Weight Management Library
Medically reviewed explanations of the terms, treatments and concepts that come up in weight management — written for patients.
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Procedures
Abdominoplasty (Tummy Tuck)
An abdominoplasty, or tummy tuck, is surgery that removes loose skin and fat from the lower belly and tightens the abdominal muscles.
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Conditions
Acanthosis Nigricans
Acanthosis nigricans is a skin condition causing dark, velvety patches — a visible sign of insulin resistance linked to excess weight.
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Lifestyle
Active Commuting and Weight
Using walking, cycling, or public transport for daily travel to naturally build physical activity into routines and support healthy weight management.
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Foundations
Adaptive Thermogenesis
The body's metabolic defence mechanism that disproportionately slows energy expenditure during and after weight loss.
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Nutrition
Added Sugars
Added sugars are sugars and syrups added to foods during processing, which contribute empty calories and are linked to obesity, diabetes, and fatty liver disease.
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Foundations
Adipogenesis
The biological process by which the body creates new fat cells from precursor cells, influencing energy storage and metabolism.
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Foundations
Adipokines
Bioactive signalling proteins secreted by fat cells that regulate metabolism, inflammation, and appetite throughout the body.
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Hormones
Adiponectin
Adiponectin is a hormone produced by your fat tissue that helps your body use insulin properly and protects against inflammation.
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Foundations
Adipose Tissue
Adipose tissue is the body's specialised fat storage tissue that plays a critical role in energy balance, hormone production, and metabolic health.
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Procedures
Adjustable Gastric Band
A reversible bariatric procedure using an adjustable silicone band around the stomach to restrict food intake.
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Body Composition
Air Displacement Plethysmography (Bod Pod)
The Bod Pod is an egg-shaped machine that measures your body fat percentage while you sit quietly inside it for a few minutes.
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Lifestyle
Alcohol and Weight Management
Alcohol adds calories, lowers restraint and stalls fat burning, so cutting back supports weight loss.
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Foundations
Anorexigenic Signals
Anorexigenic signals are the body's natural stop-eating messages — chemical messengers that promote fullness and suppress appetite after eating.
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Nutrition
Anti-Inflammatory Diet
A diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and omega-3s that reduces chronic inflammation and supports healthy weight loss.
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Foundations
Appetite Regulation
The neuroendocrine system of hormones and brain signals that controls hunger and fullness, targeted by modern weight loss medications.
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Nutrition
Artificial Sweeteners
Artificial sweeteners provide sweetness without calories, and may help reduce sugar intake — but their long-term effects on weight and metabolism are complex.
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Procedures
Aspiration Therapy
A minimally invasive procedure that removes a portion of stomach contents after meals to reduce calorie absorption.
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Complications
Atrial Fibrillation and Obesity
Atrial fibrillation is an irregular and often fast heartbeat that can cause palpitations, breathlessness and a higher risk of stroke.
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Conditions
Bardet-Biedl Syndrome
A rare genetic ciliopathy characterised by severe early-onset obesity caused by impaired hypothalamic appetite regulation, requiring specialised multidisciplinary care.
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Procedures
Bariatric Prehabilitation
A structured pre-surgery programme of diet, exercise, and lifestyle changes that prepares patients physically and mentally for bariatric procedures.
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Procedures
Bariatric Surgery
Surgical procedures that alter the digestive system to promote weight loss.
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Body Composition
Basal Metabolic Rate
Calories your body burns at complete rest — the foundation of energy expenditure.
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Lifestyle
Behavioural Therapy for Weight Loss
A psychological approach to weight management that helps change eating habits, identify triggers, and build sustainable healthy behaviours.
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Procedures
Biliopancreatic Diversion
A major malabsorptive bariatric surgery that reduces nutrient absorption by rerouting the small intestine, producing substantial and sustained weight loss.
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Psychological
Binge Eating Disorder
A serious eating disorder involving recurrent episodes of uncontrolled overeating.
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Procedures
Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (BIA)
A quick, non-invasive test that uses a small electrical signal to estimate your body fat percentage, muscle mass, and hydration levels.
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Lifestyle
Blue Light and Weight
Evening blue light from screens disrupts sleep hormones and metabolism, contributing to weight gain — reducing exposure supports weight management.
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Body Composition
BMI
Body Mass Index — a screening tool using height and weight to assess weight status.
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Body Composition
Body Adiposity Index (BAI)
The Body Adiposity Index (BAI) is a simple way to estimate how much of your body is made up of fat using only your height and the size of your hips.
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Screening
Body Composition Analysis
Measurement of body fat percentage, muscle mass, and distribution.
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Procedures
Body Contouring
Body contouring is surgery to remove loose, excess skin and reshape remaining tissue after significant weight loss.
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Psychological
Body Dysmorphia
Body dysmorphia is a mental health condition involving obsessive focus on perceived appearance flaws, which can complicate weight-loss efforts.
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Body Composition
Body Fat Percentage
Body fat percentage measures the proportion of body weight from fat, providing a more accurate health picture than BMI alone.
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Foundations
Body Roundness Index (BRI)
A body shape index that uses waist circumference and height to estimate abdominal fat distribution, providing more accurate health risk assessment than BMI alone.
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Foundations
Brown Adipose Tissue
Brown adipose tissue is a special type of fat that burns calories to produce heat, playing a unique role in energy expenditure and metabolic health.
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Medications
Bupropion
Bupropion is a medication that affects brain chemicals linked to appetite and cravings, and may support weight loss as part of a comprehensive programme.
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Lifestyle
Caffeine and Weight Management
A mild stimulant that briefly boosts metabolism and curbs appetite but has limited effect on long-term weight loss.
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Medications
Cagrilintide
A long-acting amylin analogue given as a weekly injection to enhance feelings of fullness and reduce food intake.
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Nutrition
Caloric Deficit
Consuming fewer calories than your body burns, the foundation of weight loss.
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Complications
Cancer and Obesity
Carrying excess body fat has been linked to a higher risk of developing at least 13 different types of cancer, including breast, bowel and womb cancers.
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Nutrition
Capsaicin and Weight Management
The active compound in chilli peppers that may boost calorie burning and reduce appetite as a natural adjunct to weight management.
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Complications
Cardiovascular Disease
Heart and blood vessel disease — the leading cause of obesity-related death.
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Medications
Cetilistat
A weight-loss medication that blocks fat absorption in the digestive system, designed to support weight management with fewer side effects.
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Lifestyle
Chewing Rate and Satiety
Eating slowly and chewing thoroughly gives your body time to register fullness, helping you consume fewer calories without feeling deprived.
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Hormones
Cholecystokinin (CCK)
Cholecystokinin, or CCK, is a hormone released by the gut after eating.
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Conditions
Chronic Kidney Disease and Obesity
Chronic kidney disease is gradual loss of kidney function, and obesity is a major risk factor — weight loss can help slow its progression.
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Nutrition
Chrononutrition
The science of how meal timing interacts with your body clock to influence metabolism and weight.
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Lifestyle
Circadian Rhythm and Weight
The relationship between your body's internal clock and weight regulation, showing how meal timing and sleep patterns affect metabolism and fat storage.
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Lifestyle
Cold-Induced Thermogenesis
Cold-induced thermogenesis activates brown fat to burn calories for heat, offering a modest metabolic boost that can complement weight management efforts.
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Medications
Combination Appetite Therapy
Investigational injectable treatments combining an amylin analogue with a GLP-1 receptor agonist to target several appetite pathways at once.
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Hormones
Cortisol
Cortisol is the body's primary stress hormone, and chronically elevated levels can promote belly fat storage and increased appetite.
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Procedures
Cryolipolysis
A non-surgical fat freezing treatment that destroys fat cells in small, targeted areas of the body.
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Lifestyle
Culinary Medicine
An evidence-based approach that combines nutrition science with practical cooking skills to help patients make healthier food choices for long-term weight management.
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Conditions
Cushing's Syndrome
A hormonal disorder caused by prolonged exposure to high cortisol levels, leading to rapid central weight gain.
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Medications
Daily GLP-1 Injection
A daily injectable GLP-1 receptor agonist that reduces appetite and supports weight loss in adults with obesity. Prescription only, after medical assessment.
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Nutrition
DASH Diet
The DASH diet focuses on fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and low-fat dairy to reduce blood pressure and support healthy weight management.
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Foundations
De Novo Lipogenesis
The metabolic process where your liver converts excess carbohydrates into stored fat.
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Conditions
Depression and Obesity
Depression and obesity have a bidirectional relationship — each increases the risk and severity of the other, requiring integrated treatment.
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Foundations
DEXA Scan
A low-radiation imaging test that precisely measures bone density, body fat percentage, and lean muscle mass to guide weight management.
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Conditions
Diabesity
The close link between obesity and type 2 diabetes, where losing weight is key to controlling blood sugar.
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Nutrition
Dietary Fibre
Dietary fibre is the indigestible part of plant foods that promotes fullness, supports gut health, and aids weight management.
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Nutrition
Dietary Protein
A key nutrient that preserves muscle, promotes fullness, and supports healthy weight loss.
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Medications
Diethylpropion
A short-term prescription appetite suppressant that helps jump-start weight loss by reducing hunger signals in the brain.
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Lifestyle
Digital Health Tools for Weight Loss
Apps, wearables, and telehealth can support weight loss through self-monitoring and accountability, especially when combined with professional medical guidance.
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Medications
Dual GIP/GLP-1 Receptor Agonist
An injectable treatment acting on two gut-hormone pathways to reduce appetite and improve blood sugar control. Prescription only, after medical assessment.
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Complications
Dumping Syndrome
Dumping syndrome happens when food moves too quickly from the stomach into the small intestine, most often after weight-loss surgery.
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Procedures
Duodenal Mucosal Resurfacing (DMR)
A minimally invasive endoscopic procedure that renews the duodenal lining to improve the body's hormonal response to food and help control blood sugar.
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Procedures
Duodenal Switch
A combined restrictive and malabsorptive bariatric procedure that produces the greatest weight loss among all surgical options for severe obesity.
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Procedures
Duodenal-Jejunal Bypass Liner (EndoBarrier)
A removable intestinal sleeve placed by endoscopy that mimics gastric bypass hormone changes to reduce appetite and improve blood sugar.
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Conditions
Dyslipidaemia
An imbalance of blood fats — high bad cholesterol or triglycerides — that increases heart disease risk and often improves with weight loss.
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Nutrition
Eating Frequency
How many meals you eat per day matters less for weight than total caloric intake and food quality, though irregular patterns can affect appetite control.
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Lifestyle
Eating Rate
The speed at which you eat — faster eating is linked to higher calorie intake and weight gain because the brain needs about 20 minutes to register fullness.
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Screening
Edmonton Obesity Staging System (EOSS)
The Edmonton Obesity Staging System, or EOSS, is a way for doctors to grade obesity based on how it affects your health and daily life, rather than just your BMI.
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Psychological
Emotional Eating
Using food to cope with emotions rather than physical hunger.
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Procedures
Endoscopic Gastric Remodelling
A non-surgical, incisionless procedure that reshapes the stomach through an endoscope to reduce its capacity and support weight loss.
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Procedures
Endoscopic Sleeve Gastroplasty
A non-surgical, incisionless weight-loss procedure that reduces stomach size using an endoscope and internal sutures.
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Foundations
Energy Balance
The fundamental principle of weight management describing the relationship between calories consumed and calories burned.
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Foundations
Energy Density
Energy density is the number of calories per gram of food — choosing lower-density foods helps you feel full while controlling calorie intake.
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Foundations
Energy Flux
Energy flux is the rate of energy turnover in your body — high flux supports better weight control and metabolic health.
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Foundations
Energy Homeostasis
Energy homeostasis is your body’s system for balancing the energy you take in from food with the energy you burn through daily activity and metabolism.
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Lifestyle
Environmental Design for Weight Loss
The practice of arranging your surroundings to make healthy eating and activity choices the easiest and most natural option.
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Medications
Exenatide
The first approved GLP-1 receptor agonist — a twice-daily injection that improves blood sugar and supports weight loss.
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Lifestyle
Exercise Physiology
How physical activity affects body weight, metabolism, and health.
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Lifestyle
Exercise Snacking
Short, 1–2 minute bursts of vigorous activity spread throughout the day to improve fitness and metabolism.
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Foundations
Fat-Free Mass
Everything in your body that is not fat — muscles, bones, organs, and water. Preserving it during weight loss is essential.
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Conditions
Fatty Liver Disease
Accumulation of fat in liver cells, strongly associated with obesity.
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Screening
FibroScan
FibroScan is a quick and painless scan that measures fat and scarring in your liver using sound waves, similar to an ultrasound.
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Foundations
Foetal Programming of Obesity
How maternal health during pregnancy can influence a child's lifelong obesity risk through epigenetic changes.
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Conditions
Food Addiction and Obesity
A pattern of compulsive overeating driven by the same brain reward pathways involved in substance addiction.
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Lifestyle
Food Cravings
Intense, selective urges to eat specific foods, driven by brain chemistry rather than true hunger.
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Nutrition
Food Labels and Weight Management
The skill of reading nutrition labels to make informed food choices that support weight loss goals.
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Lifestyle
Food Reward
The brain's pleasure and motivation response to eating, especially processed foods that can override fullness signals and drive overeating.
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Conditions
Gallstones
Hardened deposits of digestive fluid that form in the gallbladder — obesity and rapid weight loss both increase the risk.
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Procedures
Gastric Artery Embolisation
Gastric artery embolisation is a newer, minimally invasive procedure in which tiny beads are used to reduce the blood supply to part of the stomach.
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Procedures
Gastric Balloon
A non-surgical weight loss procedure placing a soft balloon in the stomach.
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Procedures
Gastric Botox
An endoscopic procedure using botulinum toxin injections into the stomach to slow gastric emptying and reduce appetite.
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Procedures
Gastric Bypass
A surgical weight-loss procedure that reduces stomach size and reroutes the intestine, leading to significant and lasting weight loss.
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Procedures
Gastric Electrical Stimulation
An implanted pacemaker-like device that sends pulses to the stomach to promote fullness and delay emptying.
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Procedures
Gastric Plication
A reversible weight loss surgery that folds and stitches the stomach to reduce its size without removing tissue.
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Foundations
Genetic Factors in Obesity
Your genes can influence how your body stores fat, controls appetite and responds to food, which is why some people gain weight more easily than others.
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Complications
GERD
A chronic acid reflux condition that is common with excess weight and often improves significantly with weight loss.
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Hormones
Ghrelin
The hunger hormone — stimulates appetite before meals.
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Medications
GLP-1 Medication
A prescription medication class that mimics the GLP-1 hormone to regulate appetite and blood sugar, used in weight management and type 2 diabetes.
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Medications
GLP-1 Receptor Agonists
A class of medications that mimic the GLP-1 hormone to regulate appetite and blood sugar.
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Nutrition
Glycaemic Index
A measure of how quickly foods raise blood sugar levels.
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Nutrition
Glycaemic Load
Glycaemic load measures how much a typical serving of food actually raises blood sugar — a more practical tool than glycaemic index alone.
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Conditions
Gout
A painful arthritic condition linked to high uric acid, where weight loss can significantly reduce the frequency of attacks.
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Lifestyle
Grazing
Grazing means eating small amounts of food repeatedly throughout the day, often without planning or even noticing.
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Foundations
Gut Microbiome
The trillions of bacteria in your digestive system that influence metabolism, appetite, and weight regulation.
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Foundations
Gut-Brain Axis
The two-way communication network between your gut and brain that regulates hunger, fullness, and metabolism.
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Lifestyle
Habit Stacking
A behavioural technique that pairs a new healthy habit with an existing routine to make lifestyle changes easier and more sustainable.
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Screening
HbA1c (Glycated Haemoglobin)
A blood test that measures your average blood sugar over two to three months, a key marker of metabolic health during weight loss.
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Screening
Health Screening
Comprehensive medical check-up to assess weight-related health risks.
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Lifestyle
High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT)
HIIT alternates short bursts of intense exercise with rest — a time-efficient way to burn fat and boost metabolism.
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Lifestyle
Holiday Weight Management
Holidays and festive seasons bring larger meals, rich foods and disrupted routines, and it is common to gain a little weight.
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Lifestyle
Hydration and Weight Management
How adequate water intake supports weight loss by boosting metabolism, reducing calorie intake, and replacing high-calorie beverages.
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Conditions
Hyperinsulinaemia
A condition of chronically elevated blood insulin levels that promotes fat storage and complicates weight loss.
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Conditions
Hyperphagia
Abnormally intense and persistent hunger that contributes to weight gain and requires clinical evaluation.
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Conditions
Hypertension
High blood pressure — a common condition often linked to excess weight.
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Conditions
Hyperuricaemia and Obesity
Elevated blood uric acid is strongly linked to obesity and can lead to gout; weight loss helps lower uric acid levels naturally.
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Conditions
Hypogonadism and Obesity
Hypogonadism means the body produces too little of the sex hormone testosterone, and it is common in men who carry excess weight.
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Conditions
Hypothalamic Obesity
Weight gain caused by damage to the hypothalamus, the brain's hunger control centre, leading to relentless appetite and metabolic disruption.
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Conditions
Hypothyroidism
An underactive thyroid gland that slows metabolism and can contribute to weight gain and difficulty losing weight.
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Complications
Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension (IIH)
Raised pressure inside the skull linked to obesity, causing headaches and vision problems that often improve with weight loss.
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Medications
Incretin-Based Therapies
A class of medications that mimic gut hormones to lower blood sugar, suppress appetite, and promote significant weight loss.
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Conditions
Infertility and Obesity
Obesity can disrupt hormonal balance and ovulation in both men and women, but weight loss can significantly improve fertility.
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Hormones
Insulin Resistance
A condition where cells do not respond well to insulin, driving weight gain.
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Nutrition
Intermittent Fasting
An eating pattern cycling between periods of eating and fasting.
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Psychological
Intuitive Eating
Eating guided by your body's natural hunger and fullness signals rather than strict diet rules.
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Procedures
Jejunoileal Bypass
A historical malabsorptive weight-loss surgery abandoned due to severe complications — a milestone in bariatric surgery evolution.
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Nutrition
Ketogenic Diet
A very low-carbohydrate, high-fat diet that induces ketosis, causing the body to burn fat for fuel.
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Procedures
Laser Lipolysis
Laser lipolysis is a minimally invasive treatment that uses laser energy to heat and melt fat beneath the skin, which is then naturally removed by the body or gently…
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Hormones
Leptin
The satiety hormone — regulates hunger and energy balance.
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Medications
Lipase Inhibitor
A prescription treatment that reduces how much dietary fat the body absorbs from food, used as part of medically supervised weight management.
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Screening
Lipid Profile
A blood test measuring cholesterol and triglycerides — a key screening tool to assess heart disease risk during weight management.
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Conditions
Lipidema
A chronic condition causing painful, abnormal fat accumulation mainly in the legs and arms, often mistaken for simple obesity.
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Conditions
Lipodystrophy
A group of rare disorders causing abnormal fat distribution and severe metabolic complications from impaired fat storage.
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Conditions
Lipohypertrophy
Abnormal fat accumulation at insulin injection sites that can interfere with diabetes management and complicate weight loss efforts.
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Foundations
Lipolysis
The biological process of breaking down stored fat into usable energy, driven by a caloric deficit and regulated by hormones.
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Procedures
Liposuction
A cosmetic fat-removal procedure for body contouring — not a weight-loss treatment or obesity solution.
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Conditions
Lipotoxicity
The damaging effects of excess fat accumulation in organs like the liver, pancreas, and muscles.
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Medications
Lorcaserin
A selective serotonin receptor agonist that reduced appetite by activating satiety pathways, withdrawn in 2020 after long-term safety review.
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Nutrition
Low-Glycaemic Diet
A diet focused on foods that cause a slow, steady rise in blood sugar, helping with appetite control and sustained energy.
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Nutrition
Macronutrients
The three main nutrients: carbohydrates, proteins, and fats — all essential for health.
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Medications
Mazindol
An appetite suppressant that works on the brain's hunger control centre, historically used for short-term weight management in resistant cases.
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Medications
MC4R Agonist Therapy
An injectable treatment for severe obesity caused by specific rare genetic conditions affecting appetite regulation.
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Lifestyle
Meal Prepping
A structured food preparation strategy that makes healthy eating convenient by preparing meals in advance.
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Nutrition
Meal Replacement Products
Meal replacement products are shakes, bars or soups designed to replace a full meal with a controlled number of calories and nutrients.
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Nutrition
Mediterranean Diet
A balanced, evidence-based eating pattern rich in vegetables, olive oil, fish, and whole grains.
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Nutrition
Medium-Chain Triglycerides
Fats that bypass normal digestion, providing quick energy and modestly boosting metabolism and satiety.
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Conditions
Menopause and Weight Gain
Weight gain driven by declining oestrogen during menopause — shifts fat storage to the abdomen and slows metabolism.
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Body Composition
Metabolic Adaptation
The body's natural slowing of metabolism in response to weight loss.
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Foundations
Metabolic Flexibility
The body's ability to switch between burning carbohydrates and fats — poor flexibility is linked to weight gain and insulin resistance.
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Foundations
Metabolic Health
How well your body regulates blood sugar, cholesterol, and blood pressure, a fuller measure of health than weight alone.
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Conditions
Metabolic Syndrome
A cluster of conditions that increase risk of heart disease, stroke, and diabetes.
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Medications
Metformin
A diabetes medication that can support modest weight loss by improving insulin sensitivity and reducing liver sugar production.
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Nutrition
Micronutrient Deficiencies in Obesity
People with obesity can still lack important vitamins and minerals such as vitamin D, iron, and vitamin B12.
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Psychological
Mindful Eating
The practice of paying full attention to eating experiences to recognise hunger cues and break emotional eating patterns.
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Procedures
Mini Gastric Bypass (OAGB)
A simplified weight loss surgery using a single connection to reduce stomach size and calorie absorption.
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Lifestyle
Morning vs Evening Exercise
Morning exercise may enhance fat burning and consistency, while evening exercise may boost strength — the best time is the one you can keep to.
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Lifestyle
Movement Breaks
Short bursts of light activity taken throughout the day to break up long periods of sitting.
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Medications
Naltrexone
An opioid blocker that, combined with bupropion, helps reduce food cravings and support medically supervised weight loss.
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Medications
Naltrexone/bupropion (combination)
A prescription combination medication (naltrexone/bupropion) that reduces hunger and food cravings for weight management.
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Lifestyle
NEAT (Non-Exercise Activity Thermogenesis)
The calories burned through everyday non-exercise activities like walking, standing, and household chores.
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Conditions
Night Eating Syndrome
A condition where a person consumes a large portion of daily calories after dinner or during the night.
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Conditions
Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH)
The inflammatory, progressive form of fatty liver disease that can lead to cirrhosis — weight loss of 7–10% is the most effective treatment.
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Psychological
Non-Scale Victories (NSVs)
Non-scale victories, or NSVs, are signs of progress that do not involve the number on the scale.
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Conditions
Obesity
A chronic medical condition defined by excessive body fat that increases health risks.
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Conditions
Obesity and Pregnancy
Carrying excess weight during pregnancy can raise the risk of complications such as gestational diabetes, high blood pressure and a larger baby.
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Foundations
Obesity as a Chronic Disease
Obesity is a long-term medical condition, not a matter of willpower.
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Foundations
Obesity Classification (Class I, II, III)
A BMI-based grading of obesity severity that guides which weight-loss treatments are appropriate.
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Conditions
Obesity Hypoventilation Syndrome
A serious breathing disorder in people with severe obesity where excess weight restricts lung function.
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Foundations
Obesity Paradox
The observation that overweight or mildly obese patients with certain chronic diseases may have better survival.
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Conditions
Obesity-Related Glomerulopathy
Kidney damage caused by excess weight, leading to protein leakage and progressive decline in kidney function.
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Foundations
Obesogenic Environment
A setting that promotes weight gain through easy access to unhealthy food and barriers to physical activity.
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Nutrition
Omega-3 Fatty Acids and Weight
Healthy fats found in fish and certain plant oils that reduce inflammation and support metabolism.
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Medications
Oral GLP-1 Tablet
A daily oral GLP-1 receptor agonist tablet used in type 2 diabetes and, where clinically appropriate, weight management. Prescription only.
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Foundations
Orexigenic Signals
The body's natural eat-more messages — hormones and brain chemicals that drive hunger and food intake.
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Medications
Orforglipron
An oral GLP-1 receptor agonist in development that mimics natural hunger-regulating hormones without injections.
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Complications
Osteoarthritis
Joint degeneration worsened by excess weight, particularly in knees and hips.
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Medications
Oxyntomodulin
A gut hormone that reduces appetite and is being developed as a new injectable treatment for obesity.
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Procedures
Panniculectomy
A panniculectomy is surgery to remove the hanging apron of excess skin and fat over the lower belly that can remain after major weight loss.
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Conditions
PCOS
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome — a hormonal disorder common in women, linked to weight.
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Hormones
Peptide YY (PYY)
A gut hormone released after eating that signals fullness to the brain and reduces appetite.
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Body Composition
Phase Angle
Phase angle is a number measured during a body composition scan that reflects the health of your body’s cells and muscles.
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Medications
Phendimetrazine
A short-term prescription appetite suppressant used as part of a medically supervised weight loss programme.
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Medications
Phentermine
A short-term prescription appetite suppressant used alongside diet and exercise for medically supervised weight loss.
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Nutrition
Plant-Based Diets for Weight Management
Eating patterns centred on plant foods that support weight loss through lower calorie density and higher satiety.
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Lifestyle
Portion Control
Managing the amount of food you eat at each meal, a proven behavioural strategy for reducing calorie intake.
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Conditions
Post-Bariatric Hypoglycaemia
A complication of weight loss surgery where blood sugar drops too low after eating.
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Conditions
Prader-Willi Syndrome
A rare genetic disorder causing constant extreme hunger, slow metabolism, and lifelong weight management challenges.
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Medications
Pramlintide
A synthetic amylin analogue injection that slows gastric emptying and promotes satiety.
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Nutrition
Prebiotics and Weight Management
Non-digestible fibres that feed beneficial gut bacteria and may support weight management through the gut-brain axis.
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Conditions
Prediabetes
Blood sugar levels higher than normal but not yet diabetic — a critical window where weight loss can reverse the trend.
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Medications
Prescription Appetite Suppressant
A short-term prescription treatment that reduces hunger signals, used under medical supervision as part of a wider weight management plan.
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Procedures
Prescription Digital Therapeutics
App-based therapy programmes prescribed by doctors to support weight loss through behavioural change.
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Procedures
Primary Obesity Surgery Endolumenal (POSE)
A non-surgical, incisionless endoscopic procedure that reduces stomach capacity to help you feel full sooner.
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Nutrition
Probiotics and Weight Management
Beneficial live bacteria that support gut health and may aid weight management by influencing appetite hormones.
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Nutrition
Protein Leverage Hypothesis
The idea that the body overeats calories from fats and carbs to meet a fixed daily protein target.
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Nutrition
Protein Timing
The strategic distribution of protein intake across meals to preserve muscle mass and enhance satiety.
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Lifestyle
Resistance Training
Building muscle through exercises like weight lifting, boosting metabolism and supporting sustainable weight loss.
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Nutrition
Resistant Starch
A carbohydrate that resists digestion, feeding beneficial gut bacteria to improve blood sugar control and appetite regulation.
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Foundations
Respiratory Quotient
Reveals whether your body is burning carbohydrates or fats for energy, helping tailor your weight management plan.
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Foundations
Resting Metabolic Rate (RMR)
The energy your body uses at complete rest — understanding it helps create personalised weight management plans.
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Medications
Retatrutide
An investigational triple-hormone agonist that achieved substantial body weight loss in clinical trials.
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Procedures
Revisional Bariatric Surgery
A second weight loss operation to address inadequate weight loss or weight regain after initial bariatric surgery.
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Medications
Rimonabant
The first CB1 receptor antagonist for weight loss — withdrawn due to psychiatric side effects but historically significant.
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Procedures
Robotic Bariatric Surgery
Weight-loss procedures performed with a surgeon-controlled robotic platform for enhanced precision and smaller incisions.
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Procedures
SADI-S Procedure
A modern bariatric surgery combining sleeve gastrectomy with bowel bypass for significant, lasting weight loss in severe obesity.
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Conditions
Sarcopenic Obesity
Excess body fat coexisting with low muscle mass, requiring careful weight loss strategies to preserve strength.
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Procedures
SASI Bypass
A newer metabolic surgery combining sleeve gastrectomy with intestinal bypass for significant and sustained weight loss.
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Nutrition
Satiety
The feeling of fullness after eating that helps control appetite — influenced by protein, fibre, and food volume.
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Lifestyle
Sedentary Behaviour
Prolonged sitting or reclining with low energy expenditure, which independently increases the risk of weight gain.
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Psychological
Self-Compassion and Weight Management
Self-compassion means treating yourself with the same kindness you would show a friend, rather than harsh self-criticism.
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Lifestyle
Self-Monitoring
Tracking your food, activity, and weight — consistently linked to greater weight loss and long-term success.
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Foundations
Set Point Theory
The concept that your body defends a preferred weight range through hormonal and metabolic mechanisms.
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Medications
SGLT-2 Inhibitors and Weight
Diabetes medications that promote weight loss by causing the kidneys to excrete excess sugar through urine.
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Medications
Sibutramine
A satiety-enhancing weight-loss drug withdrawn in 2010 due to increased heart and stroke risk.
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Conditions
Sleep Apnoea
A sleep disorder where breathing repeatedly stops and starts, often linked to obesity.
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Lifestyle
Sleep Hygiene
The set of habits that promote quality sleep, which helps regulate hunger hormones and supports healthy weight.
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Lifestyle
Sleep Quality and Weight
Insufficient sleep disrupts hunger hormones and insulin sensitivity, making weight loss more difficult.
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Procedures
Sleeve Gastrectomy
A weight-loss surgery that removes about 80% of the stomach, reducing food intake and hunger hormone production.
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Lifestyle
Smoking Cessation and Weight Gain
The modest weight gain many people experience after quitting smoking, and how to manage it safely.
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Lifestyle
Social Support and Weight Loss
The role of family, friends, and group programmes in improving weight loss outcomes.
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Lifestyle
Stair Climbing
Stair climbing is a free and easy way to add exercise to your day.
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Lifestyle
Step Count and Weight Loss
Counting steps is a popular and easy way to increase daily movement.
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Lifestyle
Stress Management
Controlling stress responses that can trigger weight gain through emotional eating and hormonal changes.
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Body Composition
Subcutaneous Fat
The soft fat layer just under your skin, generally less harmful than deep visceral fat around the organs.
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Nutrition
Sugar-Sweetened Beverages
Sugar-sweetened beverages are drinks with added sugar, such as soft drinks, sweetened teas, energy drinks and fruit cordials.
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Medications
Survodutide
A dual GLP-1/glucagon receptor agonist in development for obesity that aims to reduce appetite and boost energy expenditure.
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Medications
Tesofensine
An investigational weight loss tablet that affects three brain chemicals to suppress appetite and support metabolism.
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Foundations
Thermic Effect of Food (TEF)
The thermic effect of food, or TEF, is the energy your body burns just to digest, absorb and store the food you eat.
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Foundations
Thermogenesis
The body's process of producing heat through metabolic activity, influencing how many calories you burn.
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Hormones
Thyroid Function
How well your thyroid gland produces metabolism-regulating hormones — an underactive thyroid can cause weight gain.
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Nutrition
Time-Restricted Eating
An eating pattern where all daily meals are consumed within an 8- to 10-hour window to support metabolic health.
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Medications
Topiramate
A medication originally developed for epilepsy, used off-label and in combination formulations for weight loss.
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Foundations
Total Daily Energy Expenditure (TDEE)
The total calories your body burns each day, used to set a personal calorie target for weight loss.
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Procedures
Transoral Outlet Reduction (TORe)
A non-surgical endoscopic procedure that tightens the stomach-intestine connection to restore weight loss after gastric bypass.
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Procedures
Transpyloric Shuttle
An endoscopic device that delays stomach emptying to promote fullness and support weight loss without surgery.
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Conditions
Type 2 Diabetes
A metabolic disorder where the body cannot effectively use insulin, often linked to weight.
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Nutrition
Ultra-Processed Foods
Industrially manufactured foods linked to overeating and weight gain, and why reducing them is a cornerstone of weight management.
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Procedures
Vagal Nerve Blockade (vBloc)
An implantable device therapy that intermittently blocks hunger signals between the brain and stomach.
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Complications
Venous Thromboembolism and Obesity
Venous thromboembolism, or VTE, means blood clots that form in a vein, most often in the legs (deep vein thrombosis) or that travel to the lungs (pulmonary embolism).
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Procedures
Vertical Banded Gastroplasty (VBG)
An older restrictive stomach-stapling operation now largely replaced by sleeve gastrectomy and gastric bypass.
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Nutrition
Very Low-Calorie Diet (VLCD)
A very low-calorie diet, or VLCD, provides fewer than 800 calories a day, usually as meal-replacement shakes, and can produce rapid early weight loss.
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Nutrition
Vinegar and Glycaemic Response
How the acetic acid in vinegar helps lower post-meal blood sugar spikes, supporting glycaemic control and appetite regulation.
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Body Composition
Visceral Fat
Fat stored around internal organs — the most dangerous type of body fat.
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Nutrition
Vitamin D and Weight Management
A nutrient often low in people with obesity, important to check and correct during a weight loss journey.
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Nutrition
Volumetrics Diet
A dietary approach focused on low-calorie-density foods that allow larger, more satisfying portions for fewer calories.
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Body Composition
Waist Circumference Measurement
Waist circumference is a simple tape-measure check around your belly that shows how much fat you carry around your organs.
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Screening
Waist-Hip Ratio
A measure of fat distribution — central obesity indicates higher health risk.
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Screening
Water Weight
Temporary fluid retention that can mask true fat loss on the scale.
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Medications
Weekly GLP-1 Injection
A once-weekly GLP-1 receptor agonist injection used in type 2 diabetes that also supports meaningful weight loss. Prescription only, after medical assessment.
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Body Composition
Weight Cycling
Yo-yo dieting — the repeated pattern of losing and regaining weight, which can slow metabolism.
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Foundations
Weight Loss Plateaus
A normal phase during weight loss where progress stalls due to metabolic adaptation and reduced energy needs.
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Foundations
Weight Maintenance
The long-term phase of weight management focused on sustaining weight loss through continued healthy habits and medical support.
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Foundations
Weight Stigma
Negative attitudes and discrimination based on body weight — a barrier to seeking healthcare that independently worsens health outcomes.
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Lifestyle
Yoga and Weight Management
Yoga combines physical postures, breathing and mindfulness, and it can support weight management in several ways.
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