Non-surgical treatment

Conservative treatment initially focuses on lifestyle adjustments: dietary advice under the guidance of a dietician and an increase in physical activity. This can be supplemented with a medicinal approach.

 

There is also the option to join a lifestyle group program ('Slimmer onderweg'), some people experience a lot of support and motivation from group events. 

 

After the intake interview, a multidisciplinary consultation takes place.  The multidisciplinary team consists of dietitians, psychologists, psychiatrists, endocrinologists, physiotherapists and doctors from the physical medicine department. During the consultation it will be determined whether you are a good candidate for the group program. Depending on your profile (including high BMI), a surgical approach may be preferable.

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Even when surgical treatment is proposed, the principles related to diet, physical activity and changing to a healthier lifestyle form the basis of treatment. 

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Dietary habits

 

A healthy and balanced diet is the basis of any treatment of overweight and obesity. Even if surgical treatment is ultimately chosen in the event of insufficient results, this principle remains very important to obtain and maintain a good and lasting result.

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In collaboration with a dietitian, in addition to objectives related to daily calorie intake, a treatment plan can also be developed with regard to the composition of the diet (balanced diet) and how and when it is best to eat (nutritional hygiene).

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As many overweight or obese patients have already experienced, crash diets can sometimes produce rapid weight loss, but long-term results usually remain disappointing, often even resulting in weight gain compared to the original weight (Yo-yo effect). These often negative experiences underline the importance of a long-term treatment plan and diet in which the patient also feels comfortable.

 

Physical activity 

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Daily physical activity is part of an overall healthy lifestyle and is therefore indispensable in the prevention and treatment of overweight and obesity.

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In some patients, certain physical complaints (e.g. osteoarthritis, asthma, back problems, etc.) are linked to obesity. In that case, certain physical activities can sometimes be difficult to achieve or even worsen the physical complaints. Therefore, in such cases, supervised exercise with possible advice from the physical medicine department is recommended.

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Sleep hygiene and stress management

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Although obesity has traditionally often focused on nutrition and physical activity, there is increasing insight that both sleep deprivation and the way in which stress is dealt with can play a role in overweight and obesity. Therefore these aspects must also be taken into account during treatment. 

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Medication

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In recent years, a number of drugs have been introduced to the market with varying degrees of success that can provide limited weight loss. Since the arrival of the GLP-1 analogues, medication that is mainly used in people with type 2 diabetes, there is now an additional treatment option that has a chance of success for people with obesity. For people who mainly struggle with binge eating, there is also medication that works through the brain and have a regulating effect on it. We expect additional therapeutic options in the near future. This option should always be started in consultation with the endocrinologist and is always accompanied by a diet and a general lifestyle approach.

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