Obesity, the common term for being significantly overweight, can lead to many complications and health risks over time, including heart disease and diabetes. Fortunately, the condition can be treated through diet and lifestyle changes, medication, or surgery. Here are four effective treatments for obesity that may help you fight the battle of the bulge.

Weight Loss Surgery

Laparoscopic surgery, or lap band surgery, is a procedure that limits the amount of food your stomach can hold. This type of surgery has a high success rate and is less invasive than gastric bypass. Lap band surgery typically takes between 30 and 60 minutes to perform. It doesn't require an overnight hospital stay and often allows you to go home on the same day as your operation.

Diet Pills

There are a variety of prescription diet pills that can help with weight loss. Many of these drugs work by suppressing the appetite or preventing some people from absorbing all the calories they eat. When taken as prescribed, diet pills can be an effective way to lose weight and maintain healthy body weight.

Medication

One of the most popular ways to lose weight is through the use of prescription drugs. There are two categories of prescription medicines that have been shown to be effective at helping people lose weight - appetite suppressants and medications designed to decrease the absorption of fat in food.

Going Under the Knife

The most extreme treatment for obesity is surgery. Gastric bypass is the most common type of weight loss surgery, and it can be used to reduce a person's appetite and make their stomach smaller. It also bypasses part of their digestive tract so they can't eat as much at once without feeling full. Some people may choose this option because they don't want to change how they eat or exercise, but it should only be a last resort because there are risks associated with the procedure.