Why should I talk to my doctor about weight management?

It is crucial to talk to your doctor about managing your weight, especially if you are already overweight or obese. If you are an American adult, it is likely that you are since around two-thirds of us are either overweight or obese.

In addition to being so common, obesity and overweight are major contributors to the diseases that are the leading causes of death in the Western world. Heart disease, cancer, and stroke account for around two-thirds of all deaths in Western countries and being overweight or obese is a risk factor for all of these diseases. Along with smoking, being overweight or obese is the greatest public health problem in the West. The fact that excess weight it is a mostly preventable risk factor makes it all the more important for you to talk to your doctor about changing your lifestyle as soon as possible.

It is important to note that whatever your age or weight, making changes in your lifestyle today can decrease your risk of developing serious obesity-related diseases in the future. Even modest weight loss, when maintained, can improve your overall health, reduce symptoms of obesity-related diseases, and reduce your risk of early death. If you are overweight or obese, losing weight (along with quitting smoking) is the best thing you can do to improve your overall health.

How do I talk to my doctor about weight management?

Most doctors will bring up the issue of weight with patients who are overweight and obese but may not discuss it with people who are borderline overweight. If you are at all concerned about your weight, bring it up with your doctor. Most doctors are very happy when people take the initiative to discuss weight management with them. Many general practice doctors spend much of their day gently reminding their patients that they need to lose weight. If your doctor is not prepared to answer all your questions about weight loss, you can ask for a referral to a nutritionist, dietitian, or weight-loss specialist who can help answer them.

As with any medical matter, the best thing you can do is to come prepared with a list of the questions you want to ask and with answers for the questions that the doctor may ask of you. Especially if you are seeing a new doctor, you should bring a list of any medications you are taking (including both prescription and non-prescription drugs). You may be asked to provide a medical history, including any past illnesses, surgeries, and treatments (including mental health treatment) so knowing the dates of these is helpful.

If you have had symptoms of any obesity related problems, discuss these with your doctor. Try to give your doctor as much information as possible about them: when did you first notice them, have they gotten better, worse, or stayed the same. Keeping a journal of your symptoms may help you talk about them with your doctor.

It is a good idea to take notes, bring a tape recorder, or ask a friend or family member to come with you to help you remember what your doctor tells you. Medical information can be overwhelming, especially when you are faced with a lot of it all at once. There can be a lot involved in changing your lifestyle so be sure you understand all the information the doctor provides you with. Let your doctor know if he or she has not answered your question or addressed your concern.

What questions should I ask my doctor about my weight?

If you are concerned about your weight you can ask your doctor the following questions about your weight and your health:

• Do I need to lose weight? Or should I just avoid gaining more?
• What is my BMI?
• Do I have an apple shape?
• Is my weight affecting my health? How?
• Do I have any signs of obesity related diseases?
• Should I be tested for type 2 diabetes?
• What is my cholesterol level? My triglycerides?
• Could my excess weight be caused by a medical condition like hypothyroidism or by a medicine I am taking?

What questions should I ask my doctor about diet and weight control?

If the doctor suggests that you lose weight, you should ask questions about how to lose weight safely and effectively. For some people, this may require a radical departure from their normal eating habits. You should make sure to get clarification on specific foods or ingredients you should eat and those you should avoid. Questions you can ask are:

• What should my weight-loss goal be? Is this a realistic goal for me?
• How will losing weight help me?
• Do I need to make a weight control plan?
• Could a weight-loss program help me?
• Should I see a nutritionist or a registered dietitian?
• How should I change my eating habits?
• What types of food should I eat, what should I restrict, and what should I avoid completely?
• What other kinds of lifestyle changes can I make to stay healthy?
• What should my daily calorie, fat and cholesterol intake be?
• Are there cooking tips that I can use?
• Is there a good way to control portion size?
• Can I still eat out? What about fast food?
• Can I still eat _ (insert a favorite indulgence food, e.g. pizza, ice-cream, candy)?
• How should I read food labels?
• Should I keep a food diary of what I eat?
• How can I maintain a healthy weight after losing those pounds?
• Should I follow an established set of dieting guidelines?
• What about specific diets, like Atkins, Zone, or South Beach?
• Can you recommend support groups or counseling to help me eat better and lose weight?
• Are there some alternative weight management therapies I can use along with conventional treatment?
• Can you give an example of patient who made some simple changes and improved their diabetes?

What questions should I ask about physical activity?

An essential part of losing weight and of maintaining that weight loss is physical activity. These are some questions you can ask your doctor about physical activity:

• How much physical activity do I need? How often?
• What level of activity is OK for me?
• What type of exercise should I be doing to control my weight?
• Are there specific exercises I should do? Are there activities I should avoid?
• What kind of daily activities can I do to help me control my weight?
• Should I join a gym?
• How can my friends and family help me stay on track?

What questions can I ask my doctor about medications and surgery?

While weight-loss medications and surgery are not right for everyone, you can ask your doctor about them to see if they are right for you.

• Is weight-loss medication appropriate for me?
• What drugs do you recommend? How do they work?
• When and how should I take medication?
• Will I always need to take medications?
• Are there other medication options for me?
• How will I know if the medicine is working?
• What are the side effects? What should I do if I recognize them?
• Are there any long term risks of taking this medication?
• Where can I find out more about the medicine?
• Am I a candidate for weight-loss surgery?
• What are the risks of surgery?
• What are the side effects of surgery? Is there anything I can do about them?