What to Do If You Have a Concern About Your Body
You should proactively initiate a conversation with your healthcare provider about your body concern, as healthcare professionals are obligated to address patient concerns and cannot provide appropriate care unless you take the initiative to ask. 1
Initiating the Conversation
Bring up your concern directly with your healthcare provider at your next visit or schedule an appointment specifically to discuss it, as the evidence emphasizes that recommendations and interventions cannot be implemented unless someone takes the initiative to raise the issue. 1
Request a private discussion if your concern is sensitive in nature, as accommodations should be made to ensure privacy during medical evaluations. 1
Be specific about what information you want to know, as your information preferences may vary over time and cannot be reliably predicted by your provider without direct communication. 2
What to Expect from Your Healthcare Provider
Communication Approach
Your provider should use person-centered, nonjudgmental language that fosters collaboration and avoids defining you by any condition. 1
Discussions should be congruent with your literacy level, cultural/religious beliefs, and personal circumstances. 1
Your provider should use active listening to elicit your preferences and beliefs and assess potential barriers to care. 1
Assessment Process
Your healthcare provider should conduct a comprehensive evaluation that includes:
- Detailed history addressing the specific nature of your concern, including pain characteristics, associated symptoms, changes in appetite or food intake, and impact on daily functioning. 3, 4
- Physical examination focused on relevant body systems. 3, 4
- Baseline laboratory tests and imaging as clinically indicated. 3, 5
If your concern involves unexplained weight changes, your provider should document current weight, height, BMI, and weight trajectory, as weight loss >5% over 1 month or >10% over 6 months requires comprehensive evaluation. 3, 5, 4
Your Role in Decision-Making
You should be offered options for evaluation and treatment, with the opportunity to express your point of view, as patients overwhelmingly prefer detailed information about therapeutic options. 6, 7
You have the right to decide who else should be involved in discussions and decision-making, including whether to include family members or partners. 1
You can request the level of detail you want about your condition, as information preferences vary significantly between individuals and over time. 2
Access to Resources and Follow-Up
Your provider should ensure access to resources or referral information as appropriate for your concern. 1
If specialized care is needed, referral to appropriate specialists should be offered, though you can still benefit from counseling or support provided by licensed professionals available at your medical center even if specialized therapists are not immediately available. 1
Regular follow-up should be established to monitor your concern and reassess if symptoms persist or worsen despite initial interventions. 3, 4
Common Pitfalls to Avoid
Do not delay seeking care because you're unsure if your concern is "serious enough"—healthcare providers should address all patient concerns, and early assessment prevents missed serious pathology. 3
Do not withhold information about your symptoms, behaviors, or preferences due to embarrassment, as complete information is essential for accurate assessment. 1
Do not assume your provider knows what information you want—explicitly state your preferences for how much detail you want to receive. 2