Tips for talking to your doctor about weight loss

It can feel daunting to start the journey to weight loss, especially if you're doing it on your own. And while it might seem scary to talk to a doctor about losing weight, it can be a brilliant way to tackle your health in every way, shape and form.

Losing weight isn't straightforward, so engaging a healthcare professional to support you with weight management, high blood pressure, blood sugar and overall health can lighten your load [1].

If you're concerned about how to approach this conversation with your healthcare provider, here are a few tips on how to do so.

Can doctors help with weight loss?

As a general rule of thumb, working with a doctor to support you in losing extra weight is a great idea. Healthcare professionals can help in a number of ways, from supporting you to make changes to your diet and exercise, to helping you set personal goals for change [2].

Your health practitioner might ask you to keep a food diary, so they can get an understanding of your food habits and assist you in creating healthy habits, or they may ask you to track your physical activity throughout the day so they know how much you're moving your body.

Another great way that doctors can help with losing weight is by checking for underlying health problems that might play a role in weight gain, so it's a good idea to get your overall health checked out by a professional.

It's important to note that if you're going to work with a healthcare professional to lose weight, make sure you find the right fit. Feeling supported by your practitioner is vital to losing weight — if you don't feel comfortable with them, it's important to find a new one as soon as possible.

How to prepare for your visit to the doctor's

Once you've bitten the bullet and decided to work with a doctor, it's important to prepare for your appointment.

You might find it helpful to write notes about your experience, your medical history and any other chronic disease you may have. You should also note any medications that you're on [3]

Prepare to chat about your history with weight loss and whether you've struggled with weight gain in the past, as well as your mood, your sleeping habits and eating habits. This is also a good time to inform your practitioner of other diets you have may have tried.

Questions to ask your doctor about weight loss

Once you're prepared to chat about your weight loss journey, it's time to think about some questions you might like to ask your doctor about weight loss. You might find it helpful to write them down and take them to the appointment with you.

You might like to ask your doctor:

• What should my weight loss goals be?
• How long will it take to lose weight?
• What's the best way to lose weight?
• What health conditions am I at risk of developing?
• What kind of exercise habits should I be engaging in?
• What kind of food should I be eating?
• How can I make sure I keep the weight off?
• Do I need to see a specialist?
• Do we need to consider weight loss surgery? [4]

How to approach having a weight loss conversation

It might feel scary, but talking to your healthcare provider is a great way to start your weight loss journey. You might like to start the conversation by saying something like 'I've been thinking about my weight lately. Can you tell me what a healthy range would be for me?'

If you'd like to gain the support of a healthcare professional that specialises in weight loss without having to have a face-to-face conversation, Juniper's Weight Reset Program is designed just for that.

Get treatment that targets weight gain on a biological level, plus a dietitian-led program that supports long-term weight maintenance.

Health coaching is used to assist you with lifestyle changes including sticking with a routine and a support system of other women on the journey with you, so you feel less alone, while one-on-one health tracking gives you a personalised experience.

Weekly check-ins with your health practitioner are used to track your physical, mental and biometric health, where adjustments can be made to suit your individual needs. If you want to be supported through every step of your weight loss journey, this is how to do it.