“But I still had a disconnected thumb, and even if I lost 100 pounds, the thumb would not have been reattached on its own.” The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more on losing weight. “Once we’re done with dinner, I think closing the kitchen is not a bad idea,” Heller said. “Some people might call that intermittent fasting. So if we have dinner at 7 p.m., say, from then until you get up for breakfast, that might be your intermittent fast. First, Fitch notes that any treatment for obesity should be non-judgmental and lean into shared decision-making. It’s essential to follow your healthcare provider’s dosing instructions to decrease side effect risks.
Overall these compounds have proven startlingly effective, shown to help patients shed 10 percent to 22 percent of body weight in their first year of use. They work by mimicking a hormone called glucagon-like peptide-1, which slows digestion and depresses appetite. Walter Willett, professor of nutrition at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, sees two pathways ahead. On one, the new drugs help people with severe obesity lose meaningful amounts of weight, which then increases chances of success of lifestyle-based approaches. On the other, people don’t improve their diet, don’t increase exercise, and use the drugs to counter unhealthy habits they maintain and that may have contributed to the problem. On this path, people’s health would still be poor because good lifestyles contribute to well-being in many ways unrelated to weight control, Willett said.
As we move further into the 21st century, it’s time for healthcare professionals to reevaluate their approach to addressing weight-related concerns with patients. For far too long, the default advice given by doctors to individuals struggling with their weight has been a simple directive: just lose weight. This oversimplified solution fails to take into account the complex nature of weight management and the multitude of factors that contribute to an individual’s relationship with food and exercise.
Weight stigma and its impact on patient care
If that was any less, it is also the first hospital in the world outside of the United States to achieve the Global Healthcare Accreditation (GHA). Not only that, the hospital was the first of over 800 hospitals in Thailand to receive the Hospital Accreditation of Thailand. It is one of the first hospitals in Asia to have introduced the Robotic Spinal Surgical System and adopted the highly innovative O-Arm Navigation System. The hospital is accredited by the prestigious Joint Commission International (JCI), so standards and practices are benchmarked against the top US hospitals.
It is equipped with the latest and modern medical equipment along with a team of highly skilled doctors. The services offered here are rehabilitation, dentistry, ophthalmic services, X-rays, psychiatry, child development, pediatrics, neurological surgery, orthopedic surgery, general surgery, internal medicine and emergency care. The hospital is popular for treatment relating to minor ailments and has various dedicated departments such as ophthalmology, obstetrics, gynecology, orthopedics, radiology and adult psychiatry. Although the hospital has ‘Christian’ in its name, it is very inclusive and has treated people from all religions, castes, creeds, nationalities, and races alike.
Before ending the discussion, it’s a good idea to make a plan to check in on your progress with your doctor. You may wish to begin talking about what the next steps will be if you have not achieved your weight loss goals in the expected timeframes. Fitch said the rise of these drugs as effective tools for treating obesity has helped refocus how we approach treatment.
Refined carbohydrates (sugar, bread, pasta, etc.) and refined fats (mostly oils) are high in energy density but lack nutritional value and are easier to overeat. This guide is based on scientific evidence, following our policy for evidence-based guides. Aim for at least 150 minutes a week of moderate physical activity or 75 minutes a week of vigorous aerobic activity, or a combination of moderate and vigorous activity.
The insistence on prescribing weight loss as a one-size-fits-all solution not only oversimplifies the issue but also perpetuates weight stigma in healthcare settings. Research has shown that weight stigma can have detrimental effects on patients’ mental and physical health, leading to increased risk of depression, anxiety, and disordered eating behaviors. When doctors focus solely on a patient’s weight, they may overlook other important aspects of their health and well-being.
A shift towards a holistic approach to health
Instead of fixating on weight as the ultimate marker of health, doctors should adopt a more holistic approach that takes into consideration all aspects of an individual’s well-being. This includes assessing factors such as diet quality, physical activity levels, mental health, and access to resources that support healthy behaviors. By shifting the focus away from weight loss and towards overall health and well-being, healthcare professionals can better support their patients in achieving sustainable and meaningful changes.
‘Generally, it takes a few weeks to start seeing the effects of weight loss from Ozempic,’ says Kumar. ‘The active ingredient, semaglutide, is approved for weight loss under the trade name Wegovy,’ Seltzer says. Health experts provide clear answers to nine of the most frequently asked questions about using Ozempic (semaglutide) to aid with weight loss.
