Obesity medicine specialists collaborate with other types of physicians, including primary care doctors, endocrinologists, cardiologists, and transplant surgeons. This collaboration can be especially important for people who haven’t seen a doctor in a long time and may get diagnosed with conditions they didn’t know they had.
“I think somebody could really benefit from seeing a specialist who can think about the person holistically and work in tandem with other healthcare providers. That way, they make sure all of the factors are addressed in the most appropriate way and with the healthiest outcomes,” says Cassetty.
An obesity medicine specialist may also connect you to other experts who can help, such as a dietitian, nurse practitioner, psychologist, or social worker.
“My obesity medicine doctor was able to look for other health problems related to obesity,” says Kalstrom. “He found out that I had high blood pressure, prediabetes, sleep apnea, arthritis, anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder.” He provided treatment for some and referred her to a specialist for others, such as sleep apnea.
Over time, Kalstrom, her primary care doctor, and her obesity medicine specialist came to realize weight loss surgery was the best option. They connected her with a bariatric surgeon.
She had gastric bypass surgery in December 2021, lost the excess weight, and got many of her health conditions under control. She no longer needs blood pressure medication, doesn’t have prediabetes, and doesn’t need a CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) machine for sleep apnea anymore.
If you work with an obesity medicine specialist, expect to see them often. “That frequent follow-up is there to provide support. Having that close contact and partnership is important. Regular follow-up is key,” says Gudzune. For the first six months, she sees many of her patients every four to six weeks. Some specialists have more frequent appointments at first, while others spread them out more. “The schedule can be tailored to each person’s needs,” she says.
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