Talk to Your Doctor to Lose Weight

Obesity is the second leading cause of preventable death in the U.S. today, closely trailing smoking. If you are one of the over 100 million adult Americans who are overweight or obese, you are at risk for developing many diseases, especially heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and cancer. Losing this weight helps to prevent and control these diseases.
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The United Health Foundation - in partnership with the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) - urges you to take charge of your care. When it comes to addressing your weight, don’t just rely on the latest diet book. Determine if you have a weight concern, assess your weight history and personal eating and exercise habits, and share the results with your doctor to get the conversation started. We have joined with our partners to provide you with the following steps and tools to help you begin gaining control of your weight.
How to determine if you are overweight or obese: How do you know if you should you be concerned? Find your body mass index (BMI) by locating the intersection of height (without shoes) and weight (without clothes) on the BMI chart. Download BMI chart for adults, Download a BMI chart for children or Get more information. Determine your waist circumference by placing a measuring tape snugly around your waist. Your risk increases with a waist measurement of over 40 inches in men and over 35 inches in women More information Fill out the Weight Loss Questionnaire developed by Dr. Robert Kushner and take the results to your doctor to get the conversation started. Here are more tools that can help you and your physician understand more about your weight loss history and current habits: Graph your Weight History Analyze your eating patterns Record your daily food intake and activity Get tips on weight loss Learn about Serving Sizes
How to begin the weight loss process. People who talk to a health care professional are more motivated to lose weight than those who don’t. So, start the discussion with your doctor. Together, you will be able to find out which method will work best for you. Your doctor can also determine if you have an increased risk for certain diseases. Use these Five A's to help you tackle your weight loss: ASK your doctor about any potential risks. ACCEPT the weight control plan that's right for you. AGREE on treatment goals. ACCUMULATE a support system of friends, family and health professionals. ARRANGE follow-ups with your doctor throughout the process.

Obesity is a widely growing epidemic. It is important that we all get involved in addressing this disease personally, nationally, and in our communities.

Learn more about The Surgeon General's Call to Action to Prevent and Decrease Overweight and Obesity

Read "What works for obesity? A summary of the research behind obesity interventions" by the BMJ Publishing Group

Get involved in addressing healthy lifestyles in your community through Hearts N' Parks, a national, community-based program supported by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute and the National Recreation and Park Association, designed to help park and recreation agencies encourage heart-healthy lifestyles in their communities.