A lot of obese people around the world and especially in the US are being treated with anti-obesity drugs. There are 3 major categories in which these drugs fall into:
- appetite suppressing Anorexiants
- increase the rate of metabolism in the body
- interfere with the absorption of certain nutrients in the body such as fats.
Considering the fact that obesity has reached an epidemic stage worldwide, it important that people realize how to effectively treat obesity. About 60% of the population in the US is considered overweight and 30% of the people are obese.
The anti-obesity drugs create many side effects such as fainting, high blood pressure, increased heart palpitations, nervousness, restlessness, pain, over stimulation, dizziness, weakness, fatigue, anxiety, depression, tension, insomnia, tremor, headache, dry mouth, change in sex drive, nausea, irritation in the eyes, blurred vision, hair loss, fever and chills.
One of the main problems with these drugs is that they are addictive. Drug tolerance is developed eventually by anyone who uses them for a long time. This typically leads to drug abuse by increasing the dosage to achieve weight loss. This can have dangerous consequences for health.
A bad lifestyle and a poor diet are usually the main cause of obesity. Eating a high carbohydrate, low fat and a low cholesterol diet is very common among overweight people. This approach never results in any permanent weight loss. In fact, it is largely responsible for weight gain and obesity. It is responsible for sudden rise and fall in blood sugar levels and carbohydrate cravings. When blood glucose rises rapidly, the extra glucose is converted into fat and stored in the fatty tissue of the body. Therefore, rapid weight gain is often seen in those who eat a high carb diet. It also causes type 2 diabetes in many people. Obesity is seen in 90% of the people who have type 2 diabetes.
Making changes to the diet and lifestyle is the right way to treat obesity. First, cut down on sugar consumption by eliminating foods such as soda, cookies, cake, fruit juice, etc. Use whole foods and whole grains in place of processed foods that contain refined white flour. A high protein and low carbohydrate diet satisfies the appetite and increases metabolism.
A diet high in processed foods is typically devoid of vital nutrients such as vitamins and minerals. Eating more vegetables and fruits helps in replacing these missing nutrients in the diet. Fruits and veggies also high in fiber, which gives a feeling of fullness in the stomach and suppresses the appetite. It also improves the bowel and health of the digestive system.
Exercise must be an essential part of an obesity treatment. It stimulates the metabolism and helps in burning fat. Slow exercise such as walking is easy on joints and can be done by almost everyone on a regular basis. It does a good job of burning fat and building lean muscle in the body.
Thus, a safer and a better way of treating obesity, as compared to the drug treatment, is to use a healthy diet combined with regular exercise.
By: Pankaj Kotak