Phentermine~ Is it right for you?

Weight Loss: Frequently Asked Questions About Weight Control

Print these questions and answers to discuss with your health care
provider.

1. Can being overweight lead to medical problems?

Yes. Being overweight is linked to a number of health problems, including:
Heart disease and stroke.
High blood pressure.
Diabetes.
Cancer.
Gallbladder disease and gallstones.
Osteoarthritis.
Gout.
Breathing problems, such as sleep apnea (when a person stops
breathing for a short time during sleep) and asthma.

2. How do I know if I am obese?

Obesity is defined as an excess proportion of total body fat. A person is
considered obese when his or her Body Mass Index (BMI) is equal to or
greater than 30.

3. Is any fat healthy?

A certain amount of fat in the diet is good and necessary to be healthy.
However, nutrition experts agree that most Americans should eat less fat
than they currently do. When you do eat fat, make sure it is unsaturated
fat, such as fat that comes from nuts, grains and vegetable sources.

4. What steps should I take to lose weight?
1. Decide you want to permanently lose weight.
2. Educate yourself.
3. Have a realistic goal in mind.
4. Formulate a structured treatment plan with your doctor and receive
proper follow-up.

5. What type of exercise is best?

It does not matter what type of physical activity you perform -- sports,
planned exercise, household chores, yard work, or work-related tasks -- all
are beneficial.

Over the past few years, exercise advertisements have targeted simplified
exercise routines for weight reduction and maintenance. Some exercise
advertisements sell the belief that one machine will work your entire body
and give you the results you need. However, many of these machines may only
be good for one type of conditioning, such as cardiovascular; these
machines also have limitations to the type of exercise you can do and they
are not appropriate for everyone. To determine the best type of exercise
program for you, talk to your doctor and a certified athletic trainer.

6. How much exercise should I do?

Studies show that even the most inactive people can gain significant health
benefits if they accumulate just 30 minutes or more of physical activity
per day.

For the greatest overall health benefits, experts suggest 30 minutes of
moderate-intensity exercise on most (and preferably all) days of the week.
Doing aerobic activity for most of the days and strength (anaerobic)
training on 2-3 days of the week is recommended for best results.

If you have been inactive for a while, you may want to start with less
strenuous activities such as walking or swimming at a comfortable pace.
Beginning at a slow pace will allow you to become physically fit without
straining your body. Once you are in better shape, you can gradually do
more strenuous activity.

7. What is weight cycling and is it harmful?

Weight cycling is the repeated loss and regain of body weight. When weight
cycling is the result of dieting, it is called "yo-yo" dieting. A weight
cycle can range from small weight losses and gains (5-10 lbs. per cycle) to
large changes in weight (50 lbs. or more per cycle).

Some experts believe that weight cycling may be harmful to your health and
that staying at one weight is better than weight cycling, even for those
people who are obese. However, there is no convincing evidence to support
these claims.

8. How do I spot a fad diet?

While there is no set approach to identifying a fad diet, many have the
following characteristics.
Recommendations that promise a quick fix.
Dire warnings of dangers from a single product or regimen.
Claims that sound too good to be true.
Simplistic conclusions drawn from a complex study.
Recommendations based on a single study.
Dramatic statements that are refuted by reputable scientific
organizations.
Lists of "good" and "bad" foods.
Recommendations made to help sell a product.
Recommendations based on studies published without review by other
researchers.
Recommendations from studies that ignore differences among
individuals or groups.
Eliminating one or more of the five food groups.

9. What prescription medicines are used to treat obesity?

Currently, most available weight-loss medications approved by the FDA are
for short-term use, meaning a few weeks or months.

Most available weight-loss medications are "appetite-suppressant"
medications. These include. Didrex, Tenuate, Sanorex, Mazanor, Adipex-P,
Ionamin, Bontril and Meridia. These medications generally come in the form
of tablets or extended-release capsules (pills that release medication over
a long period of time). Appetite suppressants can be obtained by a doctor's
prescription or purchased over-the-counter.

In the mid 1990s doctors also prescribed the popular appetite suppressant
Redux or the combination of phentermine and fenfluramine, called
"Phen-fen." However fenfluramine (Pondimin) and Redux were withdrawn from
the market in 1997 because they caused damage to heart valves. Phentermine
is still available by prescription. Taking phentermine alone has not been
associated with the adverse health effects of the fenfluramine-phentermine
combination.

Another type of prescription weight loss drug is a fat absorption
inhibitor. Xenical is the only example of this type of treatment approved
for use in the U.S. Xenical works by blocking about 30% of dietary fat from
being absorbed, and is the most recently approved weight loss drug

Meridia and Xenical are the only weight-loss medications approved for
longer-term use in significantly obese people, although the safety and
effectiveness have not been established for use of either medication beyond
2 years.

10. How can I prevent gaining lost weight?

Keep the following tips in mind.
Set realistic weight loss goals, such as a 1 to 2 pound weight loss
per week. Those who lose weight slowly, by eating less and exercising
more, tend to keep their lost weight off.
Eat fewer calories by cutting down on portions and/or decreasing the
total amount of fat you eat to 30% or less of your total daily
calories.
Do not skip meals.
Keep low calorie, low-fat snacks on hand, such as pretzels, raw
vegetables with low calorie dips or fruit. Keep in mind it is the
total amount of calories consumed that impacts the rate of weight
loss. Fat-free foods may not be eaten as desired, as they are not
calorie free.
Choose foods high in fiber such as whole-grain breads, cereals,
pasta, rice, fruits and vegetables. These foods will give you more
chewing satisfaction, while the higher fiber content may make you
feel fuller on fewer calories.
To ensure you are eating healthy, keep an accurate food journal.
Write down everything you eat or drink. Be honest and accurate,
otherwise the journal is not as helpful. The food journal will help
you learn about your eating habits and help you assess the food
choices you are making.
Eat a variety of foods to get all the nutrients you need.