Weight loss plans

1- The 1st step: Clinical investigations

Before any of the weight loss plans, we should evaluate the medical state of the person. There are 2 main reasons for that:

a. To diagnose any pre-existing medical illness. This may change or modulate the weight loss plans.

b. Reassuring the person that he is able to start his weight loss plans without fear of hurting himself by them. This is important because many obese persons refuse the weight loss plans because they think that their bodies have some inherent or acquired abnormality that make them not able to tolerate any of the weight loss plans. The results of the medical examination and the clinical investigations usually change the state of lack of confidence of the patient and prove to him that he is just a normal person like all the others. This will give the patient "or better to say the person" a very strong motive to change his sole treatable minor abnormality.

A. The medical examination:

Just routine general medical examination is needed. The vital signs, BP, chest, heart and abdominal examination.

B. General routine investigations:

1- Fasting blood sugar:

2- Serum cholesterol.

3- Triglycerides.

4- T3, T4, TSH.

5- SGOT, SGPT, bilirubin.

6- Sex hormones.

7- Urine analysis.

8- Chest X-Ray.

9- ECG.

10- 24-hour urinary cortisol: Needed only if Cushing syndrome is suspected.

11- BMI: This is the body mass index. It is of course needed to diagnose the simple obesity and to follow up the case.