The American Society of Bariatric Physicians (ASBP) has released its list of questions that overweight or obese individuals should ask their doctors. The ASBP has studied weight loss efforts and diets and has highlighted these five questions as the most important queries to make of a physician.

1. Do I have other conditions that may be keeping me from losing weight?

2. Do I have hypothyroidism?

3. How are my Vitamin D levels?

4. Am I insulin resistant?

5. Am I ready for exercise?

Using these questions will not only help the patient and physician design a weight-loss program customized to the patient's needs, but might also identify the underlying causes of the specific patient's weight problem. Hypothyroidism, Vitamin D levels, and insulin resistance are three of the top areas of concern that should be addressed by patients and that's why they are included in the list of questions.

Hypothyroidism is a condition where the body doesn't produce enough thyroid hormone and usually causes the person suffering from the condition to have slow metabolism and difficulty losing weight because of it. Vitamin D levels are almost always low in persons who are overweight. Low Vitamin D levels cause fatigue, muscle and bone pain, and feelings of lethargy, all of which contribute to difficulty losing weight. Insulin is usually associated with Diabetes or other problems, but it is also vital to maintaining a proper weight.

Insulin resistance turns off fullness signals to the brain, making a person feel hungry and causing them to overeat. Proper treatment makes patients feel more satiated by meals, opening the door to easier weight loss. The most important question could be whether or not a patient is physically ready for exercise. Exercise can actually be dangerous to the cardiovascular health of severely overweight individuals, and also puts them at a greater risk of physical injury. It is often a more responsible choice medically for a patient to begin losing weight and then enter into a program of physical activity and exercise.

The questions are designed to offer patients an easy way to communicate with doctors, and represent five areas of concern that most patients overlook when discussing weight loss. The ASBP also stresses physician supervision is necessary to detect and treat weight-related medical conditions. A program supervised by a physician who is a member of the ASBP and who has completed specialized training in bariatric medicine, offers a comprehensive and effective approach to maximizing overall health and reversing co-morbidities.

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