Question:
How much history is too much?

My insurer wants a diet history "from the beginning of realization patient was obese until now." I've started typing it out and it actually reads more like a narrative with dates and diets tried, but it's also about 10 pages long! I don't know if this detailed narrative is what they are looking for and if it should be short and concise or if the longer history is better. I'd like to hear what other people submitted in the form of a diet history. How detailed was it? Did the length of the written history concern you? Will the insurance bother reading a document that long? Any input is greatly appreciated!    — Shayna T. (posted on March 11, 2004)

March 10, 2004
I don't know exactly what you've written, but try to keep it short & simple or they won't read it. IOW, something like a list...1975-1980: Cabbage Soup Diet - lost 20 pounds, regained 30 within a year. Also, if you remember any Dr. supervised diets, mention the doctor's name...they won't check on it if it was a long time ago, but it does add credibility. The people reading these things don't want to read about your feelings, they don't care...just keep it simple, it's much more impressive that way. Good luck.
   — Leslie F.

March 10, 2004
I disagree with the previous poster. I think you should have a LONG list. This shows the insurance company that you have tried every diet known to man and they just don't work for you. If the insurance company only sees a couple of things tried, they will come back and say there are other diet methods that you could have tried and didn't. With the long list, they'll know that you did try that and it didn't work.
   — Patty H.

March 10, 2004
Just clarifying my previous post...the list can be as long as necessary, but I was trying to explain to simplify it for easy reading. Definitely list every diet you've tried, though, just try not to make it too wordy.
   — Leslie F.

March 10, 2004
Hi Te, I started getting heavy when I was 6 years old - the age that I first started the Weight Watchers plan! I was 38 when I had my DS. So I had a pretty huge diet history, too. My doctors and a friend who works in the insurance industry suggested that I make up a chart that listed the basics: date of diet (give guestimate), name of diet (even if it's one you made up - like my famed top ramen and pea diet - what was I thinking?!), length of time on diet, how much weight lost on diet, reason for quitting diet, and results (i.e., did you keep the weight off for a few months, or did you immediately rebound back to original weight, or even added some pounds). Of course, going back so far, I could only give guesstimates on the really old part, but I was surprised how many details I really did remember, or had chronicled in my health history that my doctor kept. Best of luck to you! dina
   — Dina McBride

March 11, 2004
I gave only a short list of diets I had been on..However, I did submit copies of my medical records from EVERY doctor I had gone to and highlighted all the times I was obese.. Every time the doctor mentioned dieting or I did. All the times my b/p was up etc. I was approved in a few days with Aetna..Good luck to you
   — Kathy S.

March 11, 2004
When I gave my "book" to the doctor - at first he just laughed, but as he was thumbing through it, he realized that I wasn't kidding about being on "every diet known to man"!! I gave him everything! He sent my "book" in to my insurance company and I truely feel that is the main reason why I was approved the first time!! Give them everything - dates, times, types of diets, and doctors names that you have seen! It works!! Good Luck! Danette
   — Danette C.

March 11, 2004
I wrote my history and it was five typed single spaced pages and gave it to the surgeon and the psych doctor. They both said it was good and took it. My surgeon also had a form with many diets listed that I filled out with my history of using those diets. Give the surgeon the long list, he can choose to use it or not. Good luck.
   — catleth

March 12, 2004
When I went to see if I could get a refferal from my primary doctor I took 2 lists with me. One was a list of all the diets I had tried, with the names, how long I was on it and how much I lost them gained back. The second list I took was and list of all my complications because of my weight both pysical and personal. Good luck and hang in there. Jodie
   — Jodie S.