Your doctor can help you manage weight and obesity. But if you need more support, you may want to find weight management providers who could have new ideas or methods to help you manage weight.

Weight management providers (also called a bariatrician or an obesity care provider) specialise in helping people manage weight. They're specially trained to treat obesity and other health conditions related to weight management and obesity. They use scientifically–proven treatments focusing on diet, exercise, changing behaviours, and/or medication when creating treatment plans for people living with obesity.

Lots of people try to manage their weight on their own, but it doesn't have to be that way. Trained healthcare professionals have the knowledge and tools to create a treatment plan that works for you.

If you want support from someone who specialises in caring for people living with obesity, then you may want to see a weight management provider. You can go to weight management providers for help reaching your treatment goals. This can range from losing a certain amount of weight, being healthier, playing with your children, or simply moving more.

This guide can help you take the first steps and start a conversation with a weight management provider.

Weight management providers not only help you manage weight, they can also help you understand obesity as a chronic disease and how it should be approached and treated.

Many things can affect your weight. And so, weight management providers create individual plans that consider your medical needs, preferences, culture, traditions, lifestyle... basically all aspects of you!

Some of the things weight management providers can help with include:.

• Setting weight or health goals that are realistic for your life
• Recommending exercise or physical activity goals 
• Guiding you to healthier ways of eating
• Providing counseling around your eating habits
• Reviewing the potential risks and benefits of anti-obesity medicines, if needed
• Adjusting your treatment and goals depending on your progress

Learn more about partnering with weight management providers here.

To create a personalised weight management plan or obesity management programme, weight management providers need to have a good understanding of you and your needs.

They will look at things like:

• Diet. What you eat, how much you eat, how often you eat, and when
• Exercise. What you're doing to move and how often you do it
• Social history. How you socialise with other people
• Weight history. How much you weigh now and in the past 
• Health history. Information about any allergies, illnesses, surgeries, medications, and results of health exams in the past and present
• Body Mass Index (BMI). A measurement based on your height and weight
• Body measurements. Your height, weight, waist circumference
• Motivation. If you're ready and motivated to manage weight

Weight management providers may also ask for other tests to check for health issues related to obesity or that could affect your weight. These can include:

• Electrocardiograms
• Blood sugar levels
• Lipid and cholesterol levels
• Hormone levels
• Liver blood tests
• Kidney function blood tests
• Vitamin D levels
• Exercise testing (looks at how well your heart works when you exercise)
• Resting metabolic rate (looks at how much energy you use or calories you burn at rest)

During these visits, be open with your weight management provider about your life, your needs, and your concerns. Ask questions so that you get a good understanding of your weight obesity management programme. Remember: this programme is specifically designed to help you reach your goals. 

Check this guide for tips on how to talk to weight management providers about losing weight and treatment options that are right for you.