The most commonly held belief about weight loss is that the key is simply eating less and moving more. Despite the popularity of this view, according to obesity specialist Dr. Sue Pedersen, it’s simply not true. “For most people living with obesity and excess weight,” she says, “diet and exercise alone aren’t enough.” In fact, the American Medical Association, the Canadian Medical Association and the World Health Organization all now consider obesity to be a chronic medical condition – and like all other chronic medical conditions, it requires long-term, medical treatment.
After a lifetime of believing your weight is your fault and having more willpower is the answer, it can be hard to accept this medical reality. But Dr. Yves Robitaille, director of a metabolic medical center in Montreal, Canada, says blaming yourself and your own “lack of willpower” is actually taking the easy way out of a tough situation.
The more challenging, yet more effective approach is seeking medical attention. Accepting obesity as a chronic medical condition and taking the steps to get proper care and treatment can seem more challenging than going on another diet, but if you’re really wanting to reach a healthier weight, it’s the best long-term solution. But what will seeking medical attention actually be like? Here’s what to expect:
1. A visit to your family physician.
Most of the time, reaching out for professional support starts with your family physician. When you’re ready to talk about weight with your doctor, it’s important to come armed with your own research and specific questions. Talking about weight can feel intimidating, but the more information you have, the more confident you will feel. Our physician’s visit checklist is a great guide that can help you fully prepare for the most productive conversation possible. You can even bring helpful videos and articles to the appointment to help make your case. Here are a few we recommend:
- Why Obesity Is A Chronic Medical Condition
- Four Facts About Obesity
- True Impact Of Our Culture On Weight
2. Treatment Recommendations
Obesity is officially recognized as a chronic medical condition, but continuing education for doctors has lagged behind. Some physicians may be able to prescribe the treatment (like medication or a referral to a dietitian or psychologist) that will be most helpful to you, but other doctors may not feel comfortable recommending any specific options. In these cases, you may need to ask for a referral to a specialist. Looking at our physician locator will help you find out the best options in your area – and don’t forget, many offices offer virtual visits so don’t be afraid to reach out to a clinic that’s a bit farther away. Seeing all the options available will also help you figure out which physicians are covered by your health insurance.
3. See a specialist.
Once you’ve made an appointment with the specialist, think through exactly what you’d like to talk with them about. Bring your medical history (including a timeline of diets you’ve been on and any weight you’ve lost and regained). Decide what your goals are, both short and long-term, and think about which treatment options might be a good fit for you. Additionally, be open to treatment suggestions from the specialist. Many patients are surprised to find great success in treatments they were at first opposed to or perhaps had never heard of before the specialist recommended them. Recognize it may take a few appointments before you’re seeing the success you want to see.
4. Get costs covered.
Regardless of whether it’s your primary physician or a specialist who prescribes a given treatment, the next step in the journey is to make sure it’s covered by your insurance. And if it’s not, to take the steps needed to advocate for yourself to get it covered. You don’t have to take “no” for an answer. Look into formal exception processes, alternate healthcare programs or even a spouse’s insurance policy to help get the coverage you need. When it comes to coverage, it’s all about the three P’s – patience, persistence and paperwork. These articles can provide more detailed information on how if you’re stuck at this step.
If you feel like the process to for getting insurance coverage is never ending, a letter from your physician explaining the clinical rationale for why you need the treatment (the comorbidities it will treat, the improvement to your quality of life, etc.) can be a most powerful tool in persuading your insurer (or your employer) to cover the medication or treatment. Here is a template of a letter a physician in Canada has used successfully with insurance companies that you can share with your physician.
5. Stick with it.
Seeking medical attention is a real step forward to reaching a healthier weight. Don’t let denial (or self-blame) keep you from getting the treatment you deserve. Remember, getting treatment is a long-term, sometimes lifetime process. Even with medical support, you will hit plateaus and bumps in the road on your weight loss journey. The most important thing to do is to continue regular visits with your medical team. The sooner you can re-adjust your course with your doctor, the sooner you will be back on the road to a healthy weight and your best life.
To learn more about how to get the treatment you need, click here.
Diet and exercise alone aren’t enough to help many people reach a healthier weight. Medical treatments are needed to address the biological changes happening in our bodies that can drive weight regain. To find a physician near you who specializes in weight management, click here.
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This article was sponsored by Novo Nordisk Canada. All content is created independently by My Weight – What To Know with no influence from Novo Nordisk.
