“Diet and exercises should undoubtedly be the first step in the treatment of obesity”
Diet and Exercise, treatment is the basis of obesity treatment. It is the only solution for overweight people, especially whose BMI is between 25-30 kg/m2. It is important that this treatment is given under the supervision of a dietician.
Diets containing low fat, low carbohydrate and high protein foods are considered to be the most effective diet in healthy weight-loss. The average calorie intake should be between 1000-1200 calories per day in females and between 1200-1600 calories per day in males (NIH-NHLBI. North American Association for the Study of Obesity.
The practical guide: identification, evaluation, and treatment of overweight and obesity in adults. Bethesda (MD): National Institutes of Health; 2000.) The result of regular diet treatment for at least 6 months should definitely be seen. At the same time, physical exercise has an important place in the weight loss process.
The scientific data has shown that exercise with diet is more effective than diet alone, and that it is effective in reducing co-morbidities caused by obesity. (Poirier P, Després JP, Exercise in weight management of obesity.).
Yet, the most effective exercise regimen proven scientifically is preferably every day, minimum 5 days a week and minimum 30-45 minutes per day. In general, walking fast and swimming are recommended for obese people. Remember that even when you lose only 15% of your body weight, the risk of obesity-induced diseases is reduced in half.
Although diet and exercise have an important place in the treatment, people, especially with certain weight, cannot achieve the desired success. Unfortunately, even if morbidly obese people try diet and exercise programs for many times, they cannot lose the desired weight or regain their previous weight most of the time.
Scientific studies show the permanent weight loss rate among morbidly obese people to be around 4% with diet and exercise programs. In other words, only 4 out of 100 morbidly obese patients following a programmed diet and exercise can achieve success. This information shows us that diet and exercise should be a lifestyle rather than a treatment.