The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved several medications for weight loss. The idea is that if you can lose about 5% to 10% of your weight, insulin sensitivity is improved, thus decreasing your risk for diabetes and improving your cardiovascular risk factors. These medications are approved for people with a BMI of ≥30, or ≥27 and some other obesity-related illness like high blood pressure or diabetes.
Weight Loss Strategies
Everyone has opinions on how to lose weight – everything from Pilates to supplements to sleeping sans pajamas has been touted as an effective weight loss strategy. It's all about discovering what works for you. For some people, the community support found on social media or in support groups for weight loss is an effective tool, while others benefit from the tried and true method of working up a daily sweat. Whatever strategy you choose, the key is finding something that you can stick with that works for your lifestyle.
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UCLA Health answeredThe U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a number of weight loss medications, including:- lorcaserin (Belviq)
- phentermine/topiramate (Qsymia)
- naltrexone /bupropion (Contrave)
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After having Vanquish treatments, most people lose 1-4 inches of body fat in treated areas; it's non-invasive and includes body contouring. Watch dermatologist Howard Sobel, MD, describe the results you can expect from this fat-melting treatment.
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The FDA-approved Vanquish device works well on targeted areas of the body, but it's not recommended for obese patients. Watch dermatologist Howard Sobel, MD, explain what your expectations should be before getting Vanquish fat reduction treatments.
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Penny Ragusano, NASM Elite Trainer , Fitness, answeredSee All 5 AnswersAbsolutely! Having a buddy that shares your same goals helps both of you stay accountable. We gain better results together and it's also much more enjoyable than taking the journey alone. So get connected and stay connected through the ups and downs of the process. In addition to having a support system to lean on, know that you too will benefit from being able to lift your partner/group along the way as well. -
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Riverside Health System answeredSee All 4 AnswersTo lose weight as part of weight management, you can drink a variety of liquids. Drink eight (8-ounce) cups of water every day. Follow your healthcare provider's advice if you must limit the amount of liquid you drink. Make sure that you have water and other low-calorie liquids available all the time. Limit fruit juices to one or two small glasses per day because they are high in calories, and limit the amount of alcohol you drink. Alcoholic drinks have extra calories and can make you hungrier than you would have been without them.
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The non-invasive Vanquish fat reduction device works to melt body fat by delivering heat to fat cells, which melts them; it also helps contour treated areas. In this video, dermatologist Howard Sobel, MD, explains how the Vanquish device works.
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Here are a few things to keep in mind while you practice intermittent fasting (IF):- Make sure your "normal" diet is on track. Limited eating periods and non-fast days are not an excuse to eat whatever, whenever. IF only works as a method for calorie restriction if healthy, moderate eating habits are maintained during non-fasting periods.
- Plan ahead. For example, try not to plan a long run or intense exercise class on a fast day -- you might pay for it in decreased performance and increased fatigue.
- Listen to your body. Don’t stick to IF because it’s supposed to have numerous benefits if it doesn’t feel right or if it isn’t working. If you’re tired all the time, losing sleep, and not seeing results, it’s time to try a new strategy.
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Intermittent fasting (IF) can reduce weight, improve health indicators, reduce the risk of some chronic conditions, and positively affect body composition. IF, the practice of periodically alternating between fasting and non-fasting, is not the only or a guaranteed way to lose weight. The what, why, when, and how of eating is different for everyone, and people often respond to diets differently. However, fasting can be an effective strategy for lowering calorie intake. And lowering calorie intake is a proven method for weight loss. This is especially true if people have lost their hunger. It’s easy in the American culture of food availability and glorification of "busy" to stop eating for hunger and start eating for a bunch of other reasons. In that case, a week or two of intermittent fasting can help reset awareness of hunger and recognize the difference between actual hunger and other types of hunger.