Key points
- You can see a doctor as soon as your weight worries you, when you want to understand your situation or find out about the care available.
- The first consultation is a chance to take stock; it does not mean you have to start any particular treatment.
- Going to a specialist centre does not mean having an operation: there are several treatment options.
Practical situations
An opinion may be useful, for example, if:
- your weight is a problem in daily life: tiredness, breathlessness, pain, difficulty moving;
- you have a weight-related condition, such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, sleep apnoea or joint pain;
- your weight is going back up after weight loss or after a treatment;
- you have questions about a medicine or about surgery;
- you have already had surgery and your follow-up has stopped.
Obesity is a chronic disease with many causes, not a lack of willpower: see Obesity, a chronic disease.
With your GP
Your GP (family doctor) screens for obesity and provides follow-up, with a review at least once a year. The Swiss recommendations advise referral to a specialist centre from a BMI of 35, or earlier in the case of a severe complication1; this benchmark is not a condition for seeing us.
The Centre works in coordination with your doctor: if a doctor referred you, they receive a report after the consultation.
Your BMI, one benchmark among others
BMI is a starting point, but it does not tell the whole story about your health: see Understanding your BMI and looking beyond the number.
What a specialist centre offers
A centre brings together several disciplines: obesity medicine, nutrition, psychological support, physical activity and surgery. This means the options can be compared with you, rather than just one being offered.
Are you a doctor? Referring a patient
What next?
A first consultation is an opportunity to review your situation and ask your questions. Possible treatments are then discussed with you. Your request is received by the Centre’s appointments team, who will organise the next steps with you.
Medical review of the French version: Dr Pierre Fournier
Scientific sources and references
Sources accessed on 12 October 2026. Reimbursement rules and information on medicines change over time.
- Gerber PA, Collet TH, Favre L, et al. Swiss obesity clinical practice guidance. Swiss Med Wkly. 2026;156:5415. View source
- Author
- Prepared for the Centre from the sources cited
- References
- See “Scientific sources and references” on this page