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Preparing for your appointment
By Mayo Clinic staffTalking to your doctor openly and honestly about your weight is one of the best things you can do for your health. You're likely to start by first seeing your primary care doctor. In some cases, you may be referred to an obesity specialist, if one is available in your area. You may also be referred to a mental health provider, dietitian or nutrition specialist.
What you can do
Being an active participant in your care can help your efforts to overcome obesity. One way to do this is by preparing for your appointment. Think about your needs and goals for treatment. Also, write down a list of questions to ask. These questions may include:
- Why can't I get over obesity on my own?
- What other health problems might I have?
- What are the treatment options for obesity and my other health problems?
- Is weight-loss surgery an option for me?
- Will counseling help?
- Are there weight-loss medications that might help?
- How long will treatment take?
- What can I do to help myself?
- Are there any brochures or other printed material that I can take home with me?
- What Web sites do you recommend visiting?
In addition to your prepared questions, don't hesitate to ask questions at any time during your appointment.
What to expect from your doctor
During your appointment, your doctor or other health provider is likely to ask you a number of questions about your eating, activity, mood and thoughts, and any symptoms you might have. You may be asked such questions as:
- What do you eat in a typical day
- How much activity do you get in a typical day?
- During what periods of your life did you gain weight?
- What are the factors that you believe affect your weight?
- How is your daily life affected by your obesity?
- How is your mood affected by your weight?
- What diets or treatments have you tried to lose weight?
- What other medical conditions, if any, do you have?
- Do you have any family members with weight problems?
- What are your weight-loss goals?
- Are you ready to make changes in your lifestyle to lose weight?
- What do you think might prevent you from losing weight?
- How committed are you to losing weight?
- What medications or over-the-counter herbs and supplements do you take?
What you can do in the meantime
If you have several days or weeks before your scheduled appointment, you can start making some changes on your own to your eating and activity levels as you begin the journey to lose weight.
- Start making healthy changes in your diet, such as eating more fruits, vegetables and whole grains and reducing portion sizes. Eat breakfast.
- Track how much you're eating or drinking each day so you get a sense of how many calories you're consuming. It's easy to underestimate how many calories you actually consume every day.
- Begin increasing your activity level. If possible, take some walks. Otherwise, simply try to get up and move around your home more frequently. Start gradually if you aren't in good shape or aren't used to exercising. If you have any health conditions, or if you're a man over age 40 or a woman over age 50, talk to your doctor before you start a new exercise program.
- Defining overweight and obesity. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/obesity/defining.htm. Accessed Jan. 26, 2009.
- Ogden CL, et al. Obesity among adults in the United States - No statistically significant change since 2003-2004. NCHS data brief no 1. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics. 2007.
- Still CD, et al. Obesity. In: Rakel & Bope: Conn's Current Therapy. 60th ed. Philadelphia: Saunders Elsevier; 2008. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/117958748-3/0/1621/295.html#4-u1.0-B978-1. Accessed Feb. 20, 2009.
- Bray GA. Etiology and natural history of obesity. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Jan. 26, 2009.
- Kushner RF. Obesity management. Gastroenterology Clinics of North America. 2007;36:191.
- Duval K, et al. Health-related quality of life in morbid obesity. Obesity Surgery. 2006;16:574.
- Hainer V, et al. Treatment modalities of obesity: What fits whom? Diabetes Care. 2008;31(suppl 2):S269.
- Understanding adult obesity. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. http://www.win.niddk.nih.gov/publications/understanding.htm. Accessed Jan. 26, 2009.
- Bessesen DH. Update on obesity. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism. 2008;93:2027.
- Bray GA. Overview of therapy for obesity in adults. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Jan. 26, 2009.
- Svetkey LP, et al. Comparison of strategies for sustaining weight loss: The Weight Loss Maintenance Randomized Controlled Trial. JAMA. 2008;299:1139.
- The practical guide: Identification, evaluation, and treatment of overweight and obesity in adults. National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/guidelines/obesity/prctgd_c.pdf. Accessed Feb. 25, 2009.
- Donnelly JE, et al. American College of Sports Medicine position stand: Appropriate physical activity intervention strategies for weight loss and prevention of weight regain for adults. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise. 2009;41:459.
- Sacks F, et al. Comparison of weight-loss diets with different compositions of fat, protein, and carbohydrates. New England Journal of Medicine. 2009;360:859.
- Mun EC, et al. Surgical management of obesity. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Feb. 26, 2009.
- Hensrud DD (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. April 2, 2009.
- Anderson CA (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. March 3, 2009.
