercise, other treatments for obesity might include behavioral interventions, lifestyle modifications, medications, dietary supplements, surgeries, among others. It is best to consult an expert before deciding on any treatment. People with obesity have a high chance of regaining the lost weight. It is crucial to choose a safe, long term weight loss option. If you are dealing with obesity, consult an expert to understand your obesity better.
Once the cause is known, the healthcare provider will work with you closely to chart out a plan for you. It would definitely include lifestyle changes such as diet and exercise. Reach out to a doctor today to start your weight loss journey
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Reference Links:
- Hruby A et al, The Epidemiology of Obesity: A Big Picture. Pharmacoeconomics. 2015;33(7):673-689.
- Brewis AA. Stigma and the perpetuation of obesity. Soc Sci Med. 2014 Oct;118:152-8.
- 24. Linné Y et al, Patient expectations of obesity treatment-the experience from a day-care unit. Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord. 2002;26(5):739–741.
- 25. Kaly P et al, Unrealistic weight loss expectations in candidates for bariatric surgery. Surg Obes Relat Dis. 2008;4(1):6–10.
- Bray GA et al, The Science of Obesity Management: An Endocrine Society Scientific Statement. Endocr Rev. 2018;39(2):79-132.
- Foster GD et al, What is a reasonable weight loss? Patients’ expectations and evaluations of obesity treatment outcomes. J Consult Clin Psychol. 1997;65(1):79–85.
- Hamman RF et al, Effect of weight loss with lifestyle intervention on risk of diabetes. Diabetes Care. 2006;29(9):2102–2107.