Is it worth seeing my GP to ask for some support with weight loss?

[JenniferYellowHat1980]

I just haven’t got the motivation or resilience to do it alone. I was a bit overweight before ttc DC1 and lost 1.5st using the very old WW. I obviously had a big incentive then but it was very slow (I have PCOS) and I only had myself to tend to. The pregnancy was a bit precarious for a while and I didn’t exercise much, but lost the weight by the time DC1 was about 10mo.

I started to put it back on again, got huge with DC2 and then lost about half. Due to family illness and bereavement, alongside a horrible job, I had a course of ADs and ballooned again. Since coming off them a couple of years ago I’ve consistently hovered around my full term weight of 14st!

I am so busy and frankly still quite depressed. I don’t have the motivation or the self control to lose weight alone so I’m considering asking for support. Would a GP just and tell me to get off my arse and stop eating?

Well I am a GP and while I am super sympathetic to patients who are over weight, in the end there isn't a pill or medical intervention to give you self control and motivation.
We have 10mins to deal with each patient... Getting to the bottom of why some one over eats takes a lot longer than that.
However I would if I was your GP be thinking about your depression and mental health and its part in you weight issues.
My advice is make a double appointment with your GP so you have 20mins.. Most gp would love patients who have a complex issue to do this rather than expecting us to work wonders in 10...
Be honest and explain how you feel about everything.. Not just your weight.
Your practice nurse will be better placed to see you to do things like diet sheets etc but again they have so much they are expected to do they may not offer this.
You could ask if your local ccg fund ww or slimming world... That's a more appropriate place to go for support

Thanks. I wasn’t aware I could ask for a double appointment so I could do that. Do CCGs communicate directly with patients or would I have to do this via a GP?

Oh and I was thinking simply of getting the ball rolling. For example could a GP refer me on to someone better placed to advise me?

If you have PCOS, then a low carb diet would really help you.

In addition, one of the key benefits of low carbing is that it suppresses your appetite, making it much easier to stick to.

Come and join us on the latest Bootcamp thread. We're actually coming to the end of the current Bootcamp, but we keep the chat threads going, and there's loads of help and support to be found there!

I do love my carbs (problem solved?!) so the boot camp terrifies me. Maybe I’ll have a browse of the threads as obvs December is out of the question

I'm getting help from a programme that's called one you which is funded by the NHS.

I've got my one and a half hour 'getting started' appointment on Friday. Might be better than trying to get a gp appointment?

Who did you contact to find out about it, Auspicious?

If you live anywhere near York, let me know. My doctor there was AMAZING. She is good with weight loss, eating disorders, emotional issues surrounding food etc.

If you google one you all the info is on the website you and you fill in your info and they call you to book a appointment.

The one you programme sounds ideal...
Ccgs don't directly fund patients, they make decisions on the funding for services. (sorry that is quite simple explanation). So your ccg may have agreed funding for weight loss programmes such as slimming World and the gps arw then told they can refer patients to that service.
If that makes sense...

Lots of areas have funded weight management programmes. You can be referred by your GP or practice nurse. Or ask to see a dietitian, we're not all low fat obsessives that people on here would have you believe

I've found GP not overly helpful regarding disordered eating. A referral to slimming world is not what someone with an eating disorder needs. (And diets don't work 95% of the time...) There is a real lack of available help in the NHS for help with it or anything a go can refer onto.

Our area has an eatijng disorder charity which I'm trying to access some help through. They are clear that the issue isn't about the food and yoyo dieting just makes the cycle worse.

Were I am there is strict criteria for dietician referrals and being over weight because you eat too much is not one of them.
Unfortunately gps just do not have the time to provide the emotional and practical support to people who need to lose weight.

My GP has started me on Orlistat. This is not a wonder drug, and you do need to stick to a diet as well. I've been on it for about 6-7 weeks and following WW and have lost about half a stone. I'm very overweight (obese) and have OA in my knees which is obviously worse due to my weight.

thered- there's a shocking lack of funding in general for mental heath problems isn't there- and I think eating disorders are complex and require a practitioner versed in treating it. I think so much physical health would improve if there was more investment in mental health.

It certainly can't be fixed in 10min go appointments - but proper counselling and support is costly

When I had the reverse weight problem (sorry, sorry) and it wasn't due to anything medical, the GP referred me to the Community Dietician at the surgery and she was great.

She worked out what the problem was and told me what foods would help.

She did say that she saw more people for needing to lose weight than needing weight gain, so they will probably be able to help you even more.

Unfortunately gps just do not have the time to provide the emotional and practical support to people who need to lose weight
Some can and do have programs or options in place to help people like the OP.

If she doesn't ask then she definitely won't get any help.

Certainly worth asking what's available in your are.

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