Your enthusiasm for your new diet and exercise plan may blind you to red flags. Don’t let flashy websites or incredible stories fool you. If someone wants control of your health, finances, and trust, ask some tough questions first. The best way to identify safe medical attention from a sales pitch is to use the right questions to compare quality programs.
What Medical Professional Will Take Responsibility For My Health?
Who will evaluate my condition, write prescriptions, and check in on me during this process? Does the provider you will interact with have any education or experience working with obesity-related issues? Also, will I have regular, face-to-face time with the same doctor throughout the course of my treatment, or will I be communicating through automated emails, online forms, and customer service reps?
Any weight loss physician-supervised program should provide immediate, personal access to a licensed and experienced healthcare professional if you have any serious concerns.
Do They Have A Complete Understanding Of Your Situation?
Do they want to focus solely on your weight, or do they want to get a complete picture of you? Will they review your medical history, Medications, previous diets and lifestyle habits (e.g., sleep habits, physical activity levels), as well as other factors such as emotional stability, nutritional knowledge, and lab results? You should also want to find out how the program’s approach meets your unique circumstances. Programs that treat everyone alike are easier to market than those that require personalized evaluations.
How Were Medications Selected, And How Will We Monitor Them?
If you’re going to be prescribed medication for weight loss, ask which one they recommend; why they chose it; whether it has been approved for people like you; what potential side effects might occur; serious warning signs; possible interactions with other medications; how dosage may be adjusted; and what alternatives exist if either the medication is no longer effective or becomes unavailable. It’s reasonable to expect that you’ll receive feedback regarding your reaction to the medication at every appointment, as well as information about whom you can call if problems arise outside of scheduled office hours.
It is also perfectly valid to inquire as to the source of the medication. Marketing for medical weight loss often implies that generic or cheaper versions of FDA-approved medications are equal in value to the original product, the origin, formulation, and dosage of such alternative sources should be explored carefully.
Can I Expect Additional Forms Of Support Outside Of Prescribed Medication?
Prescription medication may suppress your appetite, but it cannot replace routine structures within daily life, including social obligations, job responsibilities, stress, etc. Ask if the program offers nutritional coaching, movement advice, behavioral support, and practical assistance with relapse prevention. Identify who would deliver these services and whether these services would be covered under the quoted cost of the program.
What Are All The Fees Associated With This Program?
Request a written list detailing all fees associated with the program, including consultation fees, testing fees, drug costs, supplies costs, additional follow-up visit fees, and cancellation penalties. Inquire as to whether any part of the program could potentially be reimbursed through your insurance company. If so, then you will want to determine what would happen if your coverage were to change while enrolled in the program. Low upfront prices mean little if critical monitoring costs extra.
What Are The Plans Once I Reach My Weight Loss Goals?
You are not asking too many questions by requesting specific details. You are being responsible and doing research on how you will spend your hard-earned dollars, on whose shoulders you will place your health and wellness for several weeks or even months and years.
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