Before you begin a weight loss program, see your primary health care provider for advice about your overall health risks and the weight loss options best for you. Health experts agree that the best and safest way for most adults to lose we i g h t and improve their health is to modestly cut calories, eat a balanced diet and be physically active each day. Check-out the video below...

Depending on your health and weight, your primary health care provider may recommend additional methods, such as medication or surgery, which carry greater risks. Consider all your choices seriously.

If your health care provider tells you that you should lose weight and you want to find a weight-loss program to help you, look for one that is based on regular physical activity and an eating plan that is balanced, healthy, and easy to follow.

Talk With Your Health Care Professional

• Ask Questions

• A Responsible and Safe Weight-loss Program

• Get Familiar With the Program

• Additional Resources

Choosing a weight-loss program may be a difficult task. You may not know what to look for in a weight-loss program or what questions to ask. This fact sheet can help you talk to your health care professional about weight loss and dieting to get the best information before choosing a dieting program.

You may want to talk with your doctor or other health care professional about controlling your weight before you decide on a weight-loss program. Even if you feel uncomfortable talking about your weight with your doctor, remember that he or she is there to help you improve your health. Here are some tips:

• Tell your provider that you would like to talk about your weight. Share your concerns about any medical conditions you have or medicines you are taking.
• Write down your questions in advance.
• Bring pen and paper to take notes.
• Bring a friend or family member along for support if this will make you feel more comfortable.
• Make sure you understand what your health care provider is saying. Ask questions if there is something you do not understand.
• Ask for other sources of information like brochures or websites.
• If you want more support, ask for a referral to a registered dietitian, a support group, or a commercial weight-loss program.
• Call your provider after your visit if you have more questions or need help.

About Your Weight

• Do I need to lose weight? Or should I just avoid gaining more?
• Is my weight affecting my health?
• Could my excess weight be caused by a medical condition such as hypothyroidism or by a medicine I am taking? (Hypothyroidism is when your thyroid gland does not produce enough thyroid hormone, a condition that can slow your metabolism—how your body creates and uses energy.)

• What should my weight-loss goal be?
• How will losing weight help me?

• How should I change my eating habits?
• What kinds of physical activity can I do?
• How much physical activity do I need?

• Should I take weight-loss medicine?
• What about weight-loss surgery?
• Could a weight-loss program help me?

• Healthy eating plans that reduce calories but do not forbid specific foods or food groups.
• Tips to increase moderate-intensity physical activity.
• Tips on healthy behavior changes that also keep your cultural needs in mind.
• Slow and steady weight loss. Depending on your starting weight, experts recommend losing weight at a rate of 1/2 to 2 lbs per week. Weight loss may be faster at the start of a program.
• Medical care if you are planning to lose weight by following a special formula diet, such as a very low-calorie diet.
• A plan to keep the weight off after you have lost it.

What does the weight-loss program consist of?

• Does the program offer one-on-one counseling or group classes?
• Do you have to follow a specific meal plan or keep food records?
• Do you have to purchase special food, prescription drugs, or diet supplements?
• Does the diet program of interest, i.e. NutriSystem, Jenny Craig, also have a combination program which is designed for BOTH vegetarians and also diabetics, specifically for a vegetarian who also has type-2 diabetes?
• Does the program help you be more physically active, follow a specific physical activity plan, or provide exercise instruction?
• Does the program teach you to make positive and healthy behavior changes?
• Is the program sensitive to your lifestyle and cultural needs?

• Who supervises the program?
• What type of weight management training, experience, education, and certifications do the staff have?

• Could the program hurt you?
• Could the recommended drugs or supplements harm your health?
• Do participants talk with a doctor?
• Does a doctor run the program?
• Will the program’s doctors work with your personal doctor if you have a medical condition such as high blood pressure or are taking prescribed drugs?

• What is the total cost of the program?
• Are there other costs, such as weekly attendance fees, food and supplement purchases, etc.?
• Are there fees for a follow-up program after you lose weight?
• Are there other fees for medical tests?

• How much weight does an average participant lose and how long does he or she keep the weight off?
• Does the program offer publications or materials that describe what results participants typically have?

If you are interested in finding a weight-loss program near you, ask your health care provider for a referral or contact your local hospital or doctor.

Weight Management

Most fruits and vegetables are naturally low in calories and fat. And many contain lots of water and fiber to give you a feeling of fullness. Combined with an active lifestyle and low-fat diet, eating greater amounts of fruits and vegetables and fewer high-calorie foods at meals can help you lose-weight, manage or control your weight.