Chapter 5 Going for an MoT (How a trip to the doctor’s can help you to achieve your weight-loss goals)Contents Assessing your fuel intake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
To get the most from your visit, follow a few simple rules . . 3
Getting a jump start . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Visiting an ‘obesity bodyshop’ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
The importance of regular maintenance checks . . . . . . . . . . 2
Assessing your fuel intake
part of the nation’s staple diet, and theircheap, super-size portions mean that, onaverage, people are now consuming
Strange but true There are more calories in a small
Bearing this in mind, it is not difficult
only 6% of men were clinically obese.
calories in a food, it is important to read
than you take in, you will lose weight.
active. The birth of the computer age has
energy that is contained within a food.
of the food (or a typical serving size), but
• The amount of protein (in grams). • The amount of sugaring and non- sugaring carbohydrates (in grams).
alone, it is very difficult to tell how many
• The amount of saturated and
calories a particular food contains. • The amount of fibre (in grams). • The amount of salt [sodium] (in • Assess how much weight you need to Calculate your body mass The importance of regular index (BMI) maintenance checks • Suggest a sensible weight-loss rate (usually around 0.5 to 1 kg (1 to 2 lbs)• Help with a plan of action to help you lose weight (eg, balanced diet, exercise
ensure that your weight is not getting out
services. The exact services offered will
Joe weighs 70.5 kg, and is 1.82 m tall.
contracting cancer and heart disease2. • A series of tests to make sure that your
If you think you will find it difficult to
underlying condition such as diabetes.• A healthy eating plan. • A sensible exercise regimen. What the results mean
you visit your doctor for the first time, he
• Expert advice and support.
or she will probably run a series of tests. • Anti-obesity drug treatment. Weight Status
they tell the doctor all he needs to know
To get the most from your visit, follow a few simple Make weight loss the sole reason for seeing your doctor Weight in kilograms 80 90 100 110 120 130 140 150
issue. If you only mention it at the end of
1.68 1.66 Height in meters Height in feet and inches 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 1516 17 1819 20 21 2223 24 25 Weight in stones Underweight Very overweight Normal weight Seriously overweight Overweight BMI graph This applies to both adult men and women, but not sportspeople as muscle isYour doctor will assess how weight is affecting your overall health Show your doctor that you are serious about losing weight
from you too. Explain that you aredetermined to lose weight, and that youfully understand that this will entailsensible eating and regular exercise. Youcould also take this opportunity to askabout the various treatment optionswhich will help to aid the weight-lossprocess. Tell your doctor about your previous weight-loss experiences
your doctor, in order to receive theadvice and support that is right for you. Openly describe your eating habits andcurrent levels of physical activity, and tellyour doctor about any previous weight-loss attempts. It is important for him tounderstand why these attempts failed,so that you are successful this time.
Tell your doctor or practice nurse about how being fat is making you feel
it will help your doctor or nurse if youcould explain how being fat makes you
Does your weight problem make you comfort eat?
feel. Be as open and as honest as youcan. Don’t just describe the physical
• Thinking about the main reasons why
frequent tiredness), also try to describe
• Thinking about how losing weight will improve your health and quality of life.• Monitoring food intake and physical
feeling depressed, do you ‘comfort eat’?). • Developing a basic understanding of
conditions, or if your BMI is greater than
Visiting an ‘obesity bodyshop’ • Learning techniques for staying in • Reading and interpreting food labels to • Sibutramine works by helping you help identify healthy and unhealthy• Identifying your trigger foods (foods that you have trouble stopping eating)
Clinics usually last around and planning to avoid them.
20-30 minutes and are held at fortnightly
• Developing an appropriate programme
intervals. The person who runs the clinic
for increase in physical activities.
may be your doctor or your practice nurse. Getting a jump start
minimum of 5-10 kg in a 100 kg man)3. • Orlistat impedes absorbtion of up to a References
Yasuyuki Ishikawa E-mail: yishikawa@uprrp.edu Date of Birth: Oct. 10, 1947(naturalized U.S. citizen): Marital Status: Married, one child Education Tokyo Institute of Technology, Japan, B.S. in Chemistry 1971 University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, Ph.D. in Chemistry 1976 Employment Professor of Chemistry University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras IMS Visiting Professor University of Puerto Rico, Ri
• Assess how much weight you need to