The Benefits of Accessing Primary Care

Weight Loss: How Your GP Can Help

1 December 2021

Susan Wood

If you are concerned about your weight, you may be looking for support. Your GP is someone who can help you to lose excess weight. Read on to discover more!

Assessment

The first thing your doctor will do is to assess your current weight. They do this using the Body Mass Index (BMI). The BMI is an estimate of your total body fat based on your height and weight. The BMI score shows how your current weight compares to what is healthy for someone of your height. You can use this tool to establish if you are underweight, a healthy weight, overweight or obese. Your doctor will be interested in whether you have any medical conditions that make it harder for you to lose weight.

Lifestyle changes

Your GP may recommend lifestyle changes such as eating a healthy, calorie-controlled diet, stopping smoking, and taking regular exercise. While this may seem overwhelming, even small changes to your lifestyle could have an impact on your weight. Your GP can help you track and monitor your weight and provide information and encouragement along the way.

Medication

Your GP can prescribe weight loss medication. Some medications such as Orlistat and Liraglutide can help you lose weight. Both work by stopping certain enzymes from digesting dietary fat, which leaves a smaller amount of calories for your body to absorb. Your GP will only prescribe weight loss medication to those with a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 30. In addition, your GP may ask about your medical history and carry out specific tests before prescribing weight loss medication.

Surgery

For obese people who have failed to lose weight using other methods, surgery may be an option. At present, there are two types of operations used for obesity: gastric banding and gastric bypass surgery. These operations both reduce the size of your stomach so you do not feel hungry all the time. They also affect how you digest food and absorb calories.

Before any operation, you need to lose weight, if possible, so it is less risky. Your GP can refer you for treatment at a specialist clinic or help you find one. Surgery can achieve significant weight loss, but it is a major operation and you need to take steps to lose weight before considering this option.

If you would like to find out more, contact your GP today. They will be happy to help you on your weight loss journey.

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About Me

For a very long time, I avoided visiting my GP. Even when I got really sick, I would do anything I could to avoid having to visit my local clinic. However, when I settled down, all of that changed. My wife insisted that I start to engage with primary care services. At first, I did so reluctantly. However, as time went on, I came to realise just how important primary care is. Now, I am a big advocate for visiting GPs and other primary care professionals. That is the reason I decided to start writing the articles on this blog.