Get the weight-management care that’s right for you
Make a plan to meet your goals
In addition to healthy eating, physical activity, and talking to a health care professional, a plan tailored to your specific needs is important. It can help prevent the weight you lose from coming back. The first step to success is exploring your treatment options.
What you should know about knockoff or compounded weight-management medicines
There is widespread evidence that many companies are promoting and selling non–FDA-approved or knockoff weight-management medicines. These medicines have not gone through rigorous clinical trials and do not have labels that communicate the known benefits and risks. Speak to a health care professional about approved treatments that may be appropriate for you.
If you or someone you know has experienced negative side effects from knockoff medicines, you are encouraged to report those to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch, or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
ANDDY: It can be hard to start a conversation with someone about their weight. What do you do if they don't want to talk about it with you?
DR. CAMPOS: One of the first things that I do is always ask permission to do it. I think when you ask permission that you tell the patient you respect them and that you know the things that they've gone through. And so, patients will be more apt to be responsive when they're ready to do something about that.
DR. CAMPOS: I'll ask you, how would you advise a health care professional when talking with someone who really wants to lose weight?
ANDDY: Having a doctor like you who is a cheerleader and doesn't give me up…how they say…if I gain weight or having someone that keeps me on track on what I have to do and doesn't judge me.
DR. CAMPOS: So, it’s critical to find a health care professional who will work with you and be a true partner for weight loss, for your weight-loss journey.
ANDDY: Yeah. You have to find the right medical provider, the right person that's not going to judge you. You are going to have to find the right approach and then have that support system that is going to walk you through the journey.
Anddy and Carlos Campos, MD, discuss the best ways to start a conversation about excess weight and its management.
These are some examples of weight-related treatment options
Healthy eating & portion control
Healthy meal planning and smaller portions help reduce the number of calories consumed while providing the right nutrients. Small changes, like choosing an apple over an unhealthy snack, add up throughout the day.
Physical activity
Physical activity helps you burn calories. The more active you are, the more calories you’ll burn. Try finding activities you enjoy doing or things you can do with others so you have support and encouragement.
Behavioral changes
Working with an expert in behavior modification may help you build new habits. Small changes, such as clearing out high-calorie snacks in your kitchen or keeping your activity gear near the front door, may help you stay on track with your weight-management goals. Use the Obesity Care Provider tool on this website to find a health care professional who can help you reach your weight-management goals.
Medicine
Did you know that for at least 12 months following weight loss, changes in your body’s appetite hormones can make you feel hungrier?
That’s why adding a prescription medicine that helps to decrease appetite or increase fullness may help with long-term weight management. Talk to your health care professional to learn more about options that may be right for you.
Bariatric surgery
Bariatric surgery is usually an option for individuals with a body mass index (BMI) of 35 or higher along with weight-related conditions. It may help some people achieve more sustained weight loss than other treatment options.
There are different types of bariatric surgical procedures that cause weight loss by reducing how much food the stomach can hold. You can discuss whether they are right for you with a health care professional.
“For long-term weight management, we have to respect that every weight-management journey is unique and create a plan tailored to each patient's need.”
—Carlos Campos, MD
Primary Care Physician, Board-Certified Obesity Specialist
New Braunfels, TX
Paid spokesperson for Novo Nordisk
Looking for the right health care professional?
Across the US, health care professionals (HCPs) are helping people achieve lasting weight loss. Find an HCP near you who has experience treating obesity.
