5 ways that medical assistance can aid weight loss

For many people who have high blood pressure, diabetes, metabolic syndrome, angina, or who have had a stroke or heart attack, losing weight is particularly hard. If you've tried to lose weight but just can't make any progress, talk to your doctor. He or she will be used to giving advice about this problem, and will probably be delighted that you've decided to tackle it.

• Your doctor can discuss lifestyle factors with you and help you to set a target weight and realistic timeframe for achieving it.
• Some hospitals run obesity clinics.
• Alternatively, your doctor may refer you to a dietitian or nutritionist for practical dietary advice, or to a weight-loss counselling program.

• If you have a high body mass index (BMI) combined with an existing condition such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol or diabetes, your doctor may prescribe medication to aid weight loss.
• These drugs are not magic pills, however — you will still need to eat well and exercise.
• They are prescribed only to those who have demonstrated that they can lose weight on a calorie-controlled diet.

If you are extremely obese, with a BMI of 40 or higher, or a BMI of 35 or higher with one or more severe medical conditions related to weight, such as coronary artery disease or diabetes, you may be eligible for something called bariatric surgery, to reduce the size of your stomach.

• Gastric banding, or gastric restriction, involves placing a band around the upper part of the stomach to restrict the amount you can eat and make you feel full even though you have eaten a relatively small amount.
• This can be done through laparoscopic surgery techniques, so scarring is minimal.
• The band includes a fluid-filled balloon connected to an injection port brought out through the skin.
• It can be adjusted by injecting or withdrawing fluid to tighten or loosen the band as needed.
• It can also be removed altogether when required, so the procedure is reversible.

• The most common bariatric procedure in North America is the gastric bypass method known as "stomach stapling," which physically restricts the amount you can eat by creating a small pouch stapled off from the main part of the stomach.
• A section of the small intestine is then bypassed and reconnected to the pouch.
• As a result, all food eaten takes a shorter route through the stomach and less is digested. The procedure is typically performed laparoscopically.
• This procedure usually leads to more weight loss than gastric banding, and that loss is both faster and more likely to be maintained.
• Though stomach stapling has a slightly higher complication rate, overall complication rates are relatively low when performed by experienced surgeons.
• There are other gastric bypass methods as well; discuss the options with your doctor to see which method is best for you.