The goal of treatment is to lower weight unil it is not a health risk. A person should try to lose 1 to 2 pounds a week until a goal weight is reached and maintained.
Obesity is treated with:
Lifestyle changesMedicationsSurgeryAlternative and complementary therapiesOther treatmentsReferences
Heymsfield SB, Wadden TA. Mechanisms, Pathophysiology, and management of obesity. N Engl J Med. 2017;376(3):254-266.
Obesity. Merck Manual Professional Version website. Available at: http://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/nutritional-disorders/obesity-and-the-metabolic-syndrome/obesity. Accessed May 6, 2022.
Obesity in adults. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: https://www.dynamed.com/condition/obesity-in-adults. Accessed May 6, 2022.
Obesity in children and adolescents. EBSCO DynaMed website. https://www.dynamed.com/condition/obesity-in-children-and-adolescents. Accessed May 6, 2022.
Treatment. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute website. Available at: https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/obe/treatment. Accessed May 6, 2022.
Revision Information
- Reviewer: EBSCO Medical Review Board Daniel A. Ostrovsky, MD
- Update Date: 05/06/2022