Milly Gaines
If you're thinking about starting a new diet, it's a good idea to talk to your doctor about your personal health history. They can help you decide which plan would work best for you. It's also a good idea to keep a food diary to help you and your doctor understand your eating habits. Your doctor may also refer you to a nutritionist or dietitian, who can help you navigate the new rules and plan meals that you actually want to eat.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Who to talk to | Doctor |
| Registered dietitian | |
| Nutritionist | |
| Dietician | |
| What to bring | Written food diary |
| Pedometer record |
What You'll Learn
Doctors and physicians
It's always a good idea to talk to your doctor about your diet, but some people find that their doctors seem too busy or not interested. This could be because obesity is a complex issue for doctors to treat, involving behaviour, medication, and managing medical conditions that often accompany obesity, such as type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and high cholesterol.
If you're thinking of starting a new diet, your doctor can help you decide if it's appropriate for you and help you modify it as needed. They can also give you suggestions for specific foods to eat and avoid. It's a good idea to bring a loved one along to your appointment for support and to help you cook and share meals with you.
Once you've decided on a diet plan, a registered dietitian can help you navigate the new rules and plan meals that you'll enjoy eating.
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Nutritionists and dietitians
It's always a good idea to talk to your doctor about your personal health history before starting a new diet. They can help you decide which plan would be best for you and may refer you to a nutritionist or dietitian.
You can also ask your doctor to write out a "prescription" for exercise, which will be added to your medical chart and monitored during follow-up visits. Keeping a food diary can be a useful way to give your doctor or nutritionist/dietitian an accurate picture of your current eating habits. This might cover two or three days and should include everything you consumed during that time, including which foods and drinks and how much of each.
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Weight Loss Clinics
If you're looking to lose weight, it's a good idea to talk to a medical professional before starting a new diet plan. Your doctor can help you decide which plan would work best for you, taking into account your personal health history. They can also refer you to a nutritionist or dietitian.
Before your appointment, it's a good idea to keep a food diary for a few days. This will help you and your doctor identify areas where you can cut down, and it will also give them useful information. You could also keep a record of your steps in a typical day, which your doctor can use to write an exercise "prescription".
If you find that your doctor is too busy or not interested in discussing your diet, you could consider joining a weight loss clinic. These clinics are specifically designed to help people lose weight and improve their health. They can help you navigate the rules of a new diet and plan meals that you'll enjoy eating.
It's also a good idea to tell your loved ones about your goals and invite them to cook and share meals with you. This will help you to stick to your eating plan in the long term.
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Personal health history
It is always a good idea to talk to your doctor about your personal health history before starting a new diet. They can help you decide which plan would work best for you. You can also ask your doctor to write out a "prescription" for exercise, which will be added to your medical chart and monitored during follow-up visits. If you have a pedometer, you can keep a record of your steps in a typical day as a reference point to improve upon. It is also a good idea to bring in a food diary, which might cover two or three days and should include everything you consumed during that time. This will give you some immediate ideas on where to "cut the fat", and the information will be useful for your doctor. Your doctor may also refer you to a nutritionist or dietitian, who can help you navigate the new rules and plan meals that you actually want to eat. It is easier to follow an eating plan over the long term when you have a supportive community with you along the way, so tell your loved ones about your goals and invite them to cook and share meals with you.
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Supportive community
It's always a good idea to talk to your doctor about your personal health history before starting a new diet. They can help you decide which plan would be best for you and may refer you to a nutritionist or dietitian. You can also ask your doctor to write out a "prescription" for exercise and keep a food diary to help you and your doctor identify where to make changes.
To build a supportive community, tell your loved ones about your goals and invite them to cook and share meals with you. This will help you stick to your eating plan in the long term. You could also look for a weight loss clinic or group in your area, or join an online community.
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Frequently asked questions
You should talk to your doctor about a diet plan. They can help you decide which plan would work best for you and refer you to a nutritionist or dietitian.
Doctors may be busy or uncomfortable discussing the topic of weight, but it's important to initiate the discussion. Obesity is complicated for doctors to treat, so they may be unsure of how to bring up the topic.
You can ask your doctor to refer you to a nutritionist or dietitian. They can help you navigate the rules of a new diet and plan meals that you'll enjoy.
Your doctor can help you come up with a realistic plan that gives good long-term results. An acceptable goal is losing 5%-10% of your current weight.
Keep a written diary of your eating habits. This will be more specific and accurate than any discussion of your diet. You can also ask your doctor or dietitian to write down dietary suggestions or give you a handout on what to eat.
