HomeAnswersBariatric SurgeryobesityI am tired of being fat. Please help.

I am fat and facing difficulty in losing weight. Please suggest tips to reduce my weight.

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The following is an actual conversation between an iCliniq user and a doctor that has been reviewed and published as a Premium Q&A.

Answered by

Dr. Ajeet Kumar

Medically reviewed by

Dr. Vinodhini J.

Published At June 7, 2020
Reviewed AtMay 26, 2023

Patient's Query

Hello doctor,

I am tired of being fat and I am tired of diets. After a diet, I gain double and every time it is harder to lose. I am desperate, lonely, and depressed. I do not want to be fat for my entire life. I am only 26 and have always struggled with my weight. Please help.

Answered by Dr. Ajeet Kumar

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I can imagine the level of your frustration regarding your weight. Yes, it is nearly impossible to keep a reduced weight and maintain a diet and exercise. I may not be able to give you a composite plan of action for your weight reduction since it is not basically a one-day consultation task. In fact, it is a long-term commitment towards yourself and towards a multidisciplinary team inclusive of a dietician, bariatric endoscopist (gastroenterologist), behavioral therapist, and lastly a bariatric surgeon.

So I would give you facts and figures for the existing evidence of weight reduction therapies. Remember your current body mass index BMI is 34.3. The goal of any weight reduction treatment is to reduce weight to optimal ranges where the physical and psychological well-being of a person is maintained. Now anybody whose body mass index (BMI) is more than 40 should straight away consider bariatric intervention in the form of endoscopic or surgical modality. And anybody whose BMI is 35 but has other conditions such as uncontrolled diabetes, coronary artery disease (heart disease), or lung dysfunction (lung hypertension and sleep disorders) should undergo interventions. But you see not all people fit into the above category. Many have BMI less than 35 (such as in your case) and have very troubling symptoms, among such people individualized approach is employed whether medicinal use or endoscopic or surgical intervention.

Diets and regular weight reduction exercises do help to reduce weight by 7 to 10%. All medicines which are currently in use help reduce weight by 10 to 20%. Certain endoscopic bariatric procedures such as balloon placement in the stomach and sleeve gastrectomy do help reduce weight by around 25%. Lastly, surgical procedures such as metallic rings around the stomach via laparoscopy and surgical sleeve gastrectomy, and surgical Roux Y bypass, help to reduce weight by 30 to 35%. The figures are ranges, they vary significantly in individual cases.

I also want you to understand, that these interventions should be accompanied by optimal dieting and exercise even after surgery or medicinal therapy. Otherwise, the weight can frequently recur to the original ones. This above description is only to make you understand and figure out things. I can recommend you start with dieting (keeping your calories well below 1500 Kcal daily), running, swimming, and weight lifting on a regular basis. I also suggest you meet a dietician on icliniq or otherwise in person, to get a diet plan with respect to your calorie requirement.

I can suggest you some medicinal treatments, but they are prescription medications, may not be OTC, and the course has to be taken for at least six months to see the effect. Naltrexone/Bupropion (Contrave) is proven and FDA-approved and can be started in your case. But I want you to provide more information about your health, as I can assess your condition first and treat it aimfully rather than adding more harm to your health. Because these medications have some side effects and they should be kept in mind before giving them therapeutically.

I also want to know about family support, any occupational therapist available near your vicinity, your current job status, and medical health insurance, and also information on whether the cost of these medicines is covered or not. Until that time you follow up, I want you to get the following blood tests to better know the impact of your obesity on bodily systems.

I hope this helps.

The Probable causes

Obesity.

Investigations to be done

Complete blood count. TSH (thyroid-stimulating hormone), FT3 (free triiodothyronine), FT4 (free thyroxine). Liver function test. Fasting lipid profile. Serum CRP (C-reactive protein). Albumin total protein and AG ratio. Arterial blood gases. Urine detail report, and urine for albumin

Treatment plan

Will decide after further information is provided and after investigation thoroughly for any underlying metabolic complications.

Same symptoms don't mean you have the same problem. Consult a doctor now!

Dr. Ajeet Kumar
Dr. Ajeet Kumar

Medical Gastroenterology

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