Being overweight or underweight can be a problem. In American society, weighing too much is more common.
Weight can affect your look and feel about yourself. Being overweight can cause several health problems, including heart disease and diabetes. Being underweight can also cause illness. Weight management means keeping a healthy level of your body weight. You can achieve your ideal weight by eating a healthy diet and doing regular exercise.
People who are overweight may need help to set and reach weight loss goals, as they may have a hard time dealing with their weight. Hopefully, this article helps you talk about your weight and take the first steps toward understanding what treatment options for weight management are available.
Before Making an Appointment
You might wonder who to see about losing weight. You should talk to your primary care doctor first. Even though your doctor might not be an expert on weight loss, they are aware of your medical history. If your doctor cannot answer questions about diet programs, exercise routines, or weight loss medications, they can refer you to a specialist in your area.
If you live in West Orange, New Jersey, the Hudson MD Group can partner up with you to make sure you’re on the right track in your fitness journey.
Be Organized. The more prepared you are for the visit, the better. It is important to maximize appointment time and ensure that all your concerns are expressed so that your doctor can come up with an excellent treatment plan.
Be Honest. Besides your weight history, be ready to discuss your eating and drinking habits along with your physical activity. Talk about your stress levels, lifestyle, and other factors that could be influencing your weight.
Questions to Ask Your Doctor
Your doctor can be a partner when you’re working to lose weight. Consider discussing what your weight is stopping you from doing and concerns about your health. Starting a conversation with your doctor can help you recognize therapies you might not have known about or considered.
Use these questions to begin the discussion.
- I want to lose weight. How do you usually make a treatment plan with your patients?
This will give you an idea of how your doctor normally helps patients achieve their health goals.
- What should my goal weight be?
Your doctor should help you identify realistic goals matching your weight management plan.
- What treatment recommendations do you have, and why?
Your doctor will offer a few different treatments, sometimes in combination. The goal is to choose the treatments that best manage the reasons for your weight gain.
- What treatment options would you suggest specifically for me, and why?
This is an important question because there is no single approach for everyone. Your doctor will consider your circumstances, health conditions, and previous treatments to create your weight management plan.
- How do I make sure I’m progressing in losing weight?
Your doctor will make regular follow-up visits depending on your treatment plan. If weight loss isn’t achieved, they will readjust your treatment plan to make it work in the future.
- Are you dedicated to helping me reach my weight loss goals?
It is important that you feel you are in good hands. You need a doctor who will become a real partner on your journey and pay attention to your concerns, questions, and struggles.
- How long should it take me to reach my goal?
Your doctor will provide you with an approximate on when you can expect to reach your goal depending on the treatment plan they create for you to follow.
- Who else can help me?
Ask your doctor about other professionals you could be referred to. Aside from friends, family, and your professional healthcare team, getting others involved in your journey is a great way to keep you motivated.
- How will losing weight impact my health?
Understanding the health benefits of your weight loss plan would keep you motivated. The good news is, even modest weight loss can have a positive impact on your health.
- How much will the treatment cost, and will it be covered by my insurance or through a public health service?
It is important to understand what your financial commitment will be from the start.
An initial conversation with your doctor should provide all the information you need to begin your weight management program. Every journey has obstacles and challenges, but you do not have to do it alone. Start the journey by booking an appointment here at the Hudson MD Group if you live near West Orange, New Jersey.
Weight Management Experts in West Orange, New Jersey
The Hudson MD Group is a multispecialty practice, and our dynamic team of medical practitioners includes primary care physicians who can partner up with you to make sure you’re on the right track in your fitness journey. Our primary care physicians utilize patient-centered communication, tailor medications that can positively impact your weight, provide behavioral counseling, and recommend exercise routines, ensuring you a highly favorable outcome. If you would like to book an appointment with any of our primary care physicians at Hudson MD Group, you can call (973) 705-4914 or send us a message online. We look forward to helping you!
