Weight Management

The support you need to lose weight and keep it off for good

Maintaining a healthy weight reduces the risk of conditions such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease and even cancer. By maintaining a healthy weight, you also ease stress on your joints, heart and lungs. At IU Health, our primary care physicians help you meet your weight loss goals through high quality, personalized care.

Overview

Maintaining a healthy weight reduces the risk of conditions such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease and even cancer. By maintaining a healthy weight, you also ease stress on your joints, heart and lungs. At IU Health, our primary care physicians help you meet your weight loss goals through high quality, personalized care.

Are you overweight?

The first step to figuring out if you are overweight is to ask your doctor for your body mass index, or BMI. You can also calculate this at home by taking your height in inches and squaring it, then dividing your weight in pounds by that number. Finally, multiply the number by 703 to determine your BMI.

A healthy BMI is between 18 and 25. If your BMI is higher, the next step is to talk to your doctor about losing weight. Before starting any exercise and diet program, ask your doctor if it is safe.

The safe way to lose weight

Getting to and maintaining a healthy weight means a eating nutritious diet and adding physical activity. Ask your doctor about how many calories you should be eating each day. Calorie counts can depend on gender, age and activity level. For most adults, the number of calories you should be eating falls between 1,600 and 2,400 per day.

You should also be getting at least 2.5 hours of moderate physical activity per week.

Some medical conditions make it hard for you to lose weight and keep it off. Diabetes, polycystic ovary syndrome and hypothyroidism can be obstacles for weight loss. Talk to your doctor about getting help managing these conditions so you can see results from your diet and exercise changes.

More help for losing weight

Getting and staying on a diet can be tough. And there are so many websites, books and television shows that contradict each other on the right way to lose weight. Your doctor and nurses are a great resource to finding the best plan for you to get healthy in a safe way.

Weight management services include resources, education and referrals to specialists, such as registered dietitians or physical therapists. Your doctor can help diagnose and manage conditions that contribute to obesity, or refer you to an endocrinologist.

IU Health Primary Care physicians serve as your support team. We understand the difficulties of losing weight and will assist you in making a comprehensive plan for weight loss. We have access to expert resources on nutrition and exercise.

Our primary care physicians will ensure you remain healthy throughout your weight loss journey through regular appointments and monitoring of existing conditions. By providing high-quality care and coordination of weight loss, we help you live a healthier, more active lifestyle.

What to Expect

Are you overweight?

The first step to figuring out if you are overweight is to ask your doctor for your body mass index, or BMI. You can also calculate this at home by taking your height in inches and squaring it, then dividing your weight in pounds by that number. Finally, multiply the number by 703 to determine your BMI.

A healthy BMI is between 18 and 25. If your BMI is higher, the next step is to talk to your doctor about losing weight. Before starting any exercise and diet program, ask your doctor if it is safe.

The safe way to lose weight

Getting to and maintaining a healthy weight means a eating nutritious diet and adding physical activity. Ask your doctor about how many calories you should be eating each day. Calorie counts can depend on gender, age and activity level. For most adults, the number of calories you should be eating falls between 1,600 and 2,400 per day.

You should also be getting at least 2.5 hours of moderate physical activity per week.

Some medical conditions make it hard for you to lose weight and keep it off. Diabetes, polycystic ovary syndrome and hypothyroidism can be obstacles for weight loss. Talk to your doctor about getting help managing these conditions so you can see results from your diet and exercise changes.

More help for losing weight

Getting and staying on a diet can be tough. And there are so many websites, books and television shows that contradict each other on the right way to lose weight. Your doctor and nurses are a great resource to finding the best plan for you to get healthy in a safe way.

Weight management services include resources, education and referrals to specialists, such as registered dietitians or physical therapists. Your doctor can help diagnose and manage conditions that contribute to obesity, or refer you to an endocrinologist.

IU Health Primary Care physicians serve as your support team. We understand the difficulties of losing weight and will assist you in making a comprehensive plan for weight loss. We have access to expert resources on nutrition and exercise.

Our primary care physicians will ensure you remain healthy throughout your weight loss journey through regular appointments and monitoring of existing conditions. By providing high-quality care and coordination of weight loss, we help you live a healthier, more active lifestyle.

Patient Stories for Weight Management