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Management of obesity can include lifestyle changes, medications, or surgery. Although many studies have sought effective interventions, there is currently no evidence-based, well defined, and efficient intervention to prevent obesity.
The main treatment for obesity consists of weight loss via consuming prescribed diets and increasing physical exercise. A 2007 review concluded that certain subgroups such as those with type 2 diabetes and women who undergo weight loss show long term benefits in all cause mortality, while long‐term outcomes for men are "not clear and need further investigation."
The most effective treatment for obesity is bariatric surgery. Surgery for severe obesity is associated with long-term weight loss and decreased overall mortality. One study found a weight loss of between 14% and 25% at 10 years, and a 29% reduction in all cause mortality when compared to standard weight loss measures. Another study also found reduced mortality in those who underwent bariatric surgery for severe obesity.
One medication, orlistat, is current widely available and approved for long term use. Weight loss is modest, with an average of 2.9 kg at 1 to 4 years, but there is little information on how these drugs affect longer-term complications of obesity. Its use is associated with high rates of gastrointestinal side effects.
Diet programs can produce weight loss over the short term and over the long-term, although combining with exercise and counseling provide greater results. Dietary and lifestyle changes are effective in limiting excessive weight gain in pregnancy and improve outcomes for both the mother and the child.