Whenever you’re dealing with a significant medical condition, it can be a good idea to work with a doctor who’s a specialist in that particular area. After all, they’re likely to know how best to help you. They will also be more up-to-date on the latest treatments or clinical trials you might qualify for.

If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with obesity, there are specialists for that, too. To achieve a better quality of life and a feeling of well-being, here’s what you need to know to find a specialist near you who can help treat obesity.

What Is an Obesity Specialist?

An obesity specialist, also called a bariatrician or bariatric specialist, is someone who focuses their medical career on treating people diagnosed with obesity and helping people with obesity reach their health goals without surgery. They have additional training to help them do this well. They also have training in other health issues that could be related to obesity. That way, they can help you find the treatment you need for those, too.

For some people, the process starts with screening for obesity by a primary care doctor. This is the doctor you see for most of your medical needs. They can diagnose you with obesity and may have some ideas about treatments or how to achieve your health goals. However, that’s not what they focus on all day, every day. Instead, they can refer you to the specialist you need. They may send you to one of several types of doctors.

Most of the time, a bariatric specialist will have an obesity program that involves helping you make lifestyle changes. This includes topics like focusing on healthy eating and incorporating more physical activity into your daily life. A bariatrician may also talk to you about behavioral therapy. This is therapy designed to help you understand the way you act and make thoughtful, intentional changes. Finally, they may recommend medication that might help you reach your goals.

If you do want to pursue surgery to treat obesity (called bariatric surgery or weight loss surgery), you’ll be sent to a bariatric surgeon. These providers can perform a number of surgeries designed to help lower your body weight. They may recommend these if other methods of obesity management don’t work for you.

Somewhere in the process, you may also see an endocrinologist for obesity. Endocrinologists are doctors who specialize in conditions that affect hormones, including some common hormone imbalances that can cause obesity. They can also see whether there are any imbalances that may affect your metabolism. If there are, they can help you find the treatment you need to see if that helps regulate your hormones.

If obesity is disabling for you, these healthcare professionals can help support your needs. They can assist if you’re trying to get insurance coverage for treatments related to obesity and disability. They can also help you navigate Social Security programs to get the help you need.

Important Qualifications for an Obesity Specialist

Obesity specialists usually have extra qualifications, in addition to those of a general doctor. In the U.S., look for a doctor certified by the American Board of Obesity Medicine (ABOM). They require doctors to have a valid license in either the U.S. or Canada.

These doctors are also required to have some form of additional training. This can involve taking extra classes, called continuing medical education (CME) units. It may involve completing a fellowship focused on helping people living with obesity. There’s also an exam that physicians must pass. All of this ensures that anyone with the ABOM certification knows about obesity and has the resources they need to treat it properly.

Other countries have their own ways of certifying obesity specialists. You can ask your general practitioner what exists in your region so you can get the medical care you need.

Experience in Obesity Care

You may also want to find someone who is experienced in caring for people living with obesity. Many of these practitioners have been working in the field for many years. If you want to try a specific method for treating obesity, like weight loss medication or surgery, you’ll want to find someone who has used those particular methods before.

Collaborative Care

Successfully treating obesity often involves a team effort. This should involve people with different areas of expertise. They can come together to give you an individualized treatment plan. Your obesity specialist might head this team, but they should also be comfortable working with other specialists as needed. In fact, they should have a team of people they work with regularly, to whom they can refer you for any needs you might have that go beyond what they can provide.

For example, if you’re also living with food allergies, they might refer you to a registered dietitian or a nutritionist who can help you build an eating plan that’s safe for you. If you have injuries, they should be able to send you to a physical therapist to build an exercise program that works for you. If you have mental health conditions, they should send you to a psychologist or a psychiatrist.

How To Find an Obesity Specialist Near You

If you’re looking for an obesity specialist, you probably want to do more than run a web search for “obesity doctor near me.” Instead, start by talking to your primary care doctor. They may be able to refer you to a specialist that they know, trust, and work with regularly.

You can also look online for options. Many obesity medicine doctors register with the Obesity Medicine Association. They have a tool on their website that you can use to find the specialists you need in your area. There is also a way to only search for people who are ABOM certified, to make sure the doctor you see has the training you want them to have. You can also search for people who are fellows of the Obesity Medicine Association. They also have additional training in treating obesity.

In order to avoid financial hardship and its impact on obesity, make sure any provider you see is covered by your insurance company. You can call them or look on their website to make sure. That way, you’ll know your costs will be covered at the maximum level your plan allows.

Questions To Ask

Finding a specialist is important, but it’s not enough. Since you’ll be working closely with this healthcare provider to treat obesity, it’s important that you feel comfortable with them. Have a conversation during your first visit. You can ask questions like:

• How long have you specialized in treating obesity?
• What certifications do you have when it comes to treating obesity?
• How much experience do you have with (the type of therapy you want to try)?
• What might my treatment plan look like if I choose to work with you?
• When I visit the office, will I see you or another provider?
• What happens if I have a medical emergency related to my obesity treatment? Who do I call?
• What kind of team do you work with when it comes to treating obesity?
• When do you decide to refer someone to a different specialist, like a nutritionist or a physical therapist?
• Do you work closely with any other doctors who would be involved in my care?

The answers to these are important. So is the way the doctor talks to you and treats you during the conversation. You should only choose to work with them if you feel confident about them and you feel like they treat you with dignity and respect. If you’re not satisfied with either part, it’s perfectly acceptable to choose to work with someone else.

Talk With Others Who Understand

MyObesityTeam is the social network for people with obesity and their loved ones. On MyObesityTeam, more than 57,000 members come together to ask questions, give advice, and share their stories with others who understand life with obesity.

Have you found an obesity specialist you love? What characteristics do they have that are the most important for you? Share your experience in the comments below, or start a conversation by posting on your Activities page.