The Obesity Support Center

Every person is unique, but when you face a challenge like obesity, you are never alone. Countless men, women, and children have faced exactly the same diagnosis and have survived and thrived. The following guide is designed to help you navigate your journey with the best information and resources that helped other survivors when they faced the same challenge.

TSC has scoured the Web to gather together the links to the very best obesity resources: articles, blogs, forums, and tools that can help you make better decisions and take action to overcome the range of physical, emotional, and other challenges you're facing now.

As you'll see, we always welcome your ideas and suggestions to make this obesity guide even more helpful to survivors like you.

JUST FOUND OUT

Survivors Say: Best Resources for Obesity

Survivors say these are the best resources for those who have just found out; check them out to learn more about your options:

• Centers for Disease Control & Prevention: Overweight and Obesity
• MedlinePlus: Obesity
• The Obesity Society

The Big Picture

National Institutes of Health: Obesity Signs and Symptoms

Your Obesity

Do you know how obesity is measured? Obesityinamerica.org explains two common measurements, body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference, and how both are used:

Measuring Obesity

The causes of obesity aren't as obvious as you might think:

Obesityinamerica.org - Causes

Centers for Disease Control: Overweight and Obesity - Contributing Factors

Questions to Ask Your Doctor:

The New York Times: Obesity Health Guide

Your World

Being obese is, for most people, very upsetting. Most weight-loss experts believe, in fact, that dealing with emotional side of overeating is essential to making the lifestyle changes necessary for lasting weight loss:

Medicinenet.com: Weight Loss Emotional Eating

Mayoclinic.com: Emotional Eating and Weight Loss 

Obesity Myths

• "People who are obese don't have any willpower."
• "Overeating is the biggest cause of obesity."
• "Losing excess weight as rapidly as possible is ideal."

Obesityinamerica.org: What are some common myths and facts associated with obesity?

Information and Recommended Links for Survivors

Survivors say these are the best guides to dealing with obesity and losing weight; check them out to learn more about your options:

• Obesityinamerica.org
• WebMD.com Obesity Support Resources
• American Dietetic Association: Weight Management

Types of Treatment

Lifestyle changes

The most effective way to treat obesity -- the one that works for the greatest number of people -- is to learn to eat a balanced, healthy diet with controlled portion sizes, and to exercise regularly:

National Heart Lung Blood Institute: Aim for Healthy Weight

National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK): Weight-control Information Network

Shape Up America!

The National Weight Control Registry

Surgery

Bariatric surgery (aka gastric bypass, banding) is becoming more popular in the fight against obesity, but it carries risks

NIDDK: Bariatric Surgery for Severe Obesity

Obesityinamerica.org: Surgical Options for the Treatment of Obesity

Possible Treatment Side Effects

If you opt for an extreme weight-loss diet you could be putting your health at risk:

NIDDK: Very Low-Calorie Diets

AssociatedContent.com - Dangers of Extreme Weight Loss Diets

Like any kind of surgery, bariatric surgery brings with it risks:

Obesityhelp.com: Bariatric Surgery Risks 

Mayo Clinic - Possible Complications of Bariatric Surgery

Health-care Providers Who Can Help

• In most cases a primary care physician or internist can help you manage your obesity. But you can also work with someone who specializes in obesity, usually a bariatric surgeon. A personal trainer can create a customized exercise plan for you and a nutritionist or registered dietitian (RD) can do the same for your meals: American Society of Bariatric Surgeons: Find a Bariatric Surgeon
• American Dietetic Association: Find a Nutrition Professional
• American College of Sports Medicine Pro Finder
• American Council on Exercise: Find an ACE-certified Professional

Books Survivors Recommend

• Half-Assed: A Weight-Loss Memoir by Jennette Fulda
• Awaken the Diet Within: From Overweight to Looking Great -- If I Can Do It, So Can You by Julia Griggs Havey
• Fed Up!: Winning the War Against Childhood Obesity by Susan Okie
• Exodus from Obesity: The Guide to Long-Term Success After Weight Loss Surgery by Paula F. Peck

Dealing with Obesity: Information for Co-Survivors

How You Can Help

• By listening, encouraging, and remaining sensitive and sincere, you can be instrumental in your loved one's fight for better health. Participation in physical activity as well as your own dedication to nutrition will help too. If you have children or a child who is obese, remember that your whole family's eating and exercise habits will probably need to change. Encourage your child to play outside; introduce them to nutritious foods; and be sure join them in experiencing these new, health- and weight-conscious habits.

What to Say

•  “I want to help you feel better physically and feel better about yourself mentally and emotionally.”
•  “This is a battle that can be won.”
•  “Let's start working out together.

What Not to Say

• “Why don't you just eat less?”
• “Why don't you get that surgery?”
• “You should just accept the way you are.”

Things You Can Do for a Survivor Every Day

• Help create an environment around your survivor that encourages healthy habits.
• Encourage the survivor to subscribe to total health -- mind, body and spirt; this will help curb overeating associated with difficult emotions.
• Be sensitive to their journey; obesity is difficult to overcome and in the beginning your survivor may have signficant physical limitations. Call on experienced health professionals if you need to.

How to Build a Support Network

• Set up your TSC co-survivor profile.
• Create a support group for your friend or family member.
• Interact and provide updates about your loved one's progress.

How to Help a Survivor Deal with Day-to-Day Challenges

• Work/School – An encouraging, positive outlook can help an obese individual on a daily basis. He or she may have feelings of inadequacy or sensitivity, especially if your child is being teased or bullied by other students because of being obese. 
• Family – Ask yourself what you may have done to contribute to your loved one's obesity and how can you support them now with their new habits and an environment that supports a healthy lifestyle.

Recovery /Recurrence

Congratulations on your success in weight loss and your commitment to a healthier life! Your journey to lose weight was likely a long one, and maybe you stumbled now and then -- but the important point to remember for any kind of lasting change is to pick yourself up again after making a mistake. Staying at a normal weight requires patience and a lifestyle that really works for you, day in and day out. You deserve kudos for this achievement, which will have far-reaching benefits for your health. Here are some resources to help you stick to a healthy weight:

Weightwatchers.com: Mind Skills for Lasting Weight Loss 

AnneCollins.com: Patience to Lose Weight - "Now Now Now Syndrome"

Weightlossdiaries.com

Realsimple.com: The Secrets of Thin People

Need encouragement and inspiration? Read the stories of thos who've left obesity behind and are now thriving:

Prevention.com - Weight Loss Success Stories

Give Back

You're now a success story for weight loss - consider sharing with others who are struggling to lose weight what worked for you, how you stayed motivated, and how you got back on track when you stumbled in your efforts to eat better and/or exercise. You may be surprised how inspiring others will find your words!

Lasting weight loss is one of the hardest things for many people to achieve, especially for those who've struggled with their weight for years. And some will not lose the excess weight; many others will shed pounds, only to have them creep back on over the years. In a worst-case scenario, you will continue to be obese, or even morbidly obese, and problems for which obesity is a risk factor may threaten your health:

• Mayoclinic.com: Obesity - Complications
• Obesityinamerica.org: Identifying Other Complications

Resources for Co-Survivors

If you've lost a loved one to complications from obesity, consider joining a support group in person or online:

• GriefNet.org: A Community of Persons Dealing with Grief, Death and Major Loss
• Hospicenet.org: A Guide to Grief