Blood Test for Weight Loss | Weight Loss Panel Test

Weight Loss Journey Test Panel — Baseline

This weight loss test provides an overall picture of key blood markers that a healthcare provider may 1) evaluate before instructing an individual to begin a weight loss journey, or 2) use as a tool in evaluating weight management. Read more

Test details

Sample type:

Blood

Test type: In Person

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$139.00

+ $6.00 Physician Service Fee

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About the Test

This baseline blood test for weight loss measures the levels of several markers associated with metabolism, including a cholesterol and lipid panel, comprehensive metabolic panel (CMP), thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) test, and a hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) test. Measuring these key metabolic and hormone markers will help you and your healthcare provider understand how efficient your metabolism may be. This may play a key role in understanding how weight could be impacting your overall metabolic health. Additionally, if you are considering or discussing prescription options for weight loss, including GLP-1 medications, understanding your health is critical for you and your health care provider before beginning any treatment plan.

With Quest, you can buy this blood test for weight management online and get testing at a nearby location - no doctor's visit required.

Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP)
A CMP (also known as a Chem 14) is a broad screening tool that assesses 14 different substances to evaluate sugar (glucose) levels, kidney function, liver function, and electrolyte imbalance. This panel of tests is often used by healthcare professionals to detect and monitor various factors or conditions, including nutrient balance, diabetes, and kidney and liver disease.

Cholesterol and Lipid Panel
A cholesterol and lipid panel measures fatty substances used as energy by the body, including cholesterol and triglycerides. Abnormally high levels can build up in the blood and increase your risk for heart disease or stroke. This panel of tests measures total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), and triglycerides.

Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) Test
Hemoglobin is a protein found in red blood cells that carries oxygen from your lungs to the body's tissues and returns carbon dioxide from the tissues back to the lungs. When sugar enters the bloodstream, it attaches and sticks to hemoglobin molecules to form hemoglobin A1c. The HbA1c test is an important tool used by healthcare providers for the screening, diagnosis, and management of pre-diabetes or diabetes.

Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) Test
The thyroid function test measures the level of TSH in the blood to help evaluate thyroid function. The pituitary gland detects thyroid hormones in the blood. If the thyroid is making a lot of these hormones, the pituitary will stop producing TSH, leading to low levels of TSH. Low TSH may mean the thyroid gland is overactive, commonly referred to as hyperthyroidism. High levels of TSH in the blood may indicate the thyroid gland is not working hard enough, causing the pituitary to keep making TSH. High TSH can indicate an underactive thyroid gland, commonly referred to as hypothyroidism. Both conditions may require medical treatment.

Several factors may play a role in gaining and retaining excess weight. Some of these include diet, lack of exercise, environmental factors, and genetics. People with weight issues are more likely to develop a number of potentially serious health problems. Some of the most common are:

Heart disease and strokes: Obesity makes you more likely to have high blood pressure and unhealthy cholesterol levels, which are risk factors for heart disease and strokes.
Type 2 diabetes: Obesity can affect the way the body uses insulin to control blood sugar levels. This raises the risk of insulin resistance and diabetes.
Digestive problems: Obesity increases the likelihood of developing heartburn, gallbladder disease, and liver problems.
Sleep apnea: People with obesity are more likely to have sleep apnea, a potentially serious disorder in which breathing repeatedly stops and starts during sleep.
Osteoarthritis: Obesity increases the stress placed on weight-bearing joints. It also promotes inflammation, which includes swelling, pain and a feeling of heat within the body. These factors may lead to complications such as osteoarthritis.
Fatty liver disease: Obesity increases the risk of fatty liver disease, a condition that happens due to excessive fat deposits in the liver. In some cases, this can lead to serious liver damage, known as liver cirrhosis.

You must be 18 years of age or older to purchase a test on questhealth.com. Purchases not permitted in: AK, AZ, HI.

Fasting (not eating or drinking anything except water) for 8-12 hours is recommended. If you are not able to fast before the test, certain levels may be elevated. If you are taking medications, check with your healthcare provider to see whether you should take them before the test.

After the Test:
After you provide your specimen, it generally takes a few business days to process and release your test results. However, processing times may vary. Your test results will be available in a clear and easy-to-read report. After your test, you will receive an alert call from an independent healthcare coordinator. Independent physicians are available to discuss questions or concerns you may have regarding your results.

Treatment Options:
Included with your purchase, you have the option to discuss your results with an independent physician who may be able to prescribe hypothyroidism-specific treatment depending on your results.

If your thyroid (TSH) lab result is abnormal or out of expected range, the lab will perform an additional test (free thyroxine, T4) on the sample you have already provided at no extra cost to you. This additional testing can provide additional diagnostic information to help with care.

How it works

questhealth.com offers 100+ consumer-initiated Quest Diagnostics lab tests to empower you to have more control over your health journey. Choose from a variety of test types that best suit your needs.

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A Quest Mobile phlebotomist will collect your sample and deliver it to Quest Diagnostics.

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Access results online as soon as they’re available. Discuss your results with an independent physician at no extra cost.

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FAQs

What factors lead to obesity and weight gain?

Several factors may play a role in gaining and retaining excess weight:

• Food and activity: People gain weight when they eat more calories than they burn through activity. This imbalance is the greatest contributor to weight gain.
• Environment: The world around us influences our ability to maintain a healthy weight. Lack of access to fitness facilities, limited healthy dining options, etc. can contribute to weight gain.
• Genetics: Research shows that genetics plays a role in obesity.
• Health conditions and medications: Some hormone problems, such as underactive thyroid, Cushing syndrome, and polycystic ovary syndrome, may lead to weight gain and obesity.
• Stress, emotional factors, and poor sleep: Some people eat more than usual when they are bored, angry, upset, or stressed.

Can I get a prescription for weight loss drugs after this test?

This test will give you and your healthcare provider a view of your overall health. Any discussions around weight loss should be between you and your healthcare provider to evaluate weight management options (weight management drugs, lifestyle modifications, surgery) that may be right for you.

What tests should I have done before I start a weight loss medication?

Before starting any weight management strategies, you should discuss your overall health and goals with your healthcare provider. This test panel looks at key markers that a doctor would want to evaluate prior to prescribing weight loss medication.

Can I use my FSA or HSA funds to purchase tests on questhealth.com?

You may be able to use your FSA or HSA funds to purchase lab tests at questhealth.com. Please review your FSA/HSA plan or check with a tax professional to confirm specific requirements for individual eligibility.

Our references

National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. (2012). What causes overweight and obesity? Retrieved August 8, 2012, from https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health-topics/overweight-and-obesity
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2012). Overweight and obesity: Causes and consequences. Retrieved August 8, 2012, from https://www.cdc.gov/obesity/basics/causes.html

Tests purchased on questhealth.com are only for individuals who intend to pay directly for testing and do not want to submit a claim for reimbursement under their health insurance.

Weight Loss Journey Test Panel — Baseline