Therapeutic weight loss techniques

The least intrusive weight loss methods, and those most often recommended by physicians, are adjustments to eating patterns and increased physical activity, generally in the form of exercise. Physicians will usually recommend that their overweight patients combine a reduction of processed and caloric content of the diet with an increase in physical activity.

Other methods of losing weight include use of drugs and supplements that decrease appetite, block fat absorption, or reduce stomach volume.

Weight Loss Coaching is rapidly growing in popularity in the United States, with the number of available coaches nearly doubling since 2000. Finally, surgery (i.e. bariatric surgery) may be used in more severe cases to artificially reduce the size of the stomach, thus limiting the intake of food energy.

Crash dieting

A crash diet refers to willful nutritional restriction (except water) for more than 12 hours. The desired result is to have the body burn fat for energy with the goal of losing a significant amount of weight in a short time. However, the body reacts by preserving fat stores and burning lean muscle tissue, such that this is a poor strategy for intentional weight loss.[citation needed]

Crash dieting is not the same as intermittent fasting, in which the individual periodically abstains from food (e.g., every other day).