Treatment of obesity: an overview of modern methods

Obesity treatment is a complex of procedures aimed at improving metabolism and correcting body weight, since excess weight undoubtedly has a negative impact on the patient’s life expectancy and quality of life.

Obesity treatment includes a range of different procedures. To begin with, you should increase physical activity, adhere to a healthy diet, and switch to a low-calorie diet. Absolute fasting is practiced strictly in hospital settings, under the supervision of a doctor.

[ 1 ], [ 2 ], [ 3 ], [ 4 ], [ 5 ], [ 6 ], [ 7 ]

Treating Obesity with Diet

The fundamental principle of treating obesity, regardless of its origin, is a sharp reduction in the consumption of high-calorie foods. All other methods, including the use of medications, perform an auxiliary function. The diet in each specific case is selected individually by a nutritionist depending on the degree of obesity, body type, gender, physical activity and other factors, based on the needs of the body.

The diet must be balanced. It is recommended to limit carbohydrate consumption and increase the amount of protein consumed. Long-term consumption of low-protein foods can cause problems with the liver, cardiovascular system and other organs. Meals should be frequent and fractional (five to six times a day). A mandatory condition of the therapeutic diet is the exclusion of salt, sweets, pastries, hot spices, herbs, smoked foods, and alcohol from the diet.

In the treatment of obesity, cold therapy is used to improve metabolic processes - dousing, contrast baths, etc. Thermal procedures are also used in the absence of cardiovascular diseases.

Treating obesity with medication

To reduce appetite, complex treatment of obesity also involves prescribing anorexigenic drugs that suppress the feeling of hunger - mazindol, desopimone, fenfluramine, fepranone. Such drugs as desopimone, fepranone and mazindol can cause side effects such as irritability, sleep disorders, and increased blood pressure. With prolonged use of these drugs, addiction and dependence may develop; these drugs should only be prescribed by a doctor. Fenfluramine, unlike the previous drugs, on the contrary, has a calming effect. In the initial stage of treatment, it is possible to use diuretics (drugs that accelerate the excretion of water and salts), as well as herbal preparations.

Today, obesity treatment is often done by placing an intragastric balloon in the stomach, which helps reduce the amount of food consumed and body weight.

Surgical treatment of obesity

Surgical treatment of obesity consists of the following methods:

• Vertical gastroplasty: a small round hole is made in the stomach just below the esophagus, resulting in a vertical small stomach that can hold a minimal amount of food (25-30 grams). As a result, when the small stomach is filled, the patient quickly feels full, which in turn leads to weight loss. In order to improve the cosmetic effect, the patient may undergo liposuction after a certain time after gastroplasty.
• Gastric banding is a procedure similar to vertical gastroplasty. During banding, a small part of the stomach is separated with a specially designed silicone band that pulls the stomach and divides it into two halves. A device is placed under the skin that allows the circumference of the opening of the small part of the stomach to be adjusted and the amount of food entering it.
• Gastric bypass is a procedure in which the upper part of the stomach is completely isolated, forming a connection with the small intestine. After this procedure, the patient's need to eat is significantly reduced. At the same time, high-calorie foods can provoke discomfort: a feeling of weakness, nausea, tachycardia, etc. After this operation, it is necessary to take medications containing a complex of vitamins and minerals on an ongoing basis.
• Biliopancreatic diversion is a fairly complex operation in which part of the stomach is removed and the small intestine is reconstructed in order to reduce the absorption of fatty foods.

Obesity treatment is a rather long process that requires, in addition to medication, a range of different exercises and procedures. Since obesity can be a consequence of various causes - neurological, endocrinological, therapeutic - you should first contact a therapist for a full examination and referral to a specialist. Surgical intervention may be indicated in the presence of the third or fourth stage of the disease.