Overview
Your healthcare provider will measure your weight, height and waist circumference at your appointment. They may do body composition tests like a bone density test scan or a bioelectrical impedance analysis. This test measures body composition based on the rate at which an electrical current passes through your body. More importantly, they’ll want to know about your overall health. They’ll ask about:
- Your history of medical conditions and treatments, including medications. They may ask about your biological family’s health.
- Your weight history, including your experience with any weight management strategies that you’ve tried.
- Your lifestyle, including your current eating habits, how you sleep and how much activity you do in your daily life.
- Your mental well-being. They may ask about stress and other things that could affect your mental well-being. Stress and other issues can lead to eating more.
Your provider will also examine your vital signs, and they may order certain blood tests. They’ll use this complete profile to diagnose obesity and any related conditions you might have.
Symptoms
When to see a doctor
Complications
- High blood pressure.
- Diabetes.
- Heart failure.
- Some types of heart valve disease.
Prevention
- Control high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes.
- Don't smoke or use tobacco.
- Eat a diet that's low in salt and saturated fat.
- Exercise at least 30 minutes a day on most days of the week unless your health care team says not to.
- Get good sleep. Adults should aim for 7 to 9 hours daily.
- Maintain a healthy weight.
- Reduce and manage stress.
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