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All too often, obesity prompts
a strenuous diet in the hopes of reaching the
"ideal body weight."
Some amount of weight loss may be accomplished, but
the lost weight usually quickly returns. More than
95% of the people who lose weight regain the weight
within five years. It is clear that a more
effective, long-lasting treatment for obesity must
be found, lest obesity lead to oblivion.
We need to learn more about the
causes of obesity, and then we need to change the
ways we treat it. When obesity is accepted as a
chronic disease, it will be treated like other
chronic diseases such as diabetes and high blood
pressure. The treatment of obesity cannot be a
short-term "fix,"
but has to be an ongoing life-long process.
Instead of staring nearsightedly at the goal of
attaining an "ideal
weight," obesity treatment must
acknowledge that even modest weight loss can be
beneficial. For example, a modest weight loss of 5
to 10% of the initial weight, and long-term
maintenance of that weight loss can bring
significant health gains, including:
Lowered blood pressure
Reduced blood levels of cholesterol
Reduced risk of type 2 (adult-onset) diabetes. In
the Nurses Health Study,
women who lost 5 kilograms (11 pounds) of
weight reduced their risk of diabetes by 50% or
more.
Decreased chance of stroke Decreased
complications of heart disease
Decreased overall mortality
It is not necessary to achieve
an "ideal weight"
to derive health benefits from obesity treatment.
Instead, the goal of treatment should be to reach
and hold to a "healthier
weight" (for
more, please read the "Aim for a Healthy
Weight" article). The emphasis of
treatment should be to commit to the process of
life-long healthy living including eating more
wisely and increasing physical activity.
In sum, the goal in dealing with obesity is to
achieve and maintain a "healthier
weight." |
