ARTICLE FEATURES . Obesity Medicine
Obesity Medicine Comprehensive concept of obesity treatment & customized weight management programs
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here are many diseases and health problems that result from obesity and overweight, which prompted hospitals to establish specialized departments that treat obese patients, as well as medical centers that care for this category and provide them with the necessary consultations along with treatment or surgical plans if the need arises, so patients undergo a diet and exercise program or behavioral treatment that takes into account the psychological aspect. Hence, “obesity medicine” arose after it was found that it is linked to several diseases that can be prevented or their risks can be reduced by simply eliminating excess weight. Some obese people suffer from health disorders that prevent them from losing weight through traditional methods, and they need medical intervention to determine the cause. Thus, programs dedicated to weight management were developed within what is now known as “obesity medicine” aimed at helping overweight people lose weight in a healthy way through balancing the basic health aspects of life, namely nutrition, physical activity and mental health. These programs contribute to modifying unhealthy behaviors in a thoughtful manner according to each person and his need to be able to change his lifestyle over time. It is wrong for a patient to follow a random diet because it is a delicate issue that needs a specialized doctor to assess the condition by conducting a clinical examination, body mass calculations, measuring the waist circumference, taking the medical history, knowing other treatments that the patient is taking, and requesting laboratory tests for him. Accordingly, the doctor chooses the appropriate and effective treatment for the patient's condition. Perhaps the presence of such programs is due to the various reasons that can lead to obesity. Nutrition is not the only factor, but genes can be a key factor, which has been proven by
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WEIGHT MANAGEMENT PROGRAMS AIM TO HELP COMMUNITY MEMBERS ADOPT A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE THAT ENABLES THEM TO FIGHT EXCESS WEIGHT
studies that found that about two thirds of obesity cases are due to genetic factors in addition to environmental changes that increase inactivity and lack of physical activity while increasing the demand for unhealthy foods. There is a wide range of treatment options such as healthy eating, physical activity, behavioral therapy, anti-obesity medications, and weight-loss surgeries. Weight management needs a personalized plan to develop the appropriate treatment according to each person's condition.
Treatments and Programs After determining the cause, the doctor moves to treatment, which requires the development of a comprehensive weight management plan. Now the patient has to know that it takes time to lose weight and it cannot be done in a short period of time. The patient needs to change his wrong behavior and replace it with healthy habits to lose weight and keep it off. After losing the excess weight, the specialist doctor develops a diet program in which the patient does not feel deprived from food, which encourages him to follow this lifestyle on the long term.