Best FDA Approved Weight Loss Treatments For Seniors
Eating a healthier diet, increasing daily exercise and living a healthier lifestyle are all key factors in losing weight. But there are many people of all ages, seniors included, who follow these guidelines yet still struggle to lose sufficient weight. In these cases, FDA approved weight loss treatments can help.
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There are a number of conditions and factors that can lead to long-term obesity that are very difficult to beat with typical measures, such as hormone imbalance, genetically inherited diseases, bad side effects from certain medications, overeating due to depression, anxiety and other mental health disorders, and many others. If this sounds like you or someone you know, then it may be time to consult with a doctor who specializes in weight loss treatments in order to determine which treatment is most suitable for you.
Some treatments are prescription drugs, others are surgical, and each one works differently. Whichever treatment your doctor opts for, please be advised that it will only be effective if you combine it with a better diet and more active lifestyle. It’s imperative that you take action as soon as possible, as obesity is a high risk factor of spinal and joint injuries, clogged arteries, diabetes, high blood pressure, heart attacks and other serious health complications.
Listed below are the best FDA approved weight loss treatments suitable for most seniors.
Weight-Loss Drug- Orlistat (Xenical)
Orlistat comes in 120 mg capsules. It works by blocking the enzymes that digest and break down the fats you consume, which then effectively reduces the fat your body absorbs with each meal. The drug cuts off about a third of the total fat absorption. These unabsorbed fats go into your stools and are then eliminated from your body.
While this drug has been approved by the FDA for both short and long-term use, it’s crucial to keep in mind that it temporarily makes it harder for your body to naturally absorb essential vitamins found in fats- A, D, E and K. Therefore, it’s highly recommended to take a daily multi-vitamin with high quantities of these vitamins, 2 hours before or after a meal, to stay in optimum health. Additionally, you will also need to reduce your intake of fats, carbs and calories to boost the effectiveness of the drug and to help you lose weight faster.
Weight-Loss Drug - Semaglutide (Wegovy)
Semaglutide is a type of appetite-curbing drug that comes in 14 mg tablets. It works by mimicking an intestinal hormone that induces a higher insulin production, which makes you feel full faster and easier, thus reducing how much you want to eat. You swallow it whole with a glass of water, usually once a day, unless prescribed otherwise by your doctor. For the best effect, only drink water for at least 30 minutes, and aim to have a meal about 30-60 minutes after taking Semaglutide.
It’s also very important to note that, once you start taking this drug, you will need to keep taking it for life in order to keep the weight off. Although this may not seem ideal for some people, it’s still prescribed quite often because the possible side effects are usually very mild and temporary in comparison to other prescription weight loss aids.
Surgical Procedure - Adjustable Gastric Banding (AGB or Lap-Band)
Surgical weight loss procedures are usually reserved for individuals who are severely obese and have not succeeded in losing sufficient weight with prescription drugs.
During this procedure, your surgeon wraps an inflatable ring around the top of your stomach. They inflate the band, squeezing a part of the stomach to create a small pouch with a narrow opening into the rest of the organ. They may use a laparoscope to do this. After you finish a meal, the food pushes up against the wall of the stomach and sends signals to the brain to curb your appetite, thus helping you to eat less.
The main reason why this procedure is so highly recommended by doctors is because, unlike other procedures, AGB is fully flexible and reversible- the band can be re-adjusted or removed at any time.
Surgical Procedure - Gastric Sleeve
This procedure is only given to individuals with extreme, life threatening obesity. During the operation, your surgeon will take away about 75% of the stomach and create a tube-shaped stomach instead, also known as a gastric sleeve, that is still fully attached to your small intestine.
After the surgery, your stomach will only be able to hold about 2-3 ounces. You’ll feel fuller much sooner because your stomach is smaller. As an added benefit, you also won’t be as hungry everyday because most of the tissue that makes the “hunger hormone,” called ghrelin, will be gone. You will need to eat small but very nutritious meals or take vitamins to compensate.
This is not a reversible procedure, so it should never be taken lightly, but it can save your life if nothing else has worked.
Final Thoughts
Please be advised- All drugs and surgical procedures come with possible side effects, both mild and severe, and there are things you need to know and follow to get the best results. So do not hesitate to consult with your doctor to get all the important info.
