Talk to physician about weight loss
Q: I gained about 25 pounds during the pandemic and it’s affecting my health, but when I went to my doctor for an annual checkup (finally), she didn’t say a word about what to do to lose weight — so I didn’t either. Should I make another appointment and insist we discuss it?
Janna R., Portland, Oregon
A: That’s a great — and very complex — question. Those who advocate for people with eating disorders believe most health conditions can be addressed without focusing on weight or weighing patients at every doctor appointment. Cards that say, “Please Don’t Weigh Me Unless It’s (Really) Medically Necessary. If you really need my weight, please tell me why so I can give you my informed consent,” have been created by a Los Angeles-based eating disorder coach and are welcomed by some doctors as a way to actually start a tough conversation more effectively. On the other hand, some doctors find talking about weight difficult and dodge the topic altogether. Still others believe that weight, like blood pressure and LDL cholesterol levels, is a data point that must be included in every evaluation of a person’s health.
Researchers at the University of Buffalo recently published a paper that suggests a compromise. They say obesity and weight should be addressed in a health-focused way that eliminates weight stigma and the pervasive diet culture. That’s also the perspective in another new study in the journal Obesity. The researchers heard from patients with obesity who lost and kept off 50 pounds or more; they said being motivated by health concerns was effective and helped them feel more comfortable mentally and physically.
The bottom line: It’s smart to make another doctor appointment to talk about improving your health by upgrading your nutrition and making better food choices, controlling portion size and changing the timing of your meals. You also want to discuss ways to improve your stress management and increase your physical activity. The wide-ranging regimen the two of you develop will be able to improve your wellbeing — and you’ll lose weight.