11 replies to this topic

[Rail Paul]

The Globe & Mail looks into this weighty issue, and concludes that obese doctors are less likely than "normal weight" physicians to discuss weight concerns with their patients.

Researchers at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine found that only 18 per cent of overweight or obese physicians discussed weight loss with their patients, compared to 30 per cent of normal weight physicians.

The study of 500 primary care physicians in the U.S. also found that a vast majority of doctors–93 per cent–only diagnosed obesity in their patients if they believed they were the same weight or less than the people they were treating.

Globe & Mail

[Stone]

I've never had a doctor -- even my cardiologist -- tell me to lose weight.
I think it's always been assumed.

[splinky]

my doctor is an anorexic marathoner

[Wilfrid]

Doctors who like a drink are less likely to drone on about alcohol units too.

[SLBunge]

I've never had a doctor -- even my cardiologist -- tell me to lose weight.
I think it's always been assumed.

You may have a case against these folks. Leave detailed notes for your estate's attorney to follow when suing your cardiologist.

[g.johnson]

I've never had a doctor -- even my cardiologist -- tell me to lose weight.
I think it's always been assumed.

As a 150lb student I was told by my doctor that I could lose some weight.

[Wilfrid]

I remember a doctor telling me my cholesterol was normal, and when I sought to celebrate he snarled "I didn't say good, I said normal."

[ghostrider]

I've never had a doctor -- even my cardiologist -- tell me to lose weight.
I think it's always been assumed.

I have.

I've also had a doctor who smokes advise me (rather ruefully) to quit back when I indulged.

[Really Nice!]

Do obese physicians counsel fat patients about losing their weight?

Do as I say, not as I do.

[Wilfrid]

I once had a doctor who was haggard from self-abuse tell me to stop...

No, no I didn't.

[Sneakeater]

Didn't have a physician tell you, or didn't stop?

(Both, I assume.)

One big issue my wife always had was that her diet was much "healthier" than mine, and my "bad" cholesterol levels were always VERY low (and my "good" ones pretty acceptable). I always told her it was a measure of moral worth, not diet.

My doctors all tell me to lose weight. They seem to have a consensus that, considering what my life is like, my drinking level is on balance good for me.

I like my doctors. At least when they're not giving me prostate exams.

[prasantrin]

My doctor is a little chubby, but he's not obese.

I am a little chubby, but I am not obese.

Every time I see my doctor, he tells me it would be better if I lost some weight. Every. Time. For him, it's not just about my weight (it is, but it isn't), but I have high blood pressure (I've been on meds for about two years) and high triglycerides, but OK good cholesterol, and usually OK bad cholesterol levels. He thinks I have metabolic syndrome, and that as long as my weight is high, my numbers will all be high, but that the numbers will improve if I lose weight. So he tells me to lose weight. Every time I see him.

Two visits ago (maybe six months ago), my numbers were very very high (even my blood pressure was a little high despite the meds).

Three months later, I had lost about 5 pounds, and even though it was a measly 5 pounds, my numbers all lowered substantially. Even my triglycerides, which are usually quite high, were solidly "normal".

He still wants me to lose 20-30 more pounds, but I'll be satisfied with 10 more. Then I can look good, but still satisfy both my taste buds and my stomach. And my doctor will be happy with my numbers.