Obesity is a chronic, complex disease associated with an increased amount of body fat, which can raise the risk of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, sleep apnoea and other health problems. Effective obesity treatment includes not only weight loss but also long-term health care.
At Baltic American Clinic, obesity treatment is chosen individually after assessing your health, body composition, other conditions and previous experience of losing weight. Depending on medical indications, it may involve changes to diet and lifestyle, medication, intragastric balloon placement or bariatric surgery.
Dietary, medical, interventional and surgical methods according to individual indications.
Body composition, metabolic markers and other conditions are taken into account.
The doctor helps you weigh up the most suitable options, their benefits, risks and limitations.
Changes in body weight, health markers and eating habits are monitored.
When should you seek obesity treatment?
A doctor’s consultation is recommended if:
- Your body mass index (BMI) is 30 or higher. This is one of the criteria for diagnosing obesity in adults.
- Your BMI is 25–29.9 and you have weight-related conditions. For example, high blood pressure, impaired glucose metabolism or sleep apnoea.
- Your weight keeps increasing or fluctuating. You cannot maintain results achieved earlier.
- Changes to diet and physical activity are not enough. You want to explore additional treatment options.
- You are considering medication for obesity. A doctor’s assessment is needed before prescription medicines can be prescribed.
- You are interested in a gastric balloon or weight-loss surgery. You want to find out which method might be suitable.
- Your weight has increased again after previous obesity treatment. Your long-term care plan needs to be reviewed.
How is obesity diagnosed and your health assessed?
Body weight alone does not always reflect health risk accurately, so several measures are assessed.
Body mass index (BMI)
BMI is calculated by dividing body weight in kilograms by height in metres squared. In adults, a BMI of 30 or more is one of the criteria for obesity.
However, BMI does not show how body fat is distributed or how much muscle you have, so it is assessed together with other measures.
Waist circumference and fat distribution
Helps assess the metabolic risk linked to fat stored around the abdomen.
Body composition analysis
If needed, an analysis is carried out with a Tanita device to assess fat and muscle mass and to monitor their changes during treatment.
Laboratory tests
Depending on the indications, glucose, glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c), cholesterol, triglyceride, liver function and other tests may be ordered.
Assessment of other conditions and medicines
Diabetes, high blood pressure, sleep apnoea, liver disease, hormonal disorders and medicines that may affect body weight are taken into account.
Which obesity treatment methods are used?
The treatment method is chosen according to your health, the severity of obesity, other conditions, previous treatment and your individual goals. Not every patient needs interventional procedures or surgery.
Changes to diet and lifestyle
An individual eating plan is drawn up taking into account your energy needs, eating habits, physical activity and other conditions.
It is important to ensure sufficient intake of protein and other nutrients, maintain muscle mass and build long-term habits.
If needed, treatment is combined with physical activity advice and support from other specialists.
Medication for obesity
When changes to diet and lifestyle are not enough and your health meets the treatment indications, treatment with prescription weight-loss medicines, including GLP-1 receptor agonists, may be considered.
These medicines act on the mechanisms that regulate appetite and satiety, so they can help reduce the amount of food eaten and body weight.
The dietitian doctor assesses whether medication for obesity is suitable, any possible contraindications and the need to monitor treatment results.
Medication is combined with an individual eating plan, physical activity and long-term health care.
Intragastric balloon placement
A gastric balloon is a temporary interventional treatment for obesity. The balloon takes up part of the stomach volume and can help reduce the amount of food eaten at one time.
Whether the procedure is suitable depends on the type of balloon chosen, your body mass index, your health and other medical circumstances.
Endoscopic intragastric balloon placement is performed without surgical incisions. It is an interventional method, but not bariatric surgery.
Balloon placement does not replace changing your eating habits and follow-up care by a doctor.
Bariatric surgery (weight-loss surgery)
When there are appropriate medical indications, surgical treatment of obesity may be recommended. The type of operation is chosen individually, after assessing the expected benefits, risks, other conditions and the need for long-term care.
Baltic American Clinic lists the following bariatric surgery methods:
- Gastric bypass. A smaller stomach pouch is created and the route food takes through the digestive tract is changed.
- Sleeve gastrectomy. Part of the stomach is removed, reducing its volume.
- Gastric plication. Stomach volume is reduced by folding and stitching the stomach wall.
- Gastric band surgery. An adjustable band is placed around the upper part of the stomach.
The choice of a specific method depends on medical indications, the expected benefits, possible complications and the surgeon’s assessment.
After bariatric surgery, long-term dietary care, sufficient intake of essential nutrients and monitoring of health markers are important.
How does obesity treatment work?
Initial consultation and assessment
The doctor reviews your weight history, eating habits, other conditions, the medicines you take and previous treatments. Further tests are ordered if needed.
Drawing up an individual treatment plan
Realistic goals, possible treatment methods, their limitations and the care needed are discussed.
Treatment
The chosen treatment begins. If an interventional procedure or operation is planned, the necessary pre-procedure assessment is carried out.
Monitoring results
At follow-up consultations, changes in body weight, body composition and health markers are assessed and the treatment plan is adjusted if needed.
The aim of long-term obesity treatment is not only to reduce body weight, but also to improve control of obesity-related diseases, preserve muscle mass and help maintain the results achieved.
How to prepare for an obesity treatment consultation
No special preparation is usually needed. We recommend:
- Previous tests. Bring the results of any tests you have had and your medical records.
- Medicines and food supplements. Prepare a list of them.
- Weight history. Think about how your weight has changed and which weight-loss methods you have tried before.
- Daily habits. Consider your usual diet, physical activity and sleep habits.
- Treatment goals. Think about what results you expect and what difficulties you face when changing habits.
If you are considering intragastric balloon placement or bariatric surgery, discuss your diagnoses and any previous digestive procedures during the consultation.
Frequently asked questions
Is obesity a disease or just a weight problem?
Obesity is a chronic disease associated with excess accumulation of body fat and possible health problems. Its treatment may require several combined methods.
Can obesity be treated without surgery?
Yes. For most patients, dietary and lifestyle methods and, where indicated, medication are used first. Surgery is considered only after assessing your individual health and treatment needs.
Can the doctor prescribe GLP-1 medicines for weight loss?
Yes, if there are medical indications and no contraindications. The doctor assesses your health, other conditions and previous treatment. Prescription medicines are prescribed individually, and taking them is combined with changes to diet and lifestyle.
When is intragastric balloon placement considered?
When a patient needs an additional weight-loss measure and the doctor decides the procedure is suitable based on their health and the criteria for the chosen balloon.
Can you regain weight after weight-loss surgery?
Yes. Weight can increase again after bariatric surgery, so long-term dietary and health care is important.
Is it necessary to monitor muscle mass during obesity treatment?
Preserving muscle mass is an important goal of weight loss. If needed, changes are assessed with body composition analysis and other methods. Diet and physical activity advice is tailored individually.
Is obesity treatment suitable for children and teenagers?
Overweight and obesity in children and teenagers are assessed using criteria adapted to age and growth. For their treatment, a consultation with a paediatrician or the child’s family doctor is recommended first.
Price of obesity treatment
Prices of obesity treatment consultations, diagnostic tests, interventional procedures and operations are set by the Baltic American Clinic price list in force.
Additional tests, procedures and other services not included in the price of the chosen treatment are charged separately. The cost of prescribed medicines is paid separately.
The treatment method, scope of services and expected costs are discussed during the consultation.