How to document weight loss attempts?

Okay so I know that I will need to have documented weight loss attempts. However, due to losing everything I own like 3 times over the last 20 years I do not have receipts for the many gyms joined or the various weight loss systems I purchased or anything like that. Will insurance companies accept a hand-typed list if I can remember the years I did some of this stuff? Will the recorded weights in my mediccal records be enough to show obesity for the required length of time?

edited for spelling

With insurance companies, you never know. Mine required no documented wl attempts. If they require one, you might get off with a statement from your pcp. Your word will never be enough...at least I dont think so. Most people I know, in your situation, have to have a physician supervised wl attempt for at least 6 consecutive months...and don't you dare miss a week, or it starts all over again. Call your insurance company, but they are masters at the stall game.

I checked and mine definitely requires a 6 month supervised weight loss so I talk to my PCP about getting that started right away but I didn't know if I would also need to have a long drawn out histroy of my failed weight loss attempts that I have done on my own and if so did they need specific names of gyms and programs

When I got my packet from my surgeon their was a paper in their and it goes over all the different types ( OTC diet pills, over eaters, Atkins, low fat n cal, if i had been to a gym etc. The main thing on mine was dates, how long I dieted, how much I lost with this diet if any and how fast the weight came back on. I didn't have to show receipts or anything. Hope this helps. :)

Sweet hopefully mine will have something like that too... i mtrying to get everything all done during the 6 month supervised thing so hopefully can have a December date (gotta wait until after hunting season I have just been informed lol)

While my PCP had to write a letter documenting my weight loss attempts, this did NOT help with insurance. I still had to do a 3 month stint with the nutritionalist at my bariatrics office for insurance requirements.  Question the requirements at your office.  For my insurance I had to do either 6 months with my primary care or 3 months with a nutritionalist associated with the bariatric surgeon.  Needless to say I went with the quicker option.  I just had to go once a month and she would document my weight, talk about things on how to lose weight prior to the surgery and educate me on post surgery eating and vitamins.  Below is a sample letter that my Surgeon's office had provided to me.  I typed up my weight loss history and prepared the letter and gave it to my PCP to send to the Surgeon's office.

_______________ is a patient of mine who has been suffering for a long time with morbid obesity. He/She has failed to lose weight despite numerous diet regimes. Below is his/her diet history:

Diet Program (Ex. Weigh****chers)

Dates Length of time on Program (Ex. May 2009 to September 2009)

Weight Loss:  60 lbs.

Weight Loss Weight Regain:  75 lbs.

I am recommending ____________ for weight loss surgery. In my opinon it is the only way that he/she will be able to lose weight and enjoy a normal life. He/She is highly motivated and is a good candidate for the procedure.

Thank you for your help in this matter.

Sincerely,

_____________________, MD