There are many causes of obesity.
Your appropriate weight loss options are unique to you.
Body mass index, or BMI, is a calculation based on your height and weight to place you in a weight category: underweight, normal weight, overweight, or obese.1,2,3
BMI can be a useful starting measure to identify your weight classification and risk of comorbidities.
BMI is not relevant if you are under 18 years or pregnant.
BMI is a very general measure that places you in 1 of 6 broad weight categories – underweight, normal weight, overweight, obese.11
At my BMI, the Australian Obesity Guidelines(9) recommend my target weight loss should be:
DID YOU KNOW?
Despite your best efforts, your body senses weight loss and
actively works to return you to your starting weight.
- The amount of energy your body uses (when resting or exercising) becomes less than would be expected, based on your weight and body composition.1,2,4-6 This change persists for years, even if you regain the weight you have lost.4
- Changes to the hormones which control your hunger and fullness work to push your weight back up.1,4-5
- Because obesity is a disease with many different causes and it increases your risk of developing other medical conditions, it makes sense to seek help from your doctor.2,7,8
- Your doctor can assess a wide range of things that may be influencing your health. Together you can then decide on the best approach for you to lose weight and improve your health.2,11
- Weight loss has substantial health benefits for people with obesity, such as reducing the risk of developing type 2 diabetes and heart disease and reducing the risk of death from any cause.6,9
REAL PEOPLE, REAL STORIES
Hear from those who have treated their obesity successfully See real stories- Sumithran P and Proietto J. The defence of body weight: a physiological basis for weight regain after weight loss. Clin Sci 2103; 124: 231–41.
- RACGP. Obesity prevention and management position statement 2019. Available at https://www.racgp.org.au/FSDEDEV/media/documents/RACGP/Position%20statements/Obesity-prevention-and-management.pdf, accessed September 2019.
- RACP. Action to prevent obesity and reduce its impact across the life course – Evidence Review. 2018. Available at https://www.racp.edu.au/docs/default-source/advocacy-library/racp-obesity-position-statement.pdf. Accessed December 2019
- Fothergill E, et al. Persistent Metabolic Adaptation 6 Years After “The Biggest Loser” Competition. Obesity 2016; 24(8): 1612–19.
- Dhurandhar N. Stop the patient blame game: what actually causes obesity. Available at https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/909500, accessed Sept 2019.
- Bray G, et al. The Science of Obesity Management: An Endocrine Society Scientific Statement. Obesity Rev. 2018; 39; 79-132
- Bray G, et al. Obesity: a chronic relapsing progressive disease process. A position statement of the World Obesity Federation Obesity Rev 2017; 18(7); 715–23.
- Caterson I, et al. Gaps to bridge: Misalignment between perception, reality and actions in obesity, Diabetes Obes Metab 2019; 21(8): 1914–24.
- ANZOS and ADS. 2019. The Australian Obesity Management Algorithm. Available at: http://anzos.com/assets/Obesity-Management-Algorithm-18.10.2016.pdf. Accessed September 2019.
- Garvey T et al. AACE/ACE Obesity Clinical Practice Guidelines. Endocr Pract. 2016;22(Suppl 3). p1-203.
- RACGP Smoking, nutrition, alcohol, physical activity (SNAP): A population health guide to behavioural risk factors in general practice, 2nd edition. Melbourne: Available at https://www.racgp.org.au/FSDEDEV/media/documents/Clinical%20Resources/Guidelines/SNAP-guideline.pdf. Accessed December 2019.
- Australian Institute of Health and Welfare 2019. Overweight and obesity: an interactive insight. Cat. no. PHE 251. Canberra: AIHW. Viewed 20 December 2019, https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/overweight-obesity/overweight-and-obesity-an-interactive-insight
- Pilitsi E, et al. Pharmacotherapy of obesity: Available medications and drugs under investigation. Metab Clin Exp 2019; 92: 170–92.
- NH&MRC (2013) Clinical practice guidelines for the management of overweight and obesity in adults, adolescents and children in Australia. Available at https://www.nhmrc.gov.au/about-us/publications/clinical-practice-guidelines-management-overweight-and-obesity#block-views-block-file-attachments-content-block-1, Accessed September 2019.
- Lee PC, Dixon J. Pharmacotherapy for obesity.Aust Fam Phys. 2017; 46(7): 472–7.