Obesity
- Treatments
The goal of obesity treatment is to achieve and maintain a healthy weight.
For a start, a good weight-loss goal would be to lose 5 – 10% of your initial body weight over 6 months. Weight loss should be done in a gradual and safe way, and should not exceed 0.5 – 1kg per week.
Lifestyle change
Having a healthy lifestyle is by far the most important factor in achieving weight loss. This includes:
- Reducing the number of calories in your diet
- Making healthy food choices
- Getting enough exercise (at least 30 minutes a day of moderate-intensity exercise on most days of the week)
In some cases, advice from a dietician, physiotherapist or obesity specialist may be needed. This may help you to make practical and effective changes to your eating and exercise habits.
Weight-loss medications
A healthy diet and regular exercise are crucial to losing weight. However, in certain situations, additional weight-loss medication may help. It is important to remember that weight-loss medication will only work if a healthy lifestyle is maintained. Your doctor will consider your medical history and possible side effects of each medication before selecting one that is right for you. Medications approved for weight management in Singapore include orlistat and phentermine.
Weight-loss surgery
In some situations, weight-loss surgery (bariatric surgery) is an option. Weight-loss surgery works by limiting the amount of food you can eat, or decreases the absorption of food, or both. It is a very effective way to lose weight and improve obesity-related health problems. However, it requires motivation, commitment and a long-term lifestyle change. People who have a BMI above 40 kg/m2, or a BMI above 35 kg/m2 with one or more obesity-related health problems may consider weight-loss surgery after discussion with an obesity specialist.
