Obesity

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What to Expect at your Health Care Provider's Office

Medical history will be obtained and a physical examination performed.

Medical history questions documenting obesity in detail may include:

• Time pattern
  • Has there always (or since childhood) been a tendency to be heavy?
  • Has the person been slender until recently, and then begun to gain weight?
• Eating habits
  • Has diet changed recently?
  • Have eating habits changed?
  • What percent of the daily calories are from fat?
  • How many meals are eaten in a day? What type?
  • How many snacks? What type?
• Exercise habits
  • Has activity level changed?
  • Has there been a decrease in daily activity?
• Other factors
  • Is there an increase in emotional stress?
  • Have you increased your alcohol consumption?
  • What other symptoms are occurring at the same time?

Skin fold measurements may be taken to assess body composition. Blood studies to test endocrine function may be performed.

Treatment:
Medications are usually not recommended to aid intentional weight loss. They often cause harmful side effects or adverse reactions. At best, the drugs control appetite only for short time periods and don't help change eating habits.

Gastric outlet stapling may be indicated for the morbidly obese. Your primary care provider may want to refer you to a general surgeon for more information about this.