How do I know if I am at a healthy weight?
\n\u2014 This depends on your height and your overall health.
\nDoctors use a special measure called “body mass index,” or “BMI,” to help understand a person’s weight.
\nYour weight and height are used to calculate your BMI (“gure 1). Based on this number, you fall into 1
\nof the following categories:
\nYour doctor or nurse will often want to calculate your BMI at your medical appointments. But it’s
\nimportant to remember that your weight and BMI are just 1 piece of your overall health. Someone with
\na lower BMI might not be healthy overall, and someone with a higher BMI can still be healthy.
\nHow does my weight a!ect my health?
\n\u2014 Having obesity increases the risks of many di#erent health problems. It can also make it harder for
\nyou to move, breathe, and do other things that people who are at a healthy weight can do easily.
\nPeople with obesity are more likely to get diabetes, heart disease, cancer, and lots of other health
\nproblems. People with obesity also live less time than people of healthy weight. That’s why it’s
\nimportant to try to keep your weight in a healthy range.
\nWhat should I do if I want to lose weight?
\n\u2014 If you would like to lose weight, you can start by talking to your doctor or nurse. They can help you
\nmake a plan to do this in a healthy way. They can also help you understand how many calories your
\nbody needs for energy. Losing weight takes work and can be hard, so it helps to have support.
\nThe best weight loss plans help you have a healthy view of eating and exercise. With a good weight loss
\nplan, many people can lose weight and keep it o#. Reducing calories in your diet, burning calories
\nthrough exercise, or both can help you lose weight:
\n\u25cf Underweight \u2013 BMI under 18.5
\n\u25cf Healthy weight \u2013 BMI between 18.5 and 24.9
\n\u25cf Overweight \u2013 BMI between 25 and 29.9
\n\u25cf Having obesity \u2013 BMI 30 or greater
\nDiet \u2013 There is no speci”c diet plan that works for everyone. Many “trendy” weight loss programs
\ncan end up being more harmful than helpful. Any diet that reduces the number of calories you eat
\ncan help you lose weight, as long as you stick with it. You should try to “nd an eating pattern that
\nworks for you.
\n\u25cf
\nIt can also help to work with a dietitian (food expert). They can help you make healthy changes to
\nyour diet while making sure that you get the nutrients your body needs.
\nMovement \u2013 Even gentle forms of exercise are good for your health. You can walk, dance, garden,
\nor even just move your arms while sitting. For weight loss, the important thing is to increase the
\n\u25cf
\nCombining a healthy diet with regular physical activity can help you get the best results. This is
\nimportant even if your doctor recommends treatment for weight loss.
\nIf you change your eating or exercise habits for a short time, you might lose weight. But you will regain
\nthe weight if you go back to your old habits. Weight loss is about changing your habits for the long
\nterm.
\nCan medicines help with weight loss?
\n\u2014 Sometimes. Prescription weight loss medicines work by reducing your appetite or by changing the
\nway you digest food. Your doctor might recommend medicine if you have not been able to lose weight
\nin other ways and you:
\nDoctors sometimes prescribe “incretin-based” medicines to help with weight loss. These include
\nsemaglutide (brand name: Wegovy) and tirzepatide (brand name: Zepbound). They were originally used
\nin treating diabetes. But they can also help with weight loss in some people without diabetes. There are
\nother medicines that can be used for weight loss, too.
\nEven if your doctor does prescribe medicine to help you lose weight, they will also still recommend
\nmaking lifestyle changes. This can help improve your overall health.
\nIf you are interested in taking medicine to help you lose weight, talk with your doctor. They can help
\nyou understand your options.
\nCan I try herbal or non-prescription medicines to lose weight?
\n\u2014 Be careful about non-prescription (“over-the-counter”) products advertised to help with weight loss:
\nHow does weight loss surgery work?
\n\u2014 Surgical procedures for weight loss work by making your stomach smaller. Some types of surgery
\nalso change the path that food takes through your digestive system. With these types, your body absorbs
\nfewer calories and nutrients from food.
\nWeight loss surgery is not an option for everyone. If you are thinking about surgery, your doctor can
\ntalk to you about your situation and options. They can also talk to you about the risks and bene”ts of
\nsurgery.
\nHow do I decide if weight loss treatment is right for me?
\n\u2014 If your doctor suggests weight loss treatment, ask these questions:
\nnumber of calories you burn by moving more.
\n\u25cf Have a BMI of 30 or greater, or
\nHave a BMI between 27 and 29.9 and also have weight-related medical problems, such as
\ndiabetes, heart disease, or high blood pressure
\n\u25cf
\nMany herbal weight loss medicines do not work, and some are unsafe. Check with your doctor or
\npharmacist before you take any herbal weight loss medicines.
\n\u25cf
\nThere is also an over-the-counter version of a prescription medicine called orlistat (brand name:
\nAlli). It is probably safe to try, but it can cause unwanted side e#ects, such as cramps, burping, and
\ngas.
\n\u25cf
\nSome weight loss medicines are sold over the internet. However, they can contain harmful
\ningredients and be unsafe.
\n\u25cf
\nMore on this topic
\nPatient education: Understanding body mass index (BMI) (The Basics)
\nPatient education: Health risks of obesity (The Basics)
\nPatient education: Weight and health in children (The Basics)
\nPatient education: Weight loss surgery (The Basics)
\nPatient education: Losing weight through diet (The Basics)
\nPatient education: Exercise and movement as you get older (The Basics)
\nPatient education: Losing weight (Beyond the Basics)
\nPatient education: Weight loss surgery and procedures (Beyond the Basics)
\nThis topic retrieved from UpToDate on: Feb 29, 2024.
\nDisclaimer: This generalized information is a limited summary of diagnosis,
\ntreatment, and\/or medication information. It is not meant to be comprehensive
\nand should be used as a tool to help the user understand and\/or assess potential
\ndiagnostic and treatment options. It does NOT include all information about
\nconditions, treatments, medications, side e#ects, or risks that may apply to a
\nspeci”c patient. It is not intended to be medical advice or a substitute for the
\nmedical advice, diagnosis, or treatment of a health care provider based on the
\nhealth care provider’s examination and assessment of a patient’s speci”c and
\nunique circumstances. Patients must speak with a health care provider for
\ncomplete information about their health, medical questions, and treatment
\noptions, including any risks or bene”ts regarding use of medications. This
\ninformation does not endorse any treatments or medications as safe, e#ective,
\nor approved for treating a speci”c patient. UpToDate, Inc. and its a$liates
\ndisclaim any warranty or liability relating to this information or the use thereof.
\nThe use of this information is governed by the Terms of Use, available at
\nAbout how much weight can I expect to lose, and how long will that take? \u2013 This depends on
\nthe treatment. Some weight loss medicines start working quickly, often within a few months. For
\nsurgery, the amount of weight loss and how long it takes will depend on which procedure you
\nhave.
\n\u25cf
\nWhat are the risks of treatment for someone like me? \u2013 All weight loss medicines can have side
\ne#ects. All weight loss surgeries can lead to infection, bleeding, the need for other operations, and
\neven death. To reduce the risk of these problems with surgery, make sure that your surgeon is very
\nexperienced and that you are treated at a certi”ed “Center of Excellence.”
\n\u25cf
\nWhat changes will I need to make to my diet and lifestyle? \u2013 Weight loss treatments are not
\n“shortcuts” that you can take to avoid making lifestyle changes. People must also change how they
\neat and how active they are. No single weight loss treatment works on its own. Sometimes, people
\ncan get surgery only after they lose some weight on their own through diet and exercise “rst.
\nWorking with a dietitian can help.
\n\u25cf
\nWill I be able to process food normally? \u2013 Some types of weight loss surgeries leave people
\nunable to get all of the nutrients that they need from food. People who have this problem must
\ntake vitamin and mineral supplements for the rest of their lives.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
How do I know if I am at a healthy weight? \u2014 This depends on your height and your overall health. Doctors use a special measure called “body mass index,” or “BMI,” to help understand a person’s weight. Your weight and height are used to calculate your BMI (“gure 1). Based on this number, you […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":823,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"elementor_canvas","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[28,1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1479","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","category-uncategorized"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/yasadvice.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/young-colleagues-smart-casual-wear-working-while-spending-time-office_484651-16026.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/yasadvice.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1479","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/yasadvice.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/yasadvice.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/yasadvice.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/yasadvice.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1479"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/yasadvice.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1479\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1480,"href":"https:\/\/yasadvice.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1479\/revisions\/1480"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/yasadvice.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/823"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/yasadvice.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1479"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/yasadvice.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1479"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/yasadvice.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1479"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}