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Dietary correction of obesity and overweight

, medical expert
Last reviewed: 04.07.2025
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Basic principles of dieting for overweight people

When choosing nutritional recommendations for an overweight person, first of all, one must remember such an important indicator as reducing the caloric content of the daily diet.

For patients with overweight and obesity of I-II degree, calorie intake is calculated based on the norm of 30-35 kcal per 1 kg of ideal body weight, with more pronounced obesity - 17-30 kcal per 1 kg of ideal body weight.

For rapid weight loss, very low-calorie diets are used for 3-12 weeks under outpatient supervision:

  • energy value 600-1000 kcal/day;
  • relatively high protein content - 1.5 g/(kg-day);
  • sufficient amount of vitamins, minerals and fatty acids;
  • completely or partially replace regular food with special products (cocktails, soups, briquettes).

Weight loss averages 1.2-2.0 kg/week in women, 2-2.5 kg/week in men.

Such diets are indicated for BMI over 30 kg/ m2, ineffectiveness of other conservative treatment methods, and high motivation for rapid weight loss.

This is why this type of active stimulation of lipolysis is acceptable in the center of aesthetic medicine.

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Limiting the amount of saturated fats and simple carbohydrates

There is undoubtedly a relationship between the rate of weight gain and the composition of food consumed. A high-fat diet stimulates fat accumulation processes, but does not accelerate their breakdown. The deposition of triglycerides in adipose tissue requires virtually no energy expenditure, which is why the lion's share of dietary fats is deposited in adipocytes. The share of fat energy in food should not exceed 25%, cholesterol is limited to 100 mg / day. Carbohydrates, especially fast-digesting ones, stimulate the release of insulin, which reduces the release of free fatty acids from adipocytes by inactivating lipase, and enhances the capture of triacylglycerol by fat cells by activating lipoprotein lipase. Therefore, their amount must be properly regulated.

Adequate balance of nutrients, vitamins, microelements

With any type of obesity, the body almost always has a deficiency of vitamins, microelements and amino acids. In this situation, the physiological reaction of the body is the activation of the hunger center, which leads to excess caloric intake.

Sufficient amount of complex carbohydrates (plant fiber). False carbohydrates are rich in vitamins, microelements; have a low glycemic index, i.e. are not insulinogenic; the plant fiber contained in this category of products promotes the release of energy, the growth of normal intestinal microflora, normalization of colon motility, and detoxification.

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Correctly calculated protein component

An increased amount of food proteins is necessary to prevent endogenous breakdown of body proteins (primarily muscle tissue) in conditions of low energy value of the diet and to maintain the activity of lipolytic enzymes. The amount of protein in the diet of a person losing weight should be 1.5 g per 1 kg of ideal body weight. Reducing protein below 60 g per day in diets with an energy value of 1200 kcal or less is contraindicated, since a long-term deficiency of food proteins, in addition to the loss of muscle tissue, also leads to the development of fatty liver dystrophy. The diet of obese patients includes a restriction of table salt. It is advisable to recommend that patients do not use table salt in the process of cooking, and it can be added to the finished dish in moderate quantities - 2.5-5 g during the day.

The volume of free fluid is limited only by indication (pathology of the cardiovascular system and kidneys). The average volume of free fluid per day should be 1.5-2.0 liters. Against the background of a hyponatric diet, there is no need to worry about the occurrence of edema. Liquid is taken during the day fractionally, in small portions, this recommendation is especially important when carrying out lymphatic drainage procedures. It is advisable to avoid sweet clarified fruit juices due to the significant content of synthetic and natural sugars in them. It should be taken into account that drinking liquid can reduce the feeling of hunger, since the centers of thirst and appetite are located in the paired nuclei of the hypothalamus,

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Diet

It is advisable to eat four times a day without transferring the main share of the energy content of the diet to the evening hours. Snacks are not recommended between meals, and drinking sugar-free liquids is allowed. This regimen helps to normalize insulinogenesis and enzymatic activity of the digestive system.

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Basic principles of diet for teenagers:

  • adequate caloric intake of daily diet for energy expenditure
  • eating 4-5 times a day;
  • vitamin and mineral balance;
  • adequate amount of complete protein;
  • absence of “traumatic” effects on hormonal balance.

Teenagers (persons aged 14 to 18) are strictly prohibited from following strict low-calorie diets, as this significantly disrupts the endocrine systems. During the period of active growth, the body's hormonal balance develops and is established - at this time, abrupt changes in the caloric content and qualitative composition of the diet are unacceptable. A growing organism needs an adequate composition of vitamins, macronutrients, and a sufficient amount of complete protein to build a muscle frame. The amount of calories received from food should correspond to the level of mental and physical activity. A teenager's meals should be frequent, but moderate in volume.

Basic principles of diet for people over 60 years old:

  • reducing the energy value of the diet to 1500-1800 kcal/day;
  • eating 4-5 times a day;
  • gentle effect on the enzymatic digestive system;
  • prevention of diabetes mellitus, blood lipid spectrum disorders.

The problem that complicates the preparation of a diet for people over 60 is a significant number of somatic diseases, such as arterial hypertension, diabetes mellitus (usually type II), hypercholesterolemia, osteochondrosis, arthrosis. In this situation, strict low-calorie diets are also contraindicated. The calorie content of the diet should be reduced to the physiological norm. Given the reduced activity of digestive enzymes, the diet of an elderly person should not contain red meat proteins that are difficult to digest at this age. Emphasis should be placed on lean fish, fermented milk products, and vegetable proteins. The daily protein intake for people in this category should be 0.9-1 g per 1 kg of ideal body weight. It should be noted that a lack of protein quota in the diet can lead to a decrease in regenerative processes - the functions of the liver and pancreas deteriorate, premature aging is activated. For maximum absorption of food, patients in this category should also eat frequently, but moderately in volume. It is necessary to significantly reduce the amount of animal fats, sugars, and salt in the diet in order to prevent and treat the above-mentioned diseases.

Diets and men

The course of obesity as a disease has certain differences in men and women, which is largely due to the nature of metabolism and the peculiarities of the distribution of adipose tissue in individuals of different sexes. Before puberty, boys and girls do not have significant differences in the amount and nature of deposition of adipose tissue. Beginning with puberty, the differences become obvious. In the female body, estrogens and progesterone initiate the development of adipose tissue in peripheral "depots" - the chest area and lower body. The gluteal-femoral type of obesity is formed. In the male body, the deposition of adipose tissue is central - the greatest accumulation occurs in the abdomen, around the internal organs, in the omentum. The abdominal-visceral type of obesity is formed. A significant difference in android obesity is the structure of the receptor apparatus of the fat cell. In this type of obesity, beta-adrenoreceptors predominate on the adipocyte membrane, which have a high sensitivity to processes and factors that stimulate lipolysis. This means that weight loss and volume reduction in men are achieved faster and more stably than in women. In addition, the android type of obesity is hypertrophic, i.e. the number of adipocytes is not increased. With the right selection of a method that reduces the volume of a fat cell, the results are maintained for a long time.

However, there are also certain difficulties. They are related to working on such a problem area as the abdomen. The severity of subcutaneous fat, the thickness of the adipose tissue in this area, the depth of its occurrence, the presence of visceral fat require the appointment of a diet, hardware methods and physical activity. The role of physical activity is difficult to underestimate in the case of inclusion of adipose tissue in the structure of hypotonic mice.

The cause of obesity in men in the vast majority of cases is poor nutrition. Work and lifestyle lead to excessive consumption of fatty foods and alcoholic beverages. Especially character. but violation of the principles of rational nutrition in the evening hours, evening hypodynamia. An alimentary-constructive type of obesity, "beer belly", occurs. Despite the fact that diet therapy in this situation is really effective, it is extremely difficult to force the client to make a decision and follow a diet. Too bad! After all, severe obesity in men, in addition to general somatic diseases, leads to a decrease in the secretion of sex hormones and, as a result, to a decrease in libido, erectile dysfunction, secondary infertility. The task of a specialist is not only the correct appointment and implementation of procedures aimed at reducing body weight, but also motivating the patient to change his lifestyle and diet.

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"Fashionable" diets

There are currently over 30,000 diets in the world. A cosmetologist who specializes in body shaping should be armed with knowledge of the most popular diets. After all, he or she is the one who will have to warn the patient against getting carried away with a diet that can lead to serious somatic pathology.

Fasting days

For patients who are unable to undergo a long-term course of dietary correction, it is advisable to prescribe the "zigzag diet" method. One or two times a week, in order to increase the activity of metabolic processes and the endocrine system, it is necessary to prescribe a fasting day. It is most important that this day coincides with the implementation of lipolytic procedures. The average caloric content of the daily diet can fluctuate within 450-1000 kcal. There are options for compiling a fasting day menu from protein, carbohydrate or combined food products. Let's consider several options for fasting days.

Kefir day: 1.5 l of low-fat kefir for 6-8 doses every 2-3 hours. Proteins - 45 g, fats - 0.75 g, carbohydrates - 57 g; 450 kcal.

Sour milk day: 1.5 l of sour milk in 6-8 doses every 2-3 hours. Proteins - 45 g, fats - 0.75 g, carbohydrates - 57 g; 450 kcal.

Curd day: 600 g low-fat cottage cheese, 50 g sugar, 2 glasses of coffee with milk, 2 glasses of rosehip broth divided into 4-6 doses. Proteins - 108 g, fats - 3.6 g, carbohydrates - 59 g; 703 kcal.

Meat day: 360 g of boiled lean meat with a side dish of fresh or sauerkraut washed for 4 meals, 2 glasses of coffee with milk without sugar and 2 glasses of rosehip broth. Proteins - 99 g, fats - 37 g, carbohydrates - 6.5 g; 764 kcal.

Apple day: 1.5 kg of apples in 5-6 meals. Proteins - 6 g, fats - 0, carbohydrates - 170 g; 690 kcal.

Watermelon day: 1.5 kg of watermelon (without rind) for 5-6 meals. Proteins - 14 g, fats - 0, carbohydrates - 184 g; 570 kcal

Cucumber day: 1.5 kg of fresh cucumbers for 5 meals. Proteins - 12 g, fats - 0, carbohydrates - 45 g; 225 kcal.

Vegetable day: 1.5 kg of raw vegetables (cabbage, carrots, tomatoes, zucchini, greens, parsley, dill, lettuce, green bean pods during the day for 5-6 salads with the addition of 5 g of vegetable oil to each serving. Proteins - 14 g, fats - 30 g, carbohydrates - about 180 g. Caloric content is approximately 750 kcal.

Fish day: 400 g boiled fish, 0.6-0.9 kg vegetables (cabbage, carrots, cucumbers, tomatoes), 2 glasses of tea without sugar for 5 meals. Proteins - 11 g, fats - 10 g, carbohydrates - 64 g; 641 kcal.

The fasting day method is recommended to be used not only by people undergoing a course of hardware body shaping, but also by everyone who cares about their health and longevity.

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