Key points
- Start with your doctor. A general practitioner or family doctor can check your health, look for causes and refer you.
- A short talk can make a difference. In a trial with 137 family doctors, a 30-second offer of a weight programme led to more weight loss after a year than advice alone.
- Most people welcome the conversation. In that trial, 81 % of patients found the doctor’s brief talk appropriate and helpful.
- Longer support tends to help more. In another trial, a 52-week programme led to more weight loss than a 12-week programme or self-help.
- Ask for specialist help when needed. For loss of control over eating, low mood or severe obesity, ask your doctor for a referral.
- Our help is free. Eating plans, workout videos and a free video meeting (in English), alongside your doctor’s care.
Where can you get help for obesity?
Where you go depends on what you need. Use the table to find the right first step, then follow the link for more detail.
| What you need | Where to go | Read more |
|---|---|---|
| A check of your weight and overall health | Your general practitioner or family doctor | Doctor visit checklist |
| A structured food and activity programme | A referral from your doctor, or a local or online programme | Weight loss programmes |
| Help with emotional eating, bingeing or low mood | A psychologist or eating disorder service, via your doctor | Psychological support |
| Questions about medicines and weight gain | Your doctor or pharmacist | Medicines and weight |
| Specialist care, including medication or surgery | An obesity clinic or hospital team, after a referral | Treatment options |
| Care and support in your country | Your country’s health services and patient groups | Obesity by country |
| Help for a partner, child or parent | Your own doctor, and family support | Supporting a loved one |
| Free eating plans, videos and a video meeting | Obesity Foundation (in English) | Sign up for free |
How do you start, step by step?
Make an appointment with your doctor
In most countries, your general practitioner or family doctor is the first point of contact. Say when booking that you want to talk about your weight and health, so there is enough time.
Prepare the conversation
Write down your complaints, the medicines you use, what you have tried before and what matters most to you. Our doctor visit checklist lists useful questions.
Ask about all options
Ask which treatments fit your situation, such as a lifestyle programme, psychological support or a referral to a specialist clinic.
Make a plan together
Agree on goals that matter to you, how often you will meet, and who you can contact in between.
Why is your doctor a good first step?
Your doctor knows your medical history and can arrange tests and referrals. A widely used model for doctors, the 5 As, has five steps: ask permission, assess, advise, agree on goals and assist with next steps.
Even a short talk helps. In a UK trial with 137 family doctors, patients offered a referral to a weight group lost on average 2.4 kg in a year, against 1.0 kg with advice alone.
Many first questions are already answered in our FAQ.
Do weight-management programmes help?
Group programmes with regular sessions help many people. In a trial with almost 1,300 adults, those referred for 52 weeks lost about 6.8 kg after 1 year, compared with 4.8 kg for 12 weeks and 3.3 kg with brief advice.
Online programmes can help in the short term, but a review found no clear long-term difference with face-to-face support. Staying involved is what counts. Compare options on weight loss programmes.
What if you have felt judged before?
Research shows that people who feel judged often put off care. You have the right to respectful care: you can bring someone, ask questions and look for another doctor if needed.
Read what good care looks like on weight stigma in healthcare.
If weight bias affects you at your job, our page on weight and work explains your rights and options.
Where do you get help urgently?
If you have urgent physical complaints, call your local emergency number. If you are struggling emotionally or with eating, contact your doctor or a local helpline.
How can Obesity Foundation help you?
We are not doctors and cannot give personal medical advice. Talk to your doctor first before changing your food or starting to exercise.
Next to your doctor’s care, we offer free eating plans, workout videos at three levels and a free video meeting (in English). Sign up for free or join the Obesity Foundation Club.
Unsure about a medical word? Check the glossary.
Contact us
We cannot give individual medical advice, but we can help you find information and support in your country.
Thank you. Your message has been sent and we will reply by email.
Your message could not be sent. Check that all fields are filled in and try again.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I start if I want help with obesity?
In most countries, start with your general practitioner or family doctor. They can assess your health, rule out other causes and refer you to a lifestyle programme, psychologist, dietitian or specialist obesity clinic.
What should I bring to my appointment?
A list of your complaints and questions, the medicines you use, what you have tried before and your own goals. You can also bring someone you trust.
Can Obesity Foundation refer me to a doctor?
We do not make medical referrals, but we can help you find information about care and patient organisations in your country.
Do I need a referral to see an obesity specialist?
In many countries, yes: specialist obesity clinics usually accept patients through a general practitioner or family doctor. Rules and costs differ by country and insurer, so ask your doctor or health insurer how it works where you live.
What if I do not have a family doctor?
Look for a walk-in clinic, community health centre or nurse-led service, and ask how to register with a doctor. A pharmacist can also answer questions about medicines. Our country pages list where to start in many countries.
Sources
- AHRQ (US Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality) – Questions are the answer: prepare for your medical appointment
- Aveyard P et al. – Screening and brief intervention for obesity in primary care: a parallel, two-arm, randomised trial, The Lancet (2016)
- Ahern AL et al. – Extended and standard duration weight-loss programme referrals for adults in primary care (WRAP): a randomised controlled trial, The Lancet (2017)
- Vallis M et al. – Modified 5 As: minimal intervention for obesity counseling in primary care, Canadian Family Physician (2013)
- Puhl RM et al. – The roles of experienced and internalized weight stigma in healthcare experiences across six countries, PLOS ONE (2021)
- Beleigoli AM et al. – Web-based digital health interventions for weight loss and lifestyle habit changes: systematic review and meta-analysis, J Med Internet Res (2019)