Treatment Plan

Treatment varies from person to person. Some people may choose to follow a doctor's supervised diet and exercise plan while others may choose to talk to their doctors about other methods of weight reduction, such as a gastric bypass procedure. This procedure involves surgically reducing the stomach so less food can be consumed. Usually, surgery is reserved for the severely obese (with a BMI of 40 and higher) or obese people with BMIs of 35 to 39.9 and serious medical conditions.

One form of obesity surgery - vertical banded gastroplexy - uses restrictive bands to create a small pouch in the stomach and a small outlet at the bottom of the pouch. Another FDA-approved operation is Roux-en-Y gastric bypass. People can lose 50 percent to 70 percent of their excess weight in the first year after surgery as long as they follow diets and behavior recommendations. The weight loss slows eventually and weight stabilizes.

Between 10 percent and 20 percent of patients develop complications, including wound infections, leaks or narrowing at the connection to the pouch, ulcers, hernias, breathing problems and blood clots. A less drastic option is drug therapy if your body mass index (BMI) is 30 or greater (or 27 or greater if you have additional risk factors for disease) and you have trouble shedding the weight despite diet and exercise. These drugs are meant to supplement regular exercise and a low-fat, low-calorie diet. Prescription medications most often used are appetite suppressants, which lead to an average loss of five to 22 pounds. Other medications interfere with the absorption of fat.

Don't use weight loss supplements available over the counter. The only thing they shed is the money in your wallet. And some can be dangerous for your health.

More on Obesity

This article was reviewed and updated June 2007.