Physicians specializing in weight loss can prescribe drugs when appropriate for people who already have or are at a high risk for an obesity-related illness.
Dear Dr. Roach: I am five-foot-two, weigh 200 pounds, and have found it next to impossible to lose weight, even though I’m active. I swim, walk, or do yoga almost every day. I avoid most processed foods and stick to organic vegetables and pasture-raised eggs and meat.
I’m not sure if metformin helped me. Are there other medications or supplements you might recommend to help with weight loss?There is reason to be suspect about the benefit of weight loss for many people. What we define as “overweight” has a lower risk of overall mortality, compared to a “normal weight” . The risk is even less risk compared to people who are “underweight” . Losing weight for people who are in the “overweight” category has very little benefit when it comes to improving health.
That being said, your calculated BMI is 37.8, in the range called “class 2 obesity.” The term “class 3 obesity” is used when a person has a BMI over 40 or when a person with a BMI between 35-40 has medical complications of obesity, such as sleep apnea or diabetes. Nearly all people at this BMI will have a significantly higher risk of chronic conditions, including heart disease, compared to people who have a BMI less than 30.
A healthy diet and regular exercise remain the cornerstone of improving health in people who are overweight or obese. Even if you don’t lose a single pound, eating less-processed food and getting regular exercise greatly improve health, compared to a typical American diet and a sedentary lifestyle. However, there is no good evidence that organic produce has any health benefit compared to conventional produce.
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