Who would you go to if you had an obesity problem?

Answer 1

The first place to start is with your regular primary care physician or health care professional. They can determine if you need to be referred to other specialists for treatment. They will usually help guide you toward diet and exercise that is appropriate for your state of health. They may suggest you meet with a Dietitian for recommendations of dietary changes to help you lose weight and give you directions for an appropriate level of exercises.

If your primary health care professional believes that you have morbid obesity, often defined as being 100 pounds or more overweight, or obesity that is exacerbating an underlying disease or condition in a life threatening way, you may be referred to a physician or clinic/center for an individualized program for weight loss that may or may not include surgical approaches.

The study and treatment of obesity is called Bariatric medicine. There are physicians who specialize in the treatment of obesity who are called Bariatric doctors.There are

Bariatric surgeons and bariatric surgery centers, as well as Bariatric hospitals and clinics, that provide multi-disciplinary treatment for morbid obesity. It is recommended that the morbidly obese seek specialized facilities and physicians for bariatric treatment, they will not only have the experience and expertise, but also the necessary specialized equipment (wheel chairs, hospital beds, etc.) to meet the special needs of the very overweight patient.