What Is Weight Loss?

Introduction

Weight loss in terms of medicine, health or physical fitness refers to the reduction of body mass either through decreased food consumption or an increase in energy expenditure such as exercise. Weight loss can also be achieved through laxatives, diuretics and other medications used to aid weight loss. Weight loss is used as part of treatment for various diseases and symptoms are improved as a result; furthermore it serves as an indicator for these illnesses and increases chances of successful treatments; ultimately though its goal should be maintaining an ideal bodyweight for life.

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How to treat

Unexpected weight loss can be treated by identifying its source if possible, usually through reviewing diet, activity level and laboratory tests. If no underlying cause can be determined, your physician may suggest following a low-cal diet while keeping an eye out for symptoms related to thyroid conditions or heart diseases.

Successful weight loss relies on eating a nutritious diet comprised of fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, nuts and lean proteins such as those found in salads as well as regular physical activity. Eating less caloric intake while increasing physical activity will help burn off fat, leading to weight loss over time; aim for about one pound each week! Additionally, avoid diets like Atkins Diet and KetoDiet as these may not be sustainable and deprive people of essential nutrients that they require for good health.

Not only can eating healthily help with weight loss, but non-exercise activity thermogenesis (NEAT), or activities which use up energy without exertion such as walking up and down stairs, carrying groceries, parking further from mall entrances and making other small changes will increase NEAT to help shed extra calories each day. NEAT may account for hundreds of extra cals burned each day!

Steps to lose weight

Steps taken toward weight loss can be beneficial, but they require patience and dedication. The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics advises individuals looking to lose one to two pounds per week using proven strategies such as decreasing portion sizes, drinking more water, engaging in physical activity more regularly, managing unhealthy eating triggers more effectively, sleeping well without alcohol and cigarettes, as well as stress management techniques.

People who shed pounds gradually are more likely to keep it off in the long run, while rapidly dropping pounds may damage metabolism and make maintaining a healthy weight more challenging in the future. Rapid weight loss increases your risk for diabetes and heart disease. Any sudden weight loss accompanied by fatigue, weakness or difficulty breathing could be indicative of hypothyroidism and should be evaluated by a healthcare provider as soon as possible.

Treatment

Treatment typically includes replacing the thyroid hormone with iodine and thyroxine replacement therapy, though if this doesn’t help medication such as methimazole, levothyroxine and levothroid may be prescribed – these affect hormone production to treat thyroid disorders that often result in unexpected weight loss in both women and men.