Medical obesity treatment: Lose weight once, maintain weight long term

Many people have been eager to lose weight and then disappointed because the weight quickly returned. In fact, to escape the vicious cycle of 'losing then gaining', obesity - a chronic disease, needs to be treated with a systematic medical regimen.

Obesity is a chronic disease that requires proper treatment.

Ms. H., 28 years old, was overweight after giving birth, her BMI was always over 30 - the threshold considered obese. She was determined to lose weight by all means: fasting, taking drugs of unknown origin, applying word-of-mouth tips. Initially, her weight decreased, but soon increased again, accompanied by fatigue and digestive disorders. After many failures, she gave up, her weight even higher than before.

On the contrary, Mr. T., 35 years old, obese grade I and at risk of prediabetes, chose to follow a standard treatment regimen under the guidance of a doctor: a scientific diet, regular exercise, behavioral changes and taking medication as prescribed by the doctor. Six months later, he lost more than 5% of his weight, and his health improved significantly. More importantly, he maintained a moderate diet, exercise habits and regular check-ups - factors that help keep his weight stable in the long term.

Safe, sustainable weight control according to medical guidelines for long-term effectiveness

The above two sentences show one thing: weight loss is not a matter of willpower or simple eating habits. Obesity is a complex chronic disease, affected by genetics, hormones, psychology, medication and living environment. Treatment is only effective when following standard medical regimens. Therefore, the Ministry of Health issued Decision 2892/QD-BYT (2022) which guides the diagnosis and treatment of obesity, aiming to unify practice, ensure safety and long-term effectiveness for patients.

Three golden principles in obesity treatment

To escape the vicious cycle of "down then up", health experts emphasize three core principles.

Set realistic goals: Many people like Ms. H. want to lose weight quickly and significantly. But losing just 5-10% of your weight is enough to improve blood pressure, blood sugar, and reduce the burden on your heart, liver, and joints. Losing weight too quickly is not only difficult to maintain, but can also cause complications and serious consequences.

Comprehensive Treatment: Extreme diets or intense exercise alone are not sustainable. A combination of balanced nutrition, regular exercise, behavioral modification, and in some cases, medication or surgery may be needed.

Individualized treatment plan: No two obese patients are exactly alike. Doctors need to base on BMI, comorbidities and lifestyle habits to build a suitable treatment plan. This "tailoring" helps patients increase their chances of success.

Obesity Treatment: From Lifestyle Foundations to Medical Support

In any regimen, lifestyle changes are always the foundation. Patients need to adjust their diet according to their energy needs, eat enough and nutritious, increase green vegetables, fish, lean meat, and limit fast starch, fried foods, salt and alcohol. Losing weight slowly by 2-3 kg per month is considered safe and easy to maintain.

Along with nutrition, exercise plays an equally important role. Just 150 minutes a week, equivalent to 30 minutes a day for 5 days, with familiar activities such as brisk walking, cycling or swimming is enough to significantly improve health.

Small habits also have a big impact. Keeping a food diary, tracking your weight, getting enough sleep, and managing stress all help maintain long-term motivation. Unfortunately, these are the things Ms. H. often neglected, causing her efforts to quickly fall apart.

Medication - "assistance" in standard regimen

However, for many people, lifestyle changes are not enough. When weight is lost, the body often responds by increasing hunger and decreasing metabolism, making it difficult to maintain results. At this time, obesity treatment drugs are considered "assistants", helping to control appetite, increase satiety or improve energy metabolism. Unlike weight loss drugs of unknown origin, drugs in medical regimens must be prescribed and closely monitored by a specialist to ensure effectiveness and safety.

In cases where other measures are no longer effective, surgery may be considered. However, this is only the last option, and the patient must still maintain a diet and exercise regimen to maintain long-term results.

Obesity is a chronic disease, treatment is a long-term medical journey, not a race to lose weight quickly. Instead of pursuing extreme measures, each person should proactively check their BMI and seek out experts for personalized advice. With proper treatment, patients can "lose weight once and keep it for a long time", improve their health and quality of life, and escape the vicious cycle of "losing weight and then gaining weight again".

Visit the website of the Vietnam Medical Association (https://giamcansongkhoe.vn/) to learn scientific information and advice on managing obesity.

The information in this article is intended to raise awareness about obesity and is not a substitute for medical advice.

VN25OB00069

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/dieu-tri-beo-phi-theo-chuan-y-khoa-giam-mot-lan-giu-lau-dai-18525120417292002.htm