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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 is Your 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

Source: http://mhfs.org.uk/resources/nmhw2005/05GoingForanMOT.pdf