“Plastic surgery-style” weight loss! Nutritional weight loss helps him bid farewell to three highs and fatty liver.

Recently, there has been a buzz about Jia Ling’s “plastic surgery-style” dramatic weight loss of 100 kilograms. In her Weibo post, she mentioned, “This year has been really hungry and exhausting, like living a lifetime. She has become an example, bringing motivation for weight loss and hope for effort.

“Jia Ling’s 100-kilogram weight loss was achieved through over a year of continuous efforts, with an average monthly weight loss of less than 10 kilograms. Through scientific weight loss, this is entirely achievable,” said Dr. Ye Yanbin, Chief Physician of the Clinical Nutrition Department at the First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University. Mr. Liu, a recent patient in the hospital’s nutritional weight loss clinic, is a representative case, losing around 10 kilograms per month.

Sedentary Lifestyle Leading to Repeated Weight Gain

Mr. Liu is an engineer, 42 years old, 193 cm tall, with a large physique and a tired appearance. During the consultation, he constantly yawned and had heavy breathing sounds. He has been suffering from sleep apnea syndrome, affecting his sleep quality, leading to poor daytime alertness, easy drowsiness, and respiratory issues.

Two years ago, his weight fluctuated between 90-100 kg. Due to an unregulated diet and a sedentary job, with minimal physical activity, his weight kept increasing. As his weight grew, his joints were damaged, and he experienced gout attacks after exercise. He had been away from sports for a long time.

Family members were concerned about his health issues, urging him to seek medical attention early. However, Mr. Liu always used his busy work as an excuse until the health risks associated with obesity forced him to take it seriously. Based on a friend’s recommendation, he sought out the professional nutritional weight loss team led by Dr. Ye Yanbin at the First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University. Mr. Liu mentioned that he had tried various methods to control weight before, but the results were minimal, and he often faced difficulty in sticking to a weight loss plan due to hunger.

Comprehensive Assessment Reveals Metabolic Diseases

After a physical examination and nutritional assessment by Dr. Ye Yanbin, it was found that Mr. Liu, 42 years old, weighed 145.6 kg at the time of the consultation, with a BMI of 39.1 kg/m2 (normal BMI is between 18.5-23.9). Mr. Liu was classified as severely obese, and his visceral fat level was at stage 21 (the recommended optimal visceral fat is between stages 5-8).

Since Mr. Liu had not undergone a health check for a year, according to the standard weight loss management process, the medical team had to first understand the patient’s comprehensive health condition and then formulate a personalized weight loss plan based on this information.

Following the doctor’s advice, Mr. Liu underwent a series of health checks. The test results revealed high blood lipids, elevated uric acid, and elevated blood sugar. He was diagnosed with diabetes, severe fatty liver, moderate sleep apnea syndrome, reflux gastritis, esophagitis, and a series of metabolic diseases.

Dr. Ye Yanbin emphasized that many obese individuals suffer from varying degrees of fatty liver. If not intervened in a timely manner, moderate fatty liver can progress to severe fatty liver, leading to liver cirrhosis or even liver cancer, posing a threat to the patient’s life. Obesity is also a significant risk factor for diabetes. According to Dr. Ye Yanbin, overweight individuals weighing over 200 pounds are not uncommon in clinics. Obesity, if not intervened early, can cause irreversible damage to health.

Steady Weight Loss for Embracing a Healthy Life

According to the recommendations of the “Consensus of Experts on Weight Management for Overweight or Obese Population,” Mr. Liu’s obesity could be considered for surgical weight loss. The endocrinologist suggested using medication to regulate blood sugar and assist in weight loss. They also informed Mr. Liu about the possibility of surgical weight loss. However, Mr. Liu expressed a desire to try lifestyle interventions first before considering other options.

Considering the patient’s opinions and various indicators, the medical team provided a comprehensive plan involving medication and lifestyle adjustments: a gradual reduction in energy intake and a high-protein diet. The medical team and nutritionists closely monitored and followed up with Mr. Liu.

In the first week of intervention, Mr. Liu lost 2.6 kilograms, and the overall speed was relatively fast. After one month of intervention, Mr. Liu came for a follow-up, comparing the results with the initial assessment. His weight had decreased by 11.3 kg, fat mass reduced by 3.2 kg, visceral fat level dropped by 3 stages, and BMI decreased by 3 units.

The quick weight loss in the first month resulted in significant muscle loss for Mr. Liu. The nutrition team adjusted the diet and exercise intervention plan in the second month, focusing on supplementing protein and increasing exercise. However, Mr. Liu experienced two episodes of gout attacks due to excessive exercise. The team promptly adjusted the diet to reduce total protein intake and modify food choices. After a two-day adjustment, the gout symptoms alleviated, and Mr. Liu continued to follow the fat loss plan.

Under the guidance and adjustments of the team, Mr. Liu gradually adapted to the entire intervention process. During this process, Mr. Liu’s weight continued to decline, entering the third month. While attending follow-ups with the nutrition department, he also continued follow-ups with the endocrinology department, maintaining the use of medication with no adverse reactions. Blood sugar control was excellent. Looking at the three-month weight curve, it is evident that Mr. Liu’s weight has been consistently decreasing, showing a positive trend.

In just three months, Mr. Liu reduced his waist circumference by 26 cm and hip circumference by 14 cm.

During the follow-up, his body underwent significant changes, with much improvement in his condition and a considerable improvement in mental status. He can now occasionally play basketball with his children and has maintained habits like brisk walking and swimming. The medical examination report showed that he lost 49 kilograms in three months, and there were significant improvements in related diseases. Blood sugar returned to normal, and fatty liver improved significantly, with normal blood lipids and uric acid levels.

Now, he has entered the transition and consolidation phase, still maintaining a healthy lifestyle and adhering to a good diet. Mr. Liu, along with his family, is very happy and grateful to the hospital’s nutritional weight loss team. They never expected that the fat loss process could be achieved without starving – this is the essence of nutritional weight loss.