Rapid weight loss, though not typically recommended as a healthy method of slimming down and keeping weight off, is sometimes necessary for severely obese people. In many cases, this kind of weight loss is overseen by a doctor and aided by prescription medications such as Ozempic, a drug primarily intended to treat diabetes.
However, recent shortages in this drug and others that are typically used to medically assist rapid weight loss may restrict availability for people trying to reach a healthy weight, making it necessary to consider other potential options.
Two particular dieting strategies, with the assistance of a doctor, can offer a safe means of rapidly losing weight when necessary and preserving your health. These include:
Intermittent Fasting: This strategy involves alternating between eating on a regular schedule and severely restricting calories. One popular example, the 16:8 approach, involves eating within an eight-hour window each day and fasting for the remaining 16. Another, the 5:2 approach, involves eating only one 500-600 calorie meal for two days of the week, eating normally for the remaining five days.
Low-Calorie Dieting: A low-calorie diet involves restricting daily calories to between 1000-1200 for women and 1200-1600 for men. An even stricter version of this approach can restrict calories to as little as 800 per day and is often used before weight loss surgery and can result in as much five pounds of weight loss per week.
Consult your doctor to determine whether these approaches are safe for you. They should be performed in conjunction with a regular exercise routine and a healthy, balanced diet. If you’re considering including herbal remedies or other types of supplements into your diet, talk to your doctor to determine whether these may cause complications with any foods you typically eat or medications you take.
If diet and exercise aren’t enough to help you adequately lose weight, other options are also available. Flushing Hospital Medical Center offers a non-invasive FDA-approved weight loss procedure that can help patients who are not candidates for bariatric surgery. For more information, please call (718) 670-8909. If you are a candidate for bariatric surgery, you can receive more information by calling (718) 670-6977.
All content of this newsletter is intended for general information purposes only and is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult a medical professional before adopting any of the suggestions on this page. You must never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking medical treatment based upon any content of this newsletter. PROMPTLY CONSULT YOUR PHYSICIAN OR CALL 911 IF YOU BELIEVE YOU HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY.