Long-term medical weight loss
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Weight Management
What is healthy?
Britain is getting bigger. This isn’t just a tabloid headline; it is the cold, hard truth: one in four British adults is obese. The most commonly used measurement to determine whether someone is at a healthy weight is their Body Mass Index (BMI). You can check an individual’s BMI by using this BMI calculator. It is important to remember that BMI is an indicator rather than an absolute assessment, but sometimes BMI is not necessarily a good measure in some groups of adults, such as those who are more muscular and are therefore heavier but healthy (for example, some athletes).
Why is weight so important?
Someone who has a BMI of 30-35kg/m2 loses an average of two to four years on their lifespan, while someone who has a BMI in excess of 40kg/m2 lives an estimated average of eight to 10 years fewer than their counterparts who have a healthy body weight. Being overweight or obese increases the risk of several long-term medical conditions, such as:
- Being overweight increases blood pressure
- Type-II Diabetes
- Kidney disease
- Heart stroke
- Short life expectancy
Get Started with your weight management
Lifestyle activities & Dietary changes:- You should increase your activity levels to a minimum of 30 minutes of moderate intensity exercise five times a week, considering your age, fitness levels and ability, and should include a combination of cardio and strength training. You should opt for enjoyable & convenient forms of exercise like Swimming, Aerobics class, Brisk walking, cycling and many more. In your diet, you must swap unhealthy food with healthier options and reduce portion sizes. You must include plenty of fruits, vegetables and complex carbohydrates, some proteins such as fish, eggs or beans and a very small amount of fats, sugar and salt.
Available treatments from the pharmacy: There are a lot of products marketed as weight loss aids, but only the licensed medicine is Orlistat. Example: Orlos. This drug works by preventing the body from digesting fat, and should only be used in conjunction with exercise and a low-fat diet by people with a BMI of 28 or higher for no longer than six months at most. This drug should be taken just before or an hour after each main meal up to three times a day. If you miss your meal, then the dose should not be taken. This product is not suitable for children, pregnant and breastfeeding women and those who are on regular medications, must speak with their GP or Pharmacist before taking this medication.
Other Weight Management options:- There are three types of weight management aids commonly available to suit different people’s needs and dietary habits. These include products to:
- Reduce some dietary fats absorbed by the body, suitable for people who have a high-fat diet
- Reduce some calories absorbed from dietary carbohydrates suitable for people who have a high-carbohydrate diet.
- Reduce appetite -suitable for people who want something that helps make them feel fuller to control their appetite
Further Support and Information
You can refer to your nearest pharmacist for more support and help related to weight management. Any person under 18 years of age must be referred to the Pharmacist or someone who has lost weight without trying, eating disorders, anyone who has problems adopting healthy eating and exercise habits & individuals asking for medication for weight loss
For more support & information, you can visit the following links:
- NHS Choices: www.nhs.uk/conditions/obesity/
- National Institute for Health and Care Excellence: www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng7
