Treating Obesity
​​​
How Do I Treat My Obesity?
We understand that obesity treatment is not one-size-fits-all. Effective and safe treatment must be personalised to each individual. We take the time to listen to your story, understand your journey, and recognise the unique factors that may contribute to your weight.
​​
​The Challenge of Lifestyle-Only Treatments
While medication and surgery are valuable tools in the treatment of obesity, they should not be viewed as standalone solutions. Lifestyle changes, such as changes to diet and exercise, remain the cornerstone of successful obesity management. However, many lifestyle-only weight loss programs struggle to maintain long-term results due to a phenomenon called metabolic adaptation.
​​
Metabolic Adaptation
Metabolic adaptation is a set of physiological processes that your body undergoes to counteract weight loss. Essentially, your body fights to restore the weight you’ve lost as part of an evolutionary mechanism designed to help humans survive periods of food scarcity. This process works against long-term weight loss, making it challenging to maintain weight loss without additional support.
​
As shown in the figure below, while diet and exercise can result in short-term weight loss, many people regain weight over time due to metabolic adaptation.
Image reproduced from Novo Nordisk
​
For additional support, you can find more information about healthy lifestyle behaviors on the Obesity Society here and Live Lighter here.
Disclaimer: this is general information only and some of it may not apply to you. Do not use this information to diagnose or treat yourself, or as a substitute for the advice of your doctor or other health professional. Seek the guidance of your doctor if you have any questions about this information or your health.