Morbid obesity treatment and support
A body mass index (BMI) of 30 puts you in the obese category. However, if you have a BMI of 40, you are in the morbidly obese category. Your obesity is categorized as being ‘morbid” when the chances of you suffering from serious obesity linked diseases, increase manifold. These are the kinds of diseases that are going to have a debilitating effect on your body and might even lead to death.
While reading about morbid obesity, you may come across a phrase like ‘clinically severe obesity’. This is another name for morbid obesity. If you are suffering from morbid obesity, it’s important to treat it with a fair degree of seriousness. Because it’s a chronic disease, you need to get started on a treatment option immediately.
Morbid obesity – Treatment and drugs
Treating obesity and bringing the body back to its ideal weight is difficult, but possible. It’s a long process and requires perseverance. Here are a few treatments and drugs that are used for treating morbid obesity.
- Low calorie diet
- Using prescription weight loss drugs
- Surgical treatment options
Typically, doctors suggest that a low calorie diet, in combination with a structured exercise plan can work wonders for weight loss. The patient is also taken through a series of lifestyle counseling sessions that help him/her get rid of the habits that promote weight gain.
The use of prescription weight loss drugs like Xenical is another treatment option, commonly used. Xenical is a fat blocker and prevents one third of the ingested dietary fat from being digested. The intake of this medication alongwith a reduced calorie diet is recommended by doctors for the purpose of weight reduction. Exercise therapy is also incorporated with the use of this drug.
Bariatric surgery like gastric bypass, stomach gastrectomy and stomach banding can be used to help a morbidly obese person lose weight. Bariatric surgery like gastric bypass involves the division of the stomach into two pouches, namely the small upper pouch and the larger “remnant” pouch. The surgery also re-arranges the small intestine in such a way that both pouches remain connected to it. The purpose of any bariatric surgery is to help reduce the stomach’s capacity to hold food. So, a person eats less food, but feels full.
All treatment therapies and procedures that help treat morbid obesity have two integral components – A healthy diet and a disciplined exercise regimen. You can’t lose weight without embarking upon a healthy eating plan or exercising your body.
Morbid obesity – Prevention is better than cure
If you don’t want to suffer from morbid obesity, look towards preventing it. Simple and straightforward measures will help you prevent morbid obesity. Here are a few preventive pointers:
- Get rid of your sedentary behaviour. You are attracting obesity by sitting on that couch in front of the television. Exercise is the key to staying fit and healthy
- Change your eating habits. Over consumption of fried food and all kinds of junk food only push you towards obesity. Also, avoid eating when you are not hungry.
- Avoid addiction to harmful substances like cigarettes, alcohol or drugs. Many of them promote weight gain.
- Make lifestyle changes that help keep your body healthy. Cultivate healthy eating habits. Eat your meals on time and avoid serving large portions; these are good ways of preventing weight gain.
These are just some of the preventive measures that you can be used to help prevent obesity. Ask your doctor about other preventive tips that will help your body stay fit and healthy.
Morbid obesity – Coping and support
Morbid obesity is difficult to cope with. A morbidly obese person needs all the support he/she can get to overcome this condition. Its not treatment alone, that can help the person in this respect.
Nobody goes from a stage of obesity to one of complete physical fitness in quick time. So, one way of coping is to write a journal. This can help you vent your frustration and anger or any other emotions that you can otherwise not show. Bottling up these emotions might just lead to behavioral problems. Also, don’t think you are alone when it comes to suffering from morbid obesity. There are others like you out there who are facing the same problem. Connect with them. It will help you feel less isolated. If you ever feel like leaving the difficult weight loss therapy, think about what you are going to gain at the end of it. Stay focused.
One of the most important coping mechanisms is to stay relaxed. Don’t take the focus away from what you want to achieve, but don’t put undue pressure on yourself either. Learn various stress management techniques and relaxation therapies that will help you manage your stress levels better.