Different Types of Obesity Doctors

With a large portion of Americans now overweight or obese, medical practices that specialize in obesity are also exploding. Obesity doctors in Louisiana may be practitioners who oversee the medical management of people on very-low calorie diets, doctors who prescribe medications that can aid with weight loss or surgeons who perform bariatric surgery, which can lead to a permanent loss of extra pounds. The type of weight-loss doctor a person sees may depend on their financial situation, since bariatric surgeries are often not covered by insurance, how much they have to lose and the availability of different types of practitioners in their area.

Some practitioners who specialize in obesity treatment, who use the term "doctor" in their advertising, are not medical doctors but homeopathic or naturopathic doctors. Doctors that fall into this category may use herbs or drugs, such as homeopathic preparations, to induce weight loss. These treatments are clinically unproven and can have harmful side effects.

Surgeons who specialize in obesity treatment perform one of several types of surgery that either decrease the size of the stomach, or bypass part of the small intestine so that fewer calories are absorbed. This surgery is not easy; to lose weight, the patient must still follow a fairly strict diet and dietary restrictions that will last a lifetime. The surgery itself can also cause many complications, particularly in people who are extremely obese.

Taking prescription medications that decrease appetite may be a viable alternative to patients who can't afford bariatric surgery. Medications that decrease appetite, or that decrease fat absorption, are not designed for long-term use. Patients taking the medications may benefit from seeing an obesity specialist who offers counseling, group meetings and weekly-follow up to keep them motivated and on their diet. Blood work may also be needed to watch for signs of complications such as liver problems, which may occur with some weight-loss prescription medications.

For most patients, losing excess pounds is the easiest part of the diet--keeping them may prove far more difficult. Some psychiatrists, who are medical doctors, may also treat patients with overeating issues, to delve to the roots of the problem and find therapeutic ways to counteract the desire to overeat.

Losing weight and keeping it off is difficult for millions of Americans. People who want to weigh less must carefully consider what type of therapy and treatment will best help them take excess pounds off and keep them off for good.

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