Too many people are trying to manage their weight on their own – but it does not have to be that way. Obesity is a chronic disease and managing it is a lifelong process. Starting a conversation with your doctor or an allied healthcare provider can open up doors to treatments and therapies you might not have known about or otherwise considered.
Pam Davies is a certified bariatric nurse and she also lives with obesity. Based on her private and professional experience, she suggests that you ask your doctor these 10 questions to start your journey:
Developing a proper plan takes time. You will need an appointment that leaves time for a conversation about your weight history and wishes for the future.
This is an important question, because no single approach works for everyone. This means that the types of tests, evaluations, and treatments will vary depending on your circumstances, health issues, and previous treatments.
We cannot expect our doctors to be experts in everything. But we can expect them to know what they don’t know, and when they should refer us to a specialist.
An obesity specialist will offer a number of different therapies, sometimes in combination. The goal is to pick the treatments that best address the reasons for your weight gain, like your biology, psychology and behaviour. Some options can include healthy eating, increased physical activity, anti-obesity medication or bariatric surgery. An ideal setup might be to team up with a registered dietitian and a behavioural health specialist.
Asking this question will tell you two things: the success rate of their approach to treating obesity, and whether they keep track of their patients during their treatment. This is important because you want a doctor that invests in long-term treatment.
Your doctor should help you to identify meaningful and realistic goals. But it’s equally important to have support during the process. Your healthcare team might include a number of different specialists. Dieticians, psychologists and exercise physiologists can all be helpful, depending on your situation. Local and online support groups are also a great way to exchange experiences and stay motivated.
The more frequent, the better. Appointments may be for support, accountability and to adjust treatment as necessary. They may not always be with a doctor, as appointments with support staff are also extremely valuable and should not be overlooked.
The systems that cover medical costs vary a lot between countries. To avoid an unpleasant surprise, it’s important to understand what your financial commitment will be from the start.
Obesity is a complex chronic disease. To treat it successfully you need an individual treatment plan that fits your specific needs. This plan should include realistic goals, regular evaluations and a detailed program for you to follow. Depending on your progress, the treatment plan might need to be adjusted or just fine tuned. You need to know that your doctor has more than one approach – and more than one tool – to help you succeed.
It might seem like a very direct question, but it’s important that you feel that you are in good hands. You need someone who is interested in being a real partner on your journey, who stays in constant dialogue, and who shares the responsibility for your success.
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