Top 3 Most Effective and Safe Weight Loss Methods Worldwide

Our lifestyle is directly linked to body weight. Everyone wants to live a healthy life, but it’s difficult for many because of the daily temptations around us. A short period of neglecting diet and exercise can lead to excess fat in various areas. One of the best ways to control weight is by making lifestyle changes, which include adjusting your diet and increasing physical activity:

• Diet Adjustment: Obesity not only affects daily life but also poses risks for heart disease, diabetes, respiratory issues, and more. Those struggling with obesity should create a balanced diet that is "nutrient-dense but low in energy" (less calories consumed than burned). By reducing energy intake below the body’s needs, excess fat is converted into energy for vital functions, gradually reducing both weight and fat. Diet adjustments should be gradual and reasonable because drastic changes can harm your body’s health and development. Many attempt extreme weight loss methods like fasting or only drinking water, which can cause serious health problems and require hospitalization. Therefore, you should adopt a scientific, healthy diet before the weight gain becomes too difficult to reverse.
• Increasing Physical Activity: If you lead a sedentary lifestyle, you won’t burn many calories. With low physical activity, it’s easy to accumulate excess calories compared to the calories you burn through exercise and daily activities. To maintain a healthy weight, it’s crucial to increase physical activity to burn more energy. Exercise plays a vital role in long-term weight management for individuals struggling with obesity. Aim for 30 to 75 minutes of physical activity each day, adjusting the intensity based on your health status, especially if you have heart, blood pressure, or other health conditions. Initially, your body might struggle to handle increased physical exertion, but try to gradually build up intensity over time. Eventually, you’ll feel like something is missing in your day if you skip exercise.

Changing your lifestyle not only helps those struggling with excess weight to improve their condition and regain their shape, but it also serves as a safe method to enhance overall health. While the results may take time, the benefits are lasting and incredibly valuable.

Many women, feeling frustrated by the long process of dieting and exercising, opt to "shortcut" their way to a slimmer figure. Instead of following strict diets or intense workout routines, they turn to weight loss pills, hoping to achieve a toned body in the shortest time possible. Currently, weight loss pills can help reduce weight by 4% to 8% over 6 to 12 months, but their effectiveness typically decreases in subsequent years, much like building a tolerance to medication. Because of this, experts recommend that weight loss pills should only be used for a short duration.

There are three key objectives when using weight loss medication:

• Effective weight loss and long-term weight maintenance
• Improvement in overall health post-weight loss
• Minimization of potential side effects from the pills.

Today, weight loss products have become a primary choice for many, especially those who lack the time for dieting or exercise, or for those who have struggled with weight for years and failed at dieting. However, over-reliance on weight loss pills is a mistake, no matter how effective the product may seem. It is essential to treat these pills as a support tool, following a proper treatment plan and using them responsibly. Excessive use can lead to long-term consequences. When discontinuing the pills, users may experience psychological distress, fatigue, and a loss of motivation to work or socialize. The side effects of weight loss pills can be severe, including digestive issues, such as fatty stools and changes in bowel movements. Some people may also experience respiratory problems, joint pain, headaches, and other symptoms.

In addition to domestic products, weight loss pills from countries like the US and Japan are also in high demand, offering additional options for people struggling with weight. However, it is crucial to carefully research the origin and authenticity of any weight loss product before introducing it to your body to minimize risks and potential side effects.

Weight loss surgery is recommended for cases of obesity when diet, exercise, and weight loss pills fail to show positive results. According to the latest report from the XXIV World Congress of the International Federation for the Surgery of Obesity (IFSO) in 2019, a total of 833,687 patients worldwide underwent weight loss surgery at over 1,000 hospitals across different countries.

Notably, surgery can result in a weight reduction of 35% or more (depending on the method used) and can also lower the risk of high blood pressure, type II diabetes, and other aspects of metabolic syndrome associated with obesity.

There are various surgical techniques that help patients achieve rapid and significant weight loss while improving their health. Some surgeries work by reducing the stomach's volume, making patients feel full faster and experience less hunger. Other procedures work by reducing the body’s ability to absorb nutrients. Some techniques combine both effects. Among all global medical reports, sleeve gastrectomy (stomach sleeve surgery) is the most popular choice among patients and healthcare providers. Although this is often the last resort for treating obesity, its outstanding results have made it the number one solution, gradually replacing all other methods.

This method enables patients to lose an average of 60-80% of excess weight within 6 to 12 months, thanks to the body's natural weight loss process. Additionally, it is a permanent solution that prevents the risk of regaining weight. As a result, sleeve gastrectomy is considered the most effective, scientific, and safest weight loss surgery currently available.

Despite its effectiveness, unfortunately, many people in Vietnam still lack access to this procedure. Currently, Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Anh Tuan, Head of the Gastrointestinal Surgery Department at Central Military Hospital 108, introduced the sleeve gastrectomy to Vietnam in early 2019. Since then, many patients have benefited from his help in overcoming obesity and regaining their desired body shape.