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25 questions to ask your doctor about your weight loss program
Here are 25 important questions to ask your doctor before you start a weight loss program.
The goal of any weight loss program should be to improve one's health and lose weight. Short-term weight loss should never be prioritized over long-term health.
In that regard, here are 25 important questions to ask your doctor about your particular weight loss program:
- Do I need to lose weight?
- Am I at risk for developing any other conditions related to my weight?
- Are any of my current symptoms related to my weight?
- Are your weight loss programs safe if I have diabetes or any other medical conditions?
- Can I still get pregnant while following your weight loss program?
- Any medications or lifestyle choices that I am making contributions to my weight?
- Is there a medication that can help me with my weight loss?
- What plan should I follow to lose weight?
- How many weight loss programs do you have?
- What’s the science behind your weight loss program?
- Are you opting for any natural ways in this program?
- Is there a danger of losing weight too fast?
- Am I healthy enough for a weight loss program, or am I a suitable candidate?
- How much should I exercise?
- What is the average percent of body weight lost after one year?
- How much weight do I need to lose to see a benefit?
- How does the program help you maintain a healthy weight?
- How much does the program cost?
- Does my insurance cover any of the weight loss program cost?
- How long do I have to stay on any of these weight loss programs?
- How often do I have to come in for visits?
- Can I meet one of your patients who achieved weight loss with your guidance?
- Will I need to undergo any weight loss surgery if I failed to lose weight?
- Will I put the weight back on?
- Will I lose bone or muscle mass during this program?
If you have been trying to lose weight for a while, you may be nervous about what to expect. It is natural to feel anxious before your first appointment.
At your first appointment, your doctor will discuss:
- Your weight loss goals
- What your daily routine looks like (diet and exercise)
- How long you have tried to lose weight
- Your medical history
Your doctor's goal is to assist you in locating the most effective treatment so that you can lose weight and keep it off in the long run.
You and your doctor will consult to see if you might benefit from treatments, such as:
- Simple diet and exercise
- Stress management
- Behavioral or mental health therapy
- Weight loss medications
- More permanent treatments, such as bariatric or weight-loss surgery
What medications do doctors prescribe for weight loss?
The most effective weight-loss medications are appetite suppressants. However, the best prescription weight-loss drug is determined by the individual's health situation.
What works for you may not work for others. Depending on your age and underlying medical conditions doctors may discuss various treatment options.
Medications for weight loss are usually classified into two types.
- Drugs that decrease food intake (appetite suppressants)
- Drugs that alter the metabolism of food
Drugs that decrease food intake
- Sympathomimetic agents: Reduce appetite and increase satiety (feeling of fullness).
- The mostly prescribed sympathomimetic drug is:
- Phentermine (phenyl-tertiary-butylamine), sold under the brand name Lonamin among others. It is the medication used together with diet and exercise to treat obesity.
- Common side effects include a fast heartbeat, high blood pressure, trouble sleeping, dizziness, and restlessness.
- Phentermine (phenyl-tertiary-butylamine), sold under the brand name Lonamin among others. It is the medication used together with diet and exercise to treat obesity.
- The mostly prescribed sympathomimetic drug is:
Drugs that alter the metabolism of food
- Orlistat
- Drugs designed to treat obesity. It is marketed as a prescription drug under the trade name Xenical. Orlistat prevents approximately 30 percent of the dietary fat from meals from being absorbed by the body. Orlistat has been shown to reduce cholesterol absorption as well from the diet.
- Common side effects include gastrointestinal problems.
The diet pill market is crowded with products that may or may not be approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Consult your doctor about the best pill for your body.
Some people struggle to make the necessary lifestyle and dietary changes, whereas others simply do not respond to the medication. Everyone who uses weight loss medication should be evaluated by their doctor within six weeks to three months of starting the treatment to see if it is effective.
How can I lose tummy fat fast?
Spot reduction is a particular body part is a myth. However, you may try toning your abdomen by doing crunches and burpees, strengthening your abdominal muscles.
There is no magic weight-loss treatment or way to lose weight quickly other than surgery.
Weight loss is a lifestyle change that takes into account various factors that contribute to weight gain and loss, such as lifestyle, diet, stress, exercise, sleep, and even fasting.
Weight loss habits can include:
- Eating lots of soluble fiber, probiotic foods, and protein-rich foods
- Avoiding trans fats, alcohol, sugar, juices, refined carbs, and too many carbs
- Reducing stress
- Exercising (both cardio and resistance training)
- Getting plenty of good sleep
- Tracking your food intake and other habits
- Fasting intermittently (this requires professional supervision)
Some of the best foods and beverages to burn fat include:
- Fatty fish
- Eggs
- Green tea
- Coffee
- Whey protein
- Apple cider vinegar
- Chili peppers
- Probiotic yogurt
- Olive oil
Each of these foods has its own set of advantages, such as how olive oil lowers triglycerides while increasing healthy cholesterol levels.
There are numerous other advantages to these foods, and they all play a role in fat burning, so as many of them as possible should be included in your diet as part of a physician-assisted weight loss plan. Other foods may also be beneficial to you.
