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Medical Weight Loss Consultation

Your challenges with weight loss are unique; your weight loss plan should be, too. At Virginia Mason Franciscan Health, we take the time to do an in-depth assessment of your health, weight challenges, and goals for the future. Our doctors design a plan tailored to your needs and timed to your pace.

What can I expect at my first bariatric appointment?

At your first weight loss consultation, you’ll meet with an internal medicine physician or endocrinologist specializing in obesity medicine. Later on in your weight loss program, you may meet with a registered dietitian or nurse practitioner. 

You can expect this initial consultation to last between 40 and 60 minutes. During this time, we do a basic physical exam, assess your medical history, find out how your weight affects your life, and screen for weight-related comorbidities.

  • We check your height and weight and calculate your BMI. We also order lab tests, review previous blood work, and perform other exams to screen for the following health conditions: 

    Your doctor will ask you a variety of questions about your current health and your past attempts at weight loss: 

    • Do you have any health conditions? 
    • Do you have a history of obesity in your family? 
    • How long have you been overweight? When were you last at a healthy weight?
    • How much weight would you like to lose? 
    • How have you tried to lose weight in the past? Diet? Exercise? Meal replacements? Supplements? Medication? 
    • Have you ever tried weight loss injections? 
    • Have you ever had weight loss surgery?

  • We need to learn about your lifestyle to find out what factors could be contributing to your weight. Your doctor will ask you a variety of questions about your diet, physical activity and behaviors, such as: 

    • How often do you eat each day? Do you snack? 
    • What’s an example of your typical meal? Portion sizes? 
    • Do you drink water, soda, fruit juice, or caffeinated beverages? 
    • Do you smoke or drink alcohol? 
    • What’s your stress level? Do you ever eat in response to stress? 
    • How many hours do you sleep each night? 
    • Do you exercise? If so, how often?

  • We want to know how your weight is affecting your quality of life:

    • Does your weight prevent you from doing your job or advancing in your career? 
    • Is your weight causing mental health problems such as anxiety or depression? 
    • Is your weight preventing you from doing activities with your family? 
    • What’s the biggest barrier keeping you from losing weight? Time? Money? Motivation?

  • During the last part of your bariatric consultation, we work together to make a weight loss plan. Depending on what we discover during your appointment, your doctor may refer you to a specialty provider in endocrinology, behavioral health, sleep medicine, or physical therapy. 

    We’ll also tell you more about your weight loss options, including: 

    Learn more about medical weight loss and get answers to frequently asked questions.

Are you a candidate?

We invite you to take the next step to find out more about your weight loss options. You can also browse our weight loss surgery FAQs.