How to Use a Physical Exam to Detect Overeating

One of the most obvious side effects of overeating is weight gain. A doctor can use several tests to tell if you are overweight and give you tips on how to stop overeating. Your dentist may also be able to tell if you've been eating too much.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Body-fat scale

1. Get weighed and measured. This will be one of the first things that happens once you arrive at the doctor's office for your appointment. Your doctor can tell if you if you weigh too much for your height, a sign of possible overeating.
2. Have your blood pressure taken. A high reading may indicate you are hypertensive, which can be brought on by overeating. If you have high blood pressure at your physical because doctor exams make you nervous, ask the nurse beforehand to let you sit in the room and relax with a magazine for a few moments to calm your nerves before the reading.
3. Allow your doctor to examine you physically. Large pockets of fat on your body, such as belly rolls and a double chin, may indicate you have gained too much weight. Be aware that your doctor will not be able to give you spot-toning tips, as weight loss happens from all over the body.
4. Ask your dentist to take a close look at your teeth to detect any issues there. Over-eaters do more chewing than most, which leads to tooth wear. Stress from overeating may also lead to teeth grinding at night, so ask your dentist if you should be fitted for a night guard.
5. Allow your doctor to use fat calipers to determine if your body fat percentage is too high. If it is, that may indicate you have been eating too much. Consider buying a home scale with a body-fat composition reader to keep an eye on your body fat before your next physical exam.

Tips & Warnings

• Do your research before your child's exam. There are other ways to tell if your child has been eating too much, leading to weight gain. Read more about childhood obesity at the National Youth Network website (see Resources below).
• It's not always possible to detect overeating, especially if you are exercising enough to compensate for the calorie intake. If you are concerned, it's best to talk to your doctor about portion sizes and a diet plan.