Let’s face it: talking about your weight and health can feel deeply personal and even uncomfortable. In fact, feelings of apprehension often keep many individuals from seeking the support they need to guide them on their journey with weight, such as having the conversation about weight and health with their healthcare provider.
Although this is understandable, your doctor plays a very important role in your success and weight management goals! Why is this? Healthcare teams can offer extremely valuable tools, resources and information to help you manage your weight and overall health during every step of your journey, so opening up the line of communication with a trusted healthcare professional can benefit you significantly.
How Do I Talk to My Doctor about My Weight and Health?
The very first step in inviting your doctor to walk your journey with you is to make an appointment. It all starts with the decision to ACT! However, there are a number of talking points that may be useful to you when speaking with your doctor about your weight and health directly:
Discuss Your Symptoms, or Your Risk of Symptoms
Whether you’re experiencing symptoms that may be weight-related, or you’re concerned about your risk for developing them, your doctor can help you put together a plan of action. Example symptoms may include joint pain, sleep apnea, shortness of breath, digestive issues, etc.
Talk about Your Overall Goals for Health and Wellness
Managing your weight should be part of your overall plan to lead a healthy and happy lifestyle! Therefore, it’s important to discuss your long-term goals for weight and health. Examples may include increased energy, minimized joint pain and the reduction of risk for chronic illnesses – just to name a few.
Revisit Your Family History
Oftentimes, your family’s health history can reveal a lot about your own health and what kinds of conditions you’re susceptible to. By discussing this information with your doctor, he or she may be able to help you develop certain preventative measures for maximizing your own health.
Explore Additional Resources
Your doctor isn’t the only one with tools in the tool box to help you manage your weight! They may know of other appropriate resources and contacts you can benefit from, such as a nutritionist, registered dietitian, mental health counselor and more.
Gather Up Your Questions
Think about those deep-rooted questions you have about your own weight management. Don’t be afraid to write them down and ask them! Chances are, your healthcare provider has the answers or can at least point you in the right direction. Some helpful examples include: (1) What different options do I have for managing my weight? (2) Do any of the prescriptions I take affect my weight? (3) Am I at risk for developing other conditions because of my weight?
Your weight is an important part of your overall health, and your doctor is there to help you IMPROVE your health! By preparing in advance for the conversation about weight with a healthcare professional, you’re setting yourself up for lasting and sustainable progress.
For further tips on the doctor-patient relationship, including ways you can improve it, please CLICK HERE.
