There are several options for treating severe obesity. Some treatments do not involve surgery and some do.
The most common approach for losing weight is to eat less, eat more sensibly, and exercise more. But if you are severely obese, this approach may not be enough. Sticking to a diet and exercise plan is hard and sometimes painful. Many who lose weight quickly gain it back when the diet ends. That leads to more diets, or taking special drinks that replace a meal, or using a so-called "wonder pill." The cycle of losing weight and gaining it back is called the yo-yo effect. While temporary weight loss can help, the yo-yo effect can also make it harder to lose weight in the future.
"Obese people experience many problems in their inmediate environment because obesity is directly visible to other people, which means that it affects social interaction. People not only have firm opinions on the outward appearance of someone suffering from obesity, but they also make judgements about his or her character. For example, obesity is often seen as a sign of weakness and laziness - that obese people have no control over how much they eat. Most of the patients I see in my practice have experienced this attitude from other people. You will also find this pattern repeated in studies on quality of life. According to one study (Rand and MacGregor, 1990, eds.), prior to surgery the majority of obese patients considered themselves unattractive and felt as if people were talking about them behind their backs. They also felt that they were discriminated against when it came to trying to get a job, and found that doctors frequently treated them with little respect. It is noticeable that around 18 months after a stomach operation this self-image changes completely. I see this change in my patients too, and it gives me enormous satisfaction every time." (LAP-BAND System surgeon)
Asking professionals can help. A physician or a dietitian can help you change your lifestyle. A program of improved eating habits and exercise will be important over time. A doctor may even prescribe drugs to reduce your appetite for a while. But studies show that diets and weight loss aids rarely work in helping severely obese people reach the goal of long-lasting weight loss. Nor do other options that don't use surgery. Those options include jaw wiring, hypnosis, or counseling for example.
