This document provides a list of 10 things for patients to prepare before visiting their doctor for a diet or weight-related consultation. It advises patients to think about their medical history, allergies, food habits, lifestyle, goals for the consultation, and expectations from their doctor. Preparing this information will help the doctor better understand the patient's health issues and develop an effective treatment plan. The consultation will involve analyzing the patient's information and potentially requiring additional medical tests before starting a new diet or lifestyle program. It reminds patients that lasting health changes take time and commitment.

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HOW
WEALTHY
ARE YOU?
We all know the greatest wealth is health
So, how much of an investment are
we making in our health? We all are
conscious about fitness these days
because we want to look great.
Having a healthy body is the remedial
answer to most of our problems,
whether medical, cosmetic or
psychological.
By Nidhi Vats Behl
Freelance Copy Writer

2. WWW.MEDMONTHLY.COM | 43
T
here are many “diet issues”. Under the diet
umbrella come a lot of subtopics, such as eating
disorders, obesity, disease that arises out of obe-
sity, child/adolescent obesity, healthy eating and
many more related topics.
Once you have realized that you have to improve your
health, a visit to your doctor is a must.
As a diet conscious patient, it’s imperative to prepare
well before proceeding to your doctor’s appointment.
Below is a preparatory list of things to do before your
consultation.
1. Fear during childhood or adolescent: Try to recall any
past incident which is still affecting you. Studies have
shown that when person is depressed they inclined
towards active eating, leading to increased intake of
calories.
2. Time you became fat: Think of the time when
you started gaining weight. Were you obese since
childhood? If not, then when you started gaining
weight, were there any specific reasons behind your
weight gain. Any specific incident in your life like:
career change, geographic relocation, loss of job, loss of
your loved one, etc.
3. Allergies: It is important for your doctor to know about
your allergies. People can be allergic to food groups like
milk and wheat or have allergies to dust, pollination,
or medicine. So make it a point that you think well in
advance about any allergic reaction you have faced in
past.
4. Medical problems: Have you been sick frequently, have
any disease or any surgical procedures performed.
Recall your family history, recalling any hereditary
problems, especially genetic problems known to you
through discussion with your parents and relatives.
Include maternal and paternal information when
answering this question. If you have any recent medical
issues that you are encountering, but you have not
consulted your doctor, please share these with your
doctor. It will help in understanding whether is it okay
to start a diet plan at that moment or not.
5. Physiological problems: In general, problems which are
associated with the mind are termed as ‘Psychological
problems”. This would include depression and peer
pressure. Are you phobic or fearful of anything like
water, heights, animals, crowds, etc. There many things
which any one of us may be sensitive to or even fear.
Write down well in advance anything that comes to
mind for your visit. You may not feel it affects you
directly, but it may have effects on what and how you
eat.
6. Current food habits and schedule: What is your daily
diet routine? Make a table and write the time and kind
of food you eat each day. It will be best if you make
chart for a complete week. This will help your doctor
to understand any patterns you might be following. If
you follow a special diet, such as vegan, make sure to
include that information. Also try to include a “List of
favorites”.
7. Laboratory test: Recently (within last six months)
have you had any laboratory tests. This would include
radiological or pathological. Try to include this
information with your other medical records during
your visit to the doctor.
8. Diet alterations: Include any recent changes in your
normal diet pattern, such as increases of protein in your
diet or reducing sugary dietary items or carbohydrates
levels. These changes will be important for your doctor
to know at your appointment.
9. Share your professional lifestyle: Your occupation
can affect your eating habits. Information such as if
your type of work is physically active or sedimentary,
has odd working hours, or involves frequent travel
can influence your eating habits. This is important
information for your physician to have at your
consultation.
continued on page 44

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10. Clearly discuss your thoughts/outcome:
Explain clearly what you are trying
to achieve with this consultation. Do
you want to have balanced diet in your
life? Do you want to reduce weight?
Or do you want to become healthier?
Telling your expectations can help
your doctor execute your eating plan
more effectively. Similarly, ask your
care provider what is the total plan of
action. Discuss and understand what is
required to achieve your goal.
Consider these ten points before meeting
your doctor and your right path will become
closer to a cake walk. The doctor-patient
understanding will be better.
The outcome of this initial session with
your physician will be a detailed study
analysis about your body mechanism. Your
doctor will analyze all your information
and will accordingly advice you of some
treatment or may have to get some
additional medical tests performed before
starting you on to your new journey.
Reminder facts:
1. Bad eating habits are not developed
overnight. So you need to have patience.
Diet change or weight loss is long term
and continuous process.
2. Your physician is the first person to get
in touch with, but he may not be an
expert. In this case, he will refer you to a
specialist to assist with a nutritional and
healthy dietary lifestyle.
3. Remember, changing your diet will bring
a permanent healthy change to yourself
over a period of time, while quick, short
term diets can be harmful to your health.
4. The most important thing is to write
down your goals.
Changing your thought process to control
your actions is a must to succeed. Stop
with the excuses that you don’t have time
to exercise, I have done enough but see no
results, or maybe I’ll try a different doctor.
And remember, you didn’t gain all your
weight overnight, so why should you expect
to lose it any quicker. Stay focused, have
patience and results will come your way. It’s
an investment that will pay off attractively in
the end. 
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