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How medical options improve outcomes

Would losing a lot of weight boost your health? Have you struggled to find success with diet and exercise alone? If so, you may wonder about medical options like weight-loss drugs or surgery.

These treatments can bring positive results, and it鈥檚 important to carefully consider each one. That鈥檚 because success usually comes from a combination of strategies, says Jill Welshans, ACNP, board-certified nurse practitioner specializing in bariatric surgery at 网曝门事件 Health Portland.

鈥淒iet and exercise generally help people lose 5% of their total body weight. Medications can achieve 5鈥�20%, and surgery can achieve 20鈥�50% of total body weight loss,鈥� Jill explains. 鈥淚t all depends on where someone is starting from and their specific goals.鈥�

When weighing medical options, Jill suggests discussing the following in more depth with your doctor.

Prescription drugs

Several medication options are available. Some are taken orally, and others, including semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy), tirzepatide (Mounjaro, Zepbound), are given by injection.

Some medications help you feel less hungry or full sooner. Others may make it harder for your body to absorb fat from the foods you eat.

鈥淭hese medications appear to be safe and are more effective than any prior medication option,鈥� Jill says. 鈥淭hey are not recommended for patients who are or may become pregnant.鈥�

Things to keep in mind when considering weight-loss medications include:

• Medications are expensive, and not all insurance companies cover them for weight loss.
• Weight gain may return when medication is stopped. In order to sustain weight loss, patients may need to take medication for life.

Bariatric surgery

Weight-loss surgery options include gastric sleeve and gastric bypass. Gastric sleeve surgery reduces the size of your stomach to lower food intake. It also reduces hunger signals to your brain. Gastric bypass routes food around most of your stomach. You become full with smaller meals, and your body absorbs fewer calories.

鈥淪urgery is easier and safer than ever,鈥� Jill says. 鈥淚t is a great next step for patients who are looking for additional weight loss beyond what is possible with medications.鈥�

Jill reminds patients:

• Eating the right foods and portions plays a big part. Sticking with a nutrition plan is key for overall success.
• Surgery is a bigger intervention compared to medication, but it鈥檚 a one-time event with lasting results.

Finding the best match for you

As Jill points out, obesity is a complex condition often linked to other health concerns. But as people achieve weight loss, other medical problems often resolve too. Finding meaningful solutions can give you a lifetime of benefits.

To discover a weight-loss plan that best suits your unique health needs and goals, talk with your provider and ask for a referral to a comprehensive obesity and metabolic center such as the program at 网曝门事件 Health Portland. These centers offer expertise from a team of providers trained in the latest and most effective treatments.

Meet our team online or call us at 503-256-1575 for information or an appointment.