Obesity is just not a cosmetic concern. According to experts, it is a grave medical issue that increases the risk of many other deadly and life-threatening diseases and conditions, including heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, liver disease, sleep apnea, and certain cancers. And so, if you have just been diagnosed, you must begin with a plan to immediately take steps towards improving your health. Even though it may feel difficult and impossible in the beginning, your determination and consistency can work wonders.

You need to start your weight loss journey to even maintain it, and so, the goals being long-term, you must take into account various aspects, a few of which include:

• Movement
• Nutrition
• Medication
• Procedures

Experts believe it is important to have a strong and positive mindset to treat obesity and walk towards a healthier lifestyle.

And so, to lose weight and become healthy and fit, you may begin with the following treatment plan:

To treat obesity, you may need a major lifestyle change which would mean you need to reduce calories consumed and increase calories burned through physical activity.

Follow a sustainable diet plan that not only takes care of your nutrition but also keeps you full for longer. Eat lots of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, healthy fats, and protein sources. Limit unhealthy foods like refined grains, sweets, potatoes, red meat, processed meat, and sugary drinks. You can also try drinking water instead of other beverages.

Moving around as much as you can is among the best ways to treat obesity and excess weight. To move around more often, join a local weight loss group or indulge in activities like fast walking, jogging, swimming, or tennis for 150 to 300 minutes (2.5 to 5 hours) a week.

A set and regulated sleeping schedule is a must to treat obesity for good. To get a consistent bedtime, keep your bedroom dark and quiet, and avoid large meals and caffeine before bed. You can also try increasing physical exercise to help you relax better at night.

Whether you are following a healthy diet or regularly exercising, it is important to be able to follow it consistently. And so, fad diets and social media ways to lose weight can be ignored as long-term gains happen only when you are consistent and regular. Extremely low-calorie and restrictive diets can make you lose weight for a short time but long-term adherence is low.

Severe restriction in food can cause nutritional deficiencies and counter-productive weight gain upon ending the diet. And so, a doctor or dietitian can help to suggest a strategy and possibly a suitable weight-loss program.

According to experts, many people are advised to undergo weight loss surgery that involves removing or changing a part of a person’s stomach or small intestine so that they do not consume as much food or absorb as many calories as before. It not only helps you lose weight but also reduces the risk of high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, and other aspects of metabolic syndrome that can occur with obesity.

Surgery can either make the stomach smaller or it can bypass part of the digestive system. However, not everyone needs it and so, consult your doctor before taking this step.

According to studies, hormone treatments can assist in weight loss among those who are obese and have type-2 diabetes. Harnessing these hormones could lead to novel, non-surgical options. However, research in the field is lacking, and further large-scale studies are necessary to fully assess the impact of hormonal treatments for obesity.