Why can't I lose weight even though I eat less and exercise more?
The mechanism of overweight and obesity is often related to metabolic disorders, endocrine disorders, genetic factors, not just the matter of eating a lot makes you fat, eating little makes you thin.
"Many people cannot lose weight despite strict diets and strenuous exercise, requiring a combination of adjusting the mechanisms that cause weight gain," said Dr. Le Minh Quang, an endocrinology and metabolism specialist at Thera Weight Loss Center, at the program on April 15.
According to Dr. Quang, exercise and lifestyle changes are the first principles in weight loss. This method is often effective for people whose main cause of weight gain is overeating and lack of exercise. At that time, an active diet and exercise regimen can help reduce weight, but there is also a risk of gaining weight again if not well controlled.
In cases of weight gain due to endocrine and metabolic disorders, medication should be used to regulate these disorders as prescribed. The doctor may also prescribe additional enzymes and probiotics to restore the intestinal microflora, reducing the risk of metabolism and absorption of too much sugar and fat.
These things help people who are losing weight maintain their diet and work normally, without having to be too restrictive, reducing the risk of weakness due to fasting. If you are severely obese, with a body mass index (BMI) over 40, or over 35 but with cardiovascular disease, severe diabetes, and need to lose too much weight, your doctor will consider prescribing gastric bypass surgery to lose weight.
"Weight loss is not only a matter of beauty or aesthetics, but also to avoid complications and consequences that affect health, longevity, and improve quality of life," said the doctor.
Nowadays, the definition of obesity has changed, becoming a chronic disease. This is the cause of many dangerous diseases such as cardiovascular disease, blood fat, diabetes, blood pressure, cancer, musculoskeletal system... Losing weight and reducing visceral fat helps prevent the risk of progression and development of these diseases in the future, reducing the medical burden.
Patient undergoing weight loss treatment. Photo:Huong Mai
According to Dr. Quang, the most difficult thing is not only achieving the goal of losing weight but also maintaining it in a way that is suitable for each person's lifestyle, activities, and economic conditions. It is necessary to build a suitable diet, choose the best food and daily portions based on each person's circumstances. Exercise also requires choosing the right sport.
Do not believe in advertising methods of losing weight too quickly, which can easily lead to unsafe risks and skin cracks. Do not drink drugs or teas of unknown origin, because there is a risk of mixing in banned weight loss ingredients, causing many long-term health effects.
