All the information available about diets and weight-loss plans can make your head swirl. As you no doubt know, though, maintaining a healthy weight can help prevent potentially life-threatening medical conditions such as heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke and certain types of cancer, according to the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute. The key to healthy weight loss is diet and exercise. Before you decide on the right weight-loss plan for you, it's a good idea to get some professional advice. A good place to start is with your primary care doctor.
Step 1
Schedule an appointment with your doctor specifically to talk about your weight and weight-loss plans and goals.
Step 2
Write down specific questions you have for your doctor so you don't forget anything you need to know, to help maintain an organized approach to weight loss. Some questions to consider asking include what a healthy weight is for you, how best to lose weight and if he would recommend a weight-loss program or weight-loss surgery, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Weight-Control Information Network.
Step 3
Ask you doctor about additional resources he would recommend for pursuing your weight-loss goals. He may recommend books, diet plans or weight-loss programs that you can then research at home using the Internet to look up recommended diet plans, books and other information.
Tips and Warnings
- Doctors do not always address issues related to your weight in routine health visits, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Weight-Control Information Network. If you want to discuss healthy weight loss with your doctor, schedule an appointment specifically for that purpose. It can be difficult to assess the validity of some weight-loss and fitness claims. If you have questions about the safety and effectiveness of a weight-loss plan, check with a qualified professional--such as your doctor, a nutritionist or a personal trainer before starting any program.
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