I was compensated by Med-IQ through an educational grant from Novo Nordisk, Inc. to write about the realities of obesity as a chronic disease. All opinions are my own.

How many times have you been to your doctor and not been able to verbalize exactly what’s going on with your body or what your needs are? It’s even harder when you’re overweight because the stigma that all of our health problems are related to our weight can feel overwhelming.

I feel very lucky that I have a doctor who listens to me and takes the time to hear me when I talk about my health, but I know that’s not the case for everyone. So I want to share some tips on talking to your doctor about weight and obesity that will help you elevate your voice on your next visit.

I’m thrilled to partner with Med-IQ to help raise awareness around obesity as a chronic disease. Med-IQ is an accredited medical education company that provides an exceptional experience for physicians, nurses, pharmacists, and other healthcare professionals.

Obesity is not simply about a number on a scale or a body mass index (BMI) score. Obesity, as defined by the World Health Organization, is a chronic disease in which extra energy in the body gets stored as fat and harms a person’s overall health. Unfortunately, untruths about obesity—and the people who have obesity—are widely accepted and repeated in our culture.

So what can we do about it?

You can empower yourself by knowing what obesity experts say you should look for in a doctor who will hear you out and be a good partner for your weight management journey.  Try to find a doctor who:

  •  Shows interest in your history of weight gain/weight loss and remains interested in your journey even if that’s not what they’re directly treating you for.
  • Take the time to listen to your story.
  • Provides or refers you to comprehensive care that includes the options ofpsychological counseling, approaches to dietary and lifestyle modification, and medical or surgical treatments.

    If you are interested in finding a healthcare provider who is qualified to talk to you about weight and health concerns, please use the tool available here.

I carry most of my weight in my abdomen. I used to say I have this pooch because I had a baby. That was 7 years ago. I now know I have obesity and need the proper care to manage it. People with obesity are at higher risk for developing other conditions and disease like:

  • Diabetes
  • Hypertension
  • Heart disease
  • Stroke
  • Sleep apnea
  • Bone and joint damage
  • Fatty liver diseases
  • Gallbladder diseases
  • Cancer
  • Pregnancy/fertility problems

 

Everyone’s weight management journey is unique. Our genes and hormones play a role in weight and body size. That’s why managing weight by counting calories or trying the latest fad diet is not a quick fix. It’s important to know that obesity is a disease and not just about willpower. Long-term success in weight management requires a partnership with a provider you trust.

I’m so glad the experts at Med-IQ are having this discussion to help give us the tools we need to advocate for ourselves as patience. No one should feel shame, or embarrassed to speak to a medical provider about their health in order to get the help they need.

Med-IQ is conducting an anonymous survey and would appreciate your input. The survey, which includes additional education on this topic, will take less than 15 minutes to complete. Survey responses are shared only in aggregate. Your responses to these survey questions will provide Med-IQ with important information about your experiences with obesity and your care team, which will help us develop future educational initiatives. Once you’ve completed the survey, you will have the option of providing your email address to be entered into a drawing administered by SOMA Strategies to win 1 of 10 $100 VISA gift cards. If you choose to enter, your email address will be used only to randomly draw the winners and notify them of their prize and to send a follow-up survey as part of this same initiative.

Click here to take the survey!

The survey contains links to external sites. Any such links are provided as a convenience and for educational purposes only. They are not intended as medical or legal advice, nor are they endorsements of any organization.

Links to external sites are provided as a convenience and for informational purposes only. They are not intended and should not be construed as legal or medical advice, nor are they endorsements of any organization. Med-IQ bears no responsibility for the accuracy, legality, or content of any external site. Contact the external site for answers to questions regarding its content.