By Bonnie Jacob, Pure Matters When you're significantly
overweight, nobody has to tell you that you'd probably be
happier and healthier without the extra pounds. But what if the
weight won't come off, no matter how hard you try? Willpower
alone might not be enough for people who are significantly
overweight. If you've honestly tried to lose weight and failed,
medications or surgery could be helpful under certain
conditions. Most medical weight-loss programs first try to help
you make the long-term behavioral changes necessary to achieve
and maintain a healthy weight. This includes exercising
regularly and eating healthy food. If you still remain seriously
overweight, you and your health care provider might discuss
these other options. Prescription medications can be helpful,
but they're not for everyone. According to the National
Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK),
drugs are generally recommended only if you have a body mass
index (BMI) of 30 or higher, or if your BMI is 27 or mor