Obesity is a chronic condition, with a complex range of causes, that requires a multifaceted approach to treatment.
This means that treatment is usually long-term too. There isn’t a single treatment that works for everyone. The best approach depends on your health, your goals and what feels realistic for you.
Treatment may include changes to eating habits and physical activity, medicines, psychological support, better sleep, or bariatric surgery. Many people use a combination of these approaches.
The aim isn’t simply to lose weight. It’s to improve health, reduce the impact obesity is having on your life and help you feel as well as possible.
Lifestyle changes
Lifestyle changes are usually the starting point for obesity treatment, although they are often combined with other treatments where appropriate.
This might include:
- Eating regular, balanced meals that provide enough protein, fibre and other nutrients. Rather than following restrictive diets, the focus is on building eating habits that you can maintain over time.
- Finding ways to move your body that you enjoy. Walking, swimming, cycling, gardening or strength training can all support your health. Physical activity has benefits far beyond weight management, including improving mood, sleep and heart health.
- Looking after your sleep. Poor sleep can affect hunger, appetite and energy levels, making weight management more difficult. Small changes to your sleep routine can make a difference.
- Looking after your mental wellbeing. Stress, anxiety, low mood and emotional eating can all influence eating habits. Some people benefit from working with a psychologist or counsellor alongside their medical care.
Weight management medicines
For some people, medicines can be a helpful part of obesity treatment.
Different medicines work in different ways. Some help reduce hunger, some help you feel fuller for longer, and others work by changing how your body absorbs food.
These medicines work best when they’re used alongside healthy lifestyle changes rather than instead of them. Your healthcare team can help you decide whether medication is appropriate for you.
Bariatric surgery
For some people living with obesity, bariatric surgery may be the most effective treatment available.
Surgery changes the digestive system in a way that helps people eat less and, depending on the procedure, changes hormones involved in hunger and fullness. It can also improve or even put conditions such as type 2 diabetes into remission for some people.
The most common procedures include:
- Sleeve gastrectomy
- Gastric bypass
- Adjustable gastric band
Bariatric surgery is a tool, not a cure. Long-term success depends on ongoing follow-up, good nutrition, regular physical activity, lifelong vitamin and mineral supplements where recommended, and support from your healthcare team.
Is bariatric surgery right for you?
If you’re thinking about bariatric surgery, it’s completely normal to have questions. Understanding the benefits, risks and the lifelong changes involved can help you decide whether it’s the right option for you.
We’re currently creating an expert-led course called Nourished Bariatrics course to support people before surgery. It will explain what to expect, how to prepare, and how to look after your health in the months and years afterwards.
Join the Nourished Bariatrics waiting list to be the first to hear when it launches.
