The Role of Doctors in Weight Loss
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cwolfman13 wrote: »most GPs aren't well versed in nutrition...it's simply not what they do. what they can do is send you for blood work and review that blood work to see if there's anything medically wrong with you that would be preventing you from losing weight...that's why people say to go see a Dr...blood work...not nutritional advice. From there, a good Dr. will refer you elsewhere for specific care...the "G" in GP stands for General...as in not specialized.
I completely agree with this.
Doctors also tend to want you to lose weight as quickly as possible, so they are usually more likely to prescribe some kind of pill or a low-calorie diet to achieve quick results. They don't think in terms of long-term sustainability; they think in terms of a cure for your fatness.0 -
My doctor encouraged me to start exercising and gave me a recommended caloric range. She didn't really give me any tips on how to eat within that range or anything, but I'm not exactly a spring chicken and don't need to be treated like a child to figure things out. She told me only calories mattered after I told her that I was eating well and not losing weight.
I really like my doctor.0 -
PeachyCarol wrote: »My doctor encouraged me to start exercising and gave me a recommended caloric range. She didn't really give me any tips on how to eat within that range or anything, but I'm not exactly a spring chicken and don't need to be treated like a child to figure things out. She told me only calories mattered after I told her that I was eating well and not losing weight.
I really like my doctor.
Yep. Common sense doctors rock.0 -
PeachyCarol wrote: »My doctor encouraged me to start exercising and gave me a recommended caloric range. She didn't really give me any tips on how to eat within that range or anything, but I'm not exactly a spring chicken and don't need to be treated like a child to figure things out. She told me only calories mattered after I told her that I was eating well and not losing weight.
I really like my doctor.
Yep. Common sense doctors rock.
Where are they0 -
The GP who referred me to my path to weight loss and health is a small town doctor who does address weight with all of his patients. He has insulted and offended townspeople by doing this. It's a small town. Word gets around. But he's right.
http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2015/04/the-problem-with-satisfied-patients/390684/0 -
PeachyCarol wrote: »My doctor encouraged me to start exercising and gave me a recommended caloric range. She didn't really give me any tips on how to eat within that range or anything, but I'm not exactly a spring chicken and don't need to be treated like a child to figure things out. She told me only calories mattered after I told her that I was eating well and not losing weight.
I really like my doctor.
Yep. Common sense doctors rock.
Where are they
Apparently in New Jersey/Philadelphia? I've had terrible doctors in the past, but the four I see now (GP, neurologist/migraine specialist, rheumatologist, and endocrinologist) are all fantastic.
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PeachyCarol wrote: »My doctor encouraged me to start exercising and gave me a recommended caloric range. She didn't really give me any tips on how to eat within that range or anything, but I'm not exactly a spring chicken and don't need to be treated like a child to figure things out. She told me only calories mattered after I told her that I was eating well and not losing weight.
I really like my doctor.
Yep. Common sense doctors rock.
Agreed! I also approve of not being treated like a child.0 -
PeachyCarol wrote: »PeachyCarol wrote: »My doctor encouraged me to start exercising and gave me a recommended caloric range. She didn't really give me any tips on how to eat within that range or anything, but I'm not exactly a spring chicken and don't need to be treated like a child to figure things out. She told me only calories mattered after I told her that I was eating well and not losing weight.
I really like my doctor.
Yep. Common sense doctors rock.
Where are they
Apparently in New Jersey/Philadelphia? I've had terrible doctors in the past, but the four I see now (GP, neurologist/migraine specialist, rheumatologist, and endocrinologist) are all fantastic.
Aha yeah makes sense, spitting distance from NYC but not so nutty to actually be based there
Glad you have competent docs
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Being a general practice medical doctor is pretty difficult. They get to see patients for 20-30 minutes each, and most patients have a number of particular issues they want addressed in that amount of time. Not to mention a physical exam is performed in that time, as well. The doctor needs to remember information about the entire visit so that he or she can effectively chart what happened during that time to meet legal requirements and have information to refer back to the next time the patient comes in.
Also, a GP has to have general knowledge of the entire body. They don't specialize in anything, so they have a little bit of information about the entire thing. Not all the indepth information that a specialist has. Yet every patient expects the doctor to know everything about the body and all medical issues, and still remember each patient who walks in the door. That's not really possible. GPs do learn as much as possible to get their licenses, and do have to take continuing education to keep up with new advances, but they don't know everything there is to know.
When a patient has a specific need or complaint that requires more attention and time than the GP can address, he or she refers that patient to a specialist. That's not always another doctor. Sometimes it's a cardiac nurse or physician's assistant. Sometimes it's a behavorial health therapist. And if the patient has an issue with obesity and doesn't know how to eat correctly to lose weight, the referral can be to a dietician, and sometimes a physical therapist to address exercise options.
Good GPs will do this.0 -
I had one, then he went concierge. Probably because random patients are as big a PITA as doctors are.PeachyCarol wrote: »My doctor encouraged me to start exercising and gave me a recommended caloric range. She didn't really give me any tips on how to eat within that range or anything, but I'm not exactly a spring chicken and don't need to be treated like a child to figure things out. She told me only calories mattered after I told her that I was eating well and not losing weight.
I really like my doctor.
Yep. Common sense doctors rock.
Where are they
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Being a general practice medical doctor is pretty difficult. They get to see patients for 20-30 minutes each, and most patients have a number of particular issues they want addressed in that amount of time. Not to mention a physical exam is performed in that time, as well. The doctor needs to remember information about the entire visit so that he or she can effectively chart what happened during that time to meet legal requirements and have information to refer back to the next time the patient comes in.
Also, a GP has to have general knowledge of the entire body. They don't specialize in anything, so they have a little bit of information about the entire thing. Not all the indepth information that a specialist has. Yet every patient expects the doctor to know everything about the body and all medical issues, and still remember each patient who walks in the door. That's not really possible. GPs do learn as much as possible to get their licenses, and do have to take continuing education to keep up with new advances, but they don't know everything there is to know.
When a patient has a specific need or complaint that requires more attention and time than the GP can address, he or she refers that patient to a specialist. That's not always another doctor. Sometimes it's a cardiac nurse or physician's assistant. Sometimes it's a behavorial health therapist. And if the patient has an issue with obesity and doesn't know how to eat correctly to lose weight, the referral can be to a dietician, and sometimes a physical therapist to address exercise options.
Good GPs will do this.
Right but as others have said, many just don't. They have to be confident to even complete their training, but it too often leads to arrogance.
I'm going to stop there so I don't derail into a rant.0 -
Maybe I'm just lucky, but I've always been quite happy with my doctors. I'd find a new one if I were not.0
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lemurcat12 wrote: »Maybe I'm just lucky, but I've always been quite happy with my doctors. I'd find a new one if I were not.
How would you, if there were a shortage of GPs taking patients? Access to care differs by region. And other things, probably.0 -
lemurcat12 wrote: »Maybe I'm just lucky, but I've always been quite happy with my doctors. I'd find a new one if I were not.
How would you, if there were a shortage of GPs taking patients?
There doesn't seem to be, where I live.0 -
lemurcat12 wrote: »lemurcat12 wrote: »Maybe I'm just lucky, but I've always been quite happy with my doctors. I'd find a new one if I were not.
How would you, if there were a shortage of GPs taking patients?
There doesn't seem to be, where I live.
Then, you are lucky.0 -
My parents moved and found new doctors quite easily too. My mother's was a referral due to specific health issues, but my dad just found a GP with the same practice.0
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lemurcat12 wrote: »My parents moved and found new doctors quite easily too. My mother's was a referral due to specific health issues, but my dad just found a GP with the same practice.
Then your parents were lucky too.
There really are places where GP shortages exist (like where I live, or some rural areas).0 -
My hubs and I both had to find new GPs when we moved back to our home town, and did so with no problem. The first one I tried, I didn't like, so I switched to another one. When I am not satisfied with the care I am receiving from a doctor, I always switch to another one. It's my medical care, and my health. I consider that very important.0
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There are a shortage of doctors in my province and when my old doctor closed her practice, it was very hard finding a replacement. I insist on having the same practitioner over time so we build some history and trust, and I want a doctor who will explain things to me. So Medi-Centre doctors don't cut it for me. Other doctors in town have waiting lists months long.
So I followed the suggested plan offered by our provincial health care insurance provider, to pick a doctor looking for patients off their website. I found out why those doctors were still taking patients. They sucked. One even refused to do an internal exam.
After three years of not finding a suitable replacement, I wrote a pleading letter to my husband's family doctor to take my file. She did, thank goodness.0
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