Understanding Medical Restrictions

Struggling with a weight problem is emotionally and physically draining. If you've been trying everything you can to lose weight with no success, you might find yourself feeling as though you're ready to give up. Don't assume that there are no solutions for you, though. Especially if your weight has reached the point of obesity, there are medical interventions that can make all the difference for you. Here are a couple of options to discuss with your doctor.

Prescription Medication 

You may have tried some of the retail diet and weight loss pills with minimal or no results at all. As a result, you may be resistant to try any other types of diet medication. Prescription weight loss medications are different than the ones you can buy in the retail stores. They can be more effective in some situations.

However, they do not work in every situation. For some people, prescription weight loss medication can come with side effects that are unpleasant and difficult to cope with. For example, you may suffer from increased gas discomfort, insomnia, headaches, and constipation.

Band Surgery

Sometimes medication alone isn't nearly enough to help address a weight problem. If you are dangerously obese and cannot seem to lose weight, your doctor might recommend lap band surgery. During this procedure, a band is placed around your stomach to physically shrink it in size. Shrinking the size of your stomach allows you to minimize how much you eat, encouraging weight loss.

The downside to this type of procedure starts with the recovery following the surgery. From there, you'll have to spend some time learning how to eat all over again, because your portion sizes will be smaller, and you'll need to learn how to prioritize your nutrient consumption. Further, you will also need to take nutritional supplements on a regular basis.

Fat Cell Freezing

A new procedure, known as Coolsculpting, helps to reduce fat without surgery. This procedure uses a freezing process to kill fat cells. As those cells die, they will be absorbed and processed by the body. This allows you to lose weight more quickly and more efficiently than with diet and exercise alone.

It can, however, take several months for the full effect of the procedure to be apparent. You'll avoid the side effects of medication, eliminate the recovery period of surgery, and face only outpatient treatment.

For more ideas, talk with your physician today. He or she can point you in the right direction.