Are there any reasons why I should think about NOT losing weight?
Just because you may need or want to lose weight, it may not be the right
time for you to do so. There are several other factors besides health risk that
you and your doctor need to consider. They will help you make the decision that
is right for you.
There may be a very good reason why you should not lose weight:
• If you are a pregnant woman, weight loss is not recommended until after
the baby is born.
• If you are breast-feeding a child, you can safely try to lose a small
amount of weight, but only if you are producing enough milk for your baby and
only if the number of calories you are eating is not too low. Discuss this with
your pediatrician.
• If you have a medical condition or mental illness that is not
controlled, you should not lose weight until your condition has been stabilized.
• Osteoporosis and gallstones can get worse when you lose weight. If you
have one or both of these conditions, discuss the risks and benefits of weight
loss with your doctor to determine if weight loss is in your best interest.
• If you have anorexia nervosa or a terminal illness, you should not
attempt to lose weight.
Even if none of these reasons apply to you, you may not be ready to lose
weight right now. It is important to carefully assess your "weight-loss
readiness," because you must:
• Be interested in losing weight.
• Understand that weight management is a lifelong commitment.
• Be willing to do whatever is appropriate and necessary to support your
success.
If you are not ready, you should not try to lose weight right now. You should
wait until you are ready. In the meantime, though, it is important to take steps
to prevent further weight gain.
The following checklist, which you can use before visiting your doctor, can
help you decide if you are ready to lose weight at this time. It can help you
when you talk to your doctor about the strategy (weight loss or prevention of
weight gain) that is right for you.
If you agree with statements 1, 2, or 3, you are probably not ready to lose weight right now. Consider preventing further weight gain.
If you agree with statement 4, you’re probably interested in losing weight,
but may not be ready or able right now to do what you must do to be
successful. Consider preventing further weight gain.
If you agree with statement 5, you are likely to be both interested in and ready to lose weight.
