Treatment options for the morbidly obese

Until very recently, healthcare mostly treated the sequelae of obesity. Healthcare takes care of diabetes, provides medication for high blood pressure and so on. But healthcare has not to any great extent treated the root cause - morbid obesity. Care has simply been reactive.Morbid obesity is a complex challenge that requires careful treatment methods to improve both health and quality of life. According to guidelines from both the National Board of Health and Welfare and the World Health Organization (WHO), there are clear recommendations that highlight two outstanding treatment options: drug treatment in combination with lifestyle changes or bariatric surgery, including gastric bypass and gastric sleeve.

Treating obesity

The best way to treat obesity is to eat a healthy reduced-calorie diet and exercise regularly.

To do this, you can:

• eat a balanced calorie-controlled diet as recommended by a GP or weight loss management health professional (such as a dietitian)
• take up activities such as fast walking, jogging, swimming or tennis for 150 to 300 minutes (2.5 to 5 hours) a week

You may benefit from joining a local weight management programme with group meetings or online support. Your GP can tell you about these.

You may also benefit from receiving support and counselling from a trained healthcare professional to help you better understand your relationship with food and develop different eating habits.

If you're living with obesity and lifestyle and behavioural changes alone do not help you lose weight, a medicine called orlistat may be recommended.

If taken correctly, this medicine works by reducing the amount of fat you absorb during digestion. Your GP will know whether orlistat is suitable for you.

A specialist may prescribe other medicines called liraglutide or semaglutide. They work by making you feel fuller and less hungry.

For some people living with obesity, a specialist may recommend weight loss surgery.

Source: NHS

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