Topics related to obesity, weight loss, and weight-loss diets are the focus of this part of our web guide.
Often viewed as a disease, obesity is a medical problem in which an individual has too much body fat. Obesity is more than an aesthetic concern; it is a medical problem with a significant risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, liver disease, sleep apnea, diabetes, and certain cancers.
Although overeating is a common cause of obesity, there are many reasons why people have trouble maintaining a healthy weight. These may include inherited, physiological, and environmental factors, often combined with a lack of physical activity and poor diet choices.
However, research indicates that even modest weight loss can improve an individual's health and prevent the health problems associated with obesity. A healthier diet, exercise, and other behavioral changes can effectively bring about weight loss. In some cases, prescription medications and other weight-loss measures might be indicated.
Body mass index (BMI) is generally used to determine obesity. BMI, a screening tool that measures the ratio of an individual's height to his weight to estimate body fat, can be calculated using the weight in kilograms (kg) divided by the square of height in meters (m2). Another calculation method, suggested on the Mayo Clinic website, is to multiply weight in pounds by 703, divide by height in inches, and then divide again by height in inches. Several online calculators are also available.
A BMI below 18.5 is considered underweight, a BMI of 18.5 to 24.9 is healthy, a BMI of 25.0 to 29.9 is overweight, and a BMI of 30.0 or above represents obesity.
The calculation of BMI provides a reasonable estimate of body fat, although it doesn't directly measure body fat. Some people, such as muscular athletes, may have a BMI above 30.0 without having excess body fat.
For a more accurate diagnosis of obesity, healthcare professionals are likely to perform a physical examination that includes a health history to review weight history, weight-loss efforts, physical activity, and exercise habits. Eating patterns, medications, and a family health history may also be included. This will likely be followed by a general physical exam, the calculation of BMI, and measurements of the individual's waist size. Fat stored around the waist increases the risk of heart disease and diabetes. Other health problems will also be considered.
The goal of obesity treatment is to reach and maintain a healthy rate, improving overall health and lowering the risk of developing complications associated with obesity. Generally, the first treatment goal involves a moderate weight loss of five to ten percent of the individual's total weight.
Successful weight-loss programs include changing eating habits and increased physical activity. Reducing calories and adopting healthier eating habits is the key to successfully treating obesity. Steady weight loss over a long period is considered safer and more effective than rapid weight loss in the first months. The overall goal should be to keep the weight off permanently.
Several diet plans can be found on the Internet, in bookstores, magazines, and even on grocery store shelves. There is no one best weight-loss diet. What works great for one person may not work well for another, and vice versa. The best advice is to choose one that involves healthy foods and works for you. Weight-loss diets may include counting and cutting calories, developing a habit of feeling full on less, making healthier food choices, restricting certain foods, or using meal replacements.
Quick fixes are probably not the best choice. No magic foods or pills will bring about healthy weight loss. To lose weight and keep it off, it will be necessary to adopt healthy eating habits that can be maintained over time.
Physical activity or exercise should also be a part of any weight-loss program.
Other, more extreme, choices might include weight-loss medications, endoscopic procedures, or weight-loss surgery. Endoscopic procedures might consist of endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty or intragastric balloon for weight loss procedures, while surgical options include adjustable gastric banding, gastric bypass surgery, or a gastric sleeve.
Even with these procedures, a commitment to making lifelong changes in eating and exercise habits will be necessary for a successful long-term outcome.
Recommended Resources
Online since 1999 or earlier, the online discussion forum has served as a support group for people wanting to lose weight. Using a vBulletin forum script, the site has several established discussion areas, including setting goals, support for various weight-loss schemes and procedures, information and support relating to named diet plans and maintaining a desired weight after weight loss. Other topics include the importance of exercise and other fitness measures and discussing various foods.
https://www.3fatchicks.com/
Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
The Academy is a U.S. trade association of food and nutrition professionals, including registered dietitian nutritionists (RDNs), nutrition and dietetics registered (NDTRs), and other dietetics professionals. The organization provides testimony at hearings, lobbies the U.S. Congress and other governmental bodies, comments on proposed regulations, and publishes statements on topics related to food and nutrition. Membership and leadership information is provided on the site.
https://www.eatright.org/
Marketing a line of high protein bars and shakes as being effective as a high-protein snack or occasional meal replacement for weight loss, to facilitate optimal brain, eye, and nervous system development during pregnancy or nursing, for optimal growth and neurological function for children and adolescents, and to improve learning and memory function in individuals 55 years old or older. Its products are highlighted and are available for online purchase, and informational articles are included.
https://www.weight.com/
American Society for Nutrition
The ASN is a U.S. organization made up of professional researchers and practitioners in the field of nutrition. It publishes "The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition," "Advances in Nutrition," "The Journal of Nutrition," and "Current Developments in Nutrition." Membership categories and policies, meeting schedules, educational programs, advocacy and science policy positions, strategic plans, foundation, awards, and job opportunities are published on the site.
https://nutrition.org/
The Anne Collins weight control system is sold in the United States, Canada, and about twenty other countries. Membership in her weight loss forum includes support from her personally and from thousands of other members for an annual membership fee. General information about her program is presented, along with information on cholesterol, cellulite, calories, obesity, diets, nutrition, weight loss, low glycemic diet foods, and various calculations. Client testimonials are included.
https://www.annecollins.com/
Founded by Dr. John Morgan, the program offers a range of programs for its clients, including meals that can be enjoyed at its facility in Vestavia Hills, Alabama, along with accompanying therapy, or remotely by ordering online. Its starter kits are highlighted, and all of its products may be viewed or ordered online. Media information, client testimonials, a daily journal, a weekly measurement diary, informational articles, and lifetime maintenance programs are included.
https://www.bariatricdirect.com/
Formed in 1966, the CCC is an international organization representing the low- and reduced-calorie food and beverage industry, including manufacturers and suppliers of alternative sweeteners, fibers, and other low-calorie dietary ingredients. The Council provides a forum for its members to discuss and resolve industry issues and to promote cooperation among its stakeholders. Its editorial team, member information, and an introduction to the CCC are provided, along with informational articles.
https://caloriecontrol.org/
Online since 1998, the site has featured several diets, diet plans, weight-loss systems, and diet reviews. Its most popular pages cover the Mediterranean diet, low-carb diet, 3-day diet, detox diet, and the zone diet, along with its Medifast, Weight Watchers, and Jenny Craig weight-loss systems reviews. The most popular diet plans, recommended weight-loss systems and natural weight-loss plans are listed and described, with information about how they work and links to third-party resources.
http://www.diet-plans.com/
Focusing on weight-loss and fitness programs and plans, Diet Smart offers information written in-house rather than from companies selling products or medical professionals pushing a particular outlook. The site includes a blog on diet subjects and articles featuring diet tips, nutrition facts, dining out tips, diet software, fitness tips, exercise programs, and workout plans. Calculators for waist-to-hip ratios, body mass index, basal metabolic rates, and body fat estimation are included.
https://dietsmartweightloss.com/
Fatty Weight Loss: Weight Loss Calculators
Fatty Weight Loss is a weight loss blog that offers a variety of informational articles on topics related to weight, diet plans, weight-loss programs, exercise, and related topics. Its calculator page includes a calorie burn rate calculator, a desired weight calculator, a weight loss goal calculator, a desired weight calculator, a body mass index calculator, and food calorie tables to help estimate daily food consumption. Several other resources are included on the site.
http://calculators.fattyweightloss.com/
Glycemic Edge - South Beach Diet
Topics related to the glycemic index, blood sugar, diabetes, and various diets are featured on the Glycemic Edge website. Published on April 22, 2011, GI Editor Dave wrote the articles on the South Beach Diet, beginning with his personal experiences with the diet, particularly day one on the diet; although other phases and days of the diet are covered elsewhere on the site, including various recipes and other resources that can be used to effectively navigate and adhere to the diet.
https://www.glycemicedge.com/south-beach-diet-day-1/
GOLO has quickly become a popular weight loss plan developed by a team of doctors, pharmacists, and researchers in 2009. Its myGOLO membership plan includes members-only access to its online support and resources, which include its latest recipes, meal plans, weight-loss tips, and discounts on GOLO supplements and other products. The program is described and further promoted through videos and client testimonials, contacts, and an online shopping area is included.
https://www.golo.com/
Named for its founder, Jenny Craig (born Genevieve Guidroz), the popular nutrition, fitness, and weight-loss program began in Australia in 1983 and has been offered in the United States since 1985; and is currently part of Nestlé Nutrition. Using a home-delivery meal plan business model, which may be subscribed to monthly or in other increments, each 2-week shipment includes 14 breakfasts, 28 lunches, 14 snacks or desserts, and 14 recharge bars. Menu items may be chosen.
https://www.jennycraig.com/
Mediterranean Book: Free Diet Plan
Inspired by the eating habits and traditional foods of southern Spain, southern Italy, and Crete, the Mediterranean diet is distinct from Mediterranean cuisine, which covers a much wider variety of food. Key aspects of the Mediterranean diet include proportionately high consumption of unprocessed cereals, legumes, olive oil, fruits, and vegetables and moderate use of fish, dairy products, and meat. A free Mediterranean diet meal plan may be downloaded from the site.
https://www.mediterraneanbook.com/the-mediterranean-diet/
An official website of the United States Government, Medline Plus is part of the National Library of Medicine. This site section features weight control topics, including a summary of the basics, beginning a weight-control plan, diagnoses and tests, treatments, therapies, and living with weight problems. Other resources include various health check tools, statistics, research data, clinical trials, journal articles, patient handouts, and specific information for children and teens.
https://medlineplus.gov/weightcontrol.html
Marketed in the United States and Canada, Nutrisystem is a commercial supplier of weight loss products and services. The company began in 1972 with a liquid protein diet but changed its offerings after Slim-Fast began to dominate that market. Since 1999, the company has offered a direct-to-consumer business model, either by direct purchase or by subscription. Its plans, pricing, menus, and success stories are featured on its site, which includes information on how the program works.
https://www.nutrisystem.com/
The Obesity Society was founded in 1982. The scientific society is dedicated to the study of obesity and its treatment. It organizes an annual scientific meeting and publishes "Obesity," a scientific journal that is available in print and online. Membership categories, awards, grants, and directories of fellows, members, and providers are set forth. Governance nominations and election results are featured, along with a schedule of meetings, educational programs, positions, and policies.
https://www.obesity.org/
Owned by SBD Enterprises, The Palm is focused on the South Beach Diet, developed by Arthur Agatston and promoted through his book in 2003. Emphasizing the value of eating foods with a low glycemic index, the diet categorizes carbohydrates and fats as being either good or bad. Nutrisystem acquired SBD in 2015. The website offers do-it-yourself tips for using the South Beach Diet, including a dining-out guide, a grocery guide, and a guide for choosing meals and snacks.
https://palm.southbeachdiet.com/
Launched in 2005, PEERtrainer is a social networking site for people who want to lose weight. Its support network centers around four-person user groups with common interests, seeking to reinforce habits among members by facilitating peer-to-peer support within these groups. Individuals can join for free. A tip-of-the-day weight loss coaching program, a personal assessment quiz, support groups, a point-of-no-return program, an overview, and reviews of popular diets and weight-loss plans.
https://www.peertrainer.com/
Phentermine is an appetite suppressant that works by stimulating the brain's hypothalamus, affecting some of the neurotransmitters, and decreasing appetite. Phentermine, Adipex, and Ionamin may be purchased online, including certified supplies to top weight loss clinics. General information about its products is provided, including success stories, discounts, various weight loss calculators, calorie calculators, nutrient calculators, body fat calculators, and other tools.
https://www.phentermine.net/
The Weight Loss Center of Saint Petersburg offers Phentremine diet pills online, including a free prescription service, a free health questionnaire review, shipping to all fifty U.S. states, plain packaging, discount prices, and express shipping available. Purchases may be made online, and the Center may be contacted by telephone from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekdays. Its plans are featured on the site, along with general information about Phentremine, client testimonials, and contacts.
https://www.phentermine.org/
Pritkin Luxury Wellness Retreat
The Pritikin Longevity Center and Spa website provides information about the Miami, Florida resort's weight-loss and lifestyle-change programs. You can read client and doctor testimonials, print recipes, and find links to studies on the program's efficacy in various medical journals. You can also research the resort's specials and package deals and learn about the program's history. A consultation may be booked online, a brochure can be requested, and membership information is provided.
https://www.pritikin.com/
Renew Bariatrics provides medical tourism services, working with bariatric specialists in Tijuana to provide self-pay bariatric surgeries and gastric sleeve, gastric balloon, and gastric banding techniques as an alternative to the higher healthcare costs in the United States and Canada. Patient reviews and success stories are published on the site, along with information on traveling to Mexico, an introduction to the facilities and services, pricing, and contacts.
https://renewbariatrics.com/
ReShape Lifesciences is a weight-loss solutions company offering an integrated portfolio of products and services that manage and treat obesity and metabolic diseases. Its FDA-approved Lap-Band program provides minimally invasive, long-term treatment of obesity. It is an alternative to more invasive surgical stapling procedures, such as the gastric bypass of sleeve gastrectomy, while the ReShape Vest System is an investigational, minimally invasive, laparoscopically implanted medical device.
https://www.lapband.com/
Shape is an online monthly wellness publication offering science-backed tools and tips to meet personal health goals, a library of more than ten thousand informational articles and stories, expert advice, editor reviews, trend reports, and personal essays. Other topics include workouts for all fitness levels, skin-care advice, mental health information, sexual health insights, healthy eating tips, and others, such as product reviews and recommendations. Editorial guidelines are featured.
https://www.shape.com/
Located in Houston, Texas Endosurgery offers bariatric surgeries, bariatric surgery revisions, acid reflux surgery, robotic surgeries, gastric sleeves, gastric bypasses, duodenal switches, and other weight loss interventions. Personal consultations can be booked online or by telephone. Available surgeries and interventions are highlighted, a gallery of photographs is presented, and its address, a map, office hours, telephone number, and an online contact form are included.
https://www.texasendosurg.com/
Registered as a non-profit charitable corporation, Tops Club has members in chapters worldwide, the majority in the United States and Canada. Its objectives are to sponsor research and foster support groups for weight control. Its groups are known as TOPS, which is an acronym for "Take Off Pounds Sensibly." Formed in 1948, Tops doesn't endorse any particular weight-loss plan or diet, as its meetings emphasize nutrition, exercise, motivation, behavior modification, and wellness education.
https://www.tops.org/
Online since 1999, the informational site has featured several articles on various topics related to weight loss, weight loss diets, programs, foods, and diets, the importance of exercise and sleep, and the relationship between stress, anxiety, and metabolism in weight problems. Various diets are reviewed and compared, the value of various foods is discussed, including foods that can be helpful in reducing stress, and tips on getting a good night's sleep are included.
https://www.weightlossforall.com/
The company schedules and facilitates weight loss surgery in Mexico, including access to bariatric surgery, board-certified bariatric surgeons, and hospitals, with support services from professionals, patient care coordinators, dieticians, nutritionists, and industry experts, along with pre-op and post-op surgery assistance. The benefits of weight-loss surgery are outlined, and a list of related surgeries and procedures that can be arranged is provided, with prices and travel information.
https://weightlosssurgeryexperts.com/
WW International is a global company headquartered in the United States that offers weight loss and maintenance, fitness, and mindset services through its Weight Watchers diet program, which currently offers three options: online via its mobile application and website, coaching online or by telephone, or in-person meetings through a network of local Weight Watchers clubs. The company also markets various Weight Watchers "Smart Ones" frozen meals and publishes the "Weight Watchers Magazine."
https://www.weightwatchers.com/
With locations in Syracuse and Utica, New York, Dr. William Graber manages the bariatric facility where board-certified surgeons specialize in bariatric surgeries, including laparoscopic gastric bypass, adjustable gastric banding, gastric sleeve, and revisional surgeries. Individuals interested in getting more information about the surgeries or in scheduling a consultation may do so online or by telephone. Contacts are provided, along with a schedule of seminars and other events.
https://www.drgrabermd.com/
