There is a great deal of disagreement about the best methods for fighting obesity, but there are a few general guidelines that may be helpful. The first step for most people is to find a diet they can tolerate. Most experts believe a variety of diets can potentially work, but different people have more tolerance for different kinds of restrictions. The second step is usually to take on an exercise regimen, which might vary in intensity from one person to the next. For some people, these techniques may not work for fighting obesity, and they might have to contact a doctor for additional aid.
The kind of diet a person uses when fighting obesity can vary based on that individual's preferences. Many people do much better with diets that restrict calories (kilojoules), while others perform better on diets that restrict specific nutrients, such as carbohydrates or fat. In either case, most experts recommend finding a diet that isn’t overly extreme. Diets that restrict too heavily can be much harder to follow, which can lead to a greater chance the person will eventually fail the diet and regain the weight.
While dieting, it is often important for people to make sure they’re getting a proper nutritional balance. Fighting obesity can be dangerous if someone doesn’t take enough care to keep the body healthy while losing weight. It is also usually important that diets work gradually because if things move too quickly, it can lead to a decrease in muscle tissue and other health problems.
If a person fighting obesity is young enough and reasonably healthy, most experts recommend adding more daily exercise. This could include small things, such as finding excuses to walk more during day-to-day activities instead of using motorized transportation all the time. For others, it could also include weight training and running or other intense exercises. Some people tolerate exercise better than others, and a person’s level of health will generally affect the intensity used.
For some people, fighting obesity with conventional methods may be very difficult or even impossible. In such situations, medical doctors may offer diet drugs that can help increase a person’s metabolism or lessen the appetite for food. There are also surgical techniques to decrease the size of a person’s stomach. The surgeries have some unpleasant side effects, and for that reason, they may be reserved for cases of morbid obesity in which the person’s health is at immediate risk.
