How did your doctor tell you you're fat??

ilenewilliams

I had a small stroke two years ago, in the exam room when I went back to see him after being released from the hospital he said to me "If you want to see your son (he was 11) graduate from high school, you need to lose at least 50 lbs and you need to start now. My blood pressure was high and I was on two medications, my blood sugar was boarderline diabetic and my resting heart rate was 120. I did nothing for another 5 months, then I started walking around my block, then started cutting down on junk food, and finally after months of that I found this site and finally lost that 50 lbs. Now he wants me to lose another 40. But I can do it with this great group of people!

bethanytapp

I was only about 20 pounds overweight at the time and my gyno told me that I was single because I was fat. I switched docs immediately.

IIIIISerenityNowIIIII

I got strep throat on a weekend, so I had my husband drive me to the walk-in clinic. I had a regular doctor, you know the guy you typical.talk with about general health issues, but I needed a simple strep test. When filling out the forms to see the Nurse Practitioner, I left the weight spot blank because I was ashamed for my husband to see the number. When she brought me into the room, she asked why it was blank. I told her I was embarrassed for my husband to see the number, and I told her my weight. In a very condescending tone she told me "that's a bit elevated!". I was like "uh...yeah...uh. Um..." I was so embarrassed I wanted to run out of there. I was there for a strep test, not a physical or anything that could have been caused or aggravated by excess weight. My regular MD doctor would have shown concern and been caring about it. Even he could have said the same exact words, without adding an insulting tone.

LiftAllThePizzas

I recently switched family doctors. Why, you ask? Well, I went in for an unrelated issue - one that still had me wearing the paper gown - and my doctor said to me when she lifted it up "Oh wow, you have a small face but such a big body". Then proceeded to prescribe me weight loss pills (which I never filled the prescription for). Unbe-freakin'-lievable. I am obviously quite aware of the fact that I am 50 - 60 lbs overweight. I found this to be quite rude and made me feel absolutely horrible and ashamed. I'm just wondering how other people's doctors "broke the bad news". Ha

How was it obvious to your doctor that you were aware of being 50-60 lbs overweight?

fleetzz

I can't tell you how much I want to share this thread with physicians! I'm about to start my second year of medical school, and I look around the classroom at the people who I spend every day with, and 90% of them have never been more that 3 or 4 pounds over weight in their life. Doctors often don't know how to address overweight and obese patients because they haven't ever been there. I really hope to one day be a success story for my patients - and the fact that I know what a struggle obesity is will be allow me to communicate with greater empathy.

That kind of surprises me...maybe it's just that I live in the Midwest...but honestly out of the doctors, surgeons, and NPs I know I'd say well over half are not just overweight but obese themselves.

Well, keep in mind that the majority of my classmates are 22 or 23 now! I'm sure at some point in their life their metabolism will catch up with them and then they'll have no idea what to do.

Just wait until they start their residency--Oh Wait, they changed the rules for hours. What is the max now?100 per week and no more than a 24 hour shift?

Before there were working hours limits the only thing the residents had time to do when they weren't working was sleep and maybe get food. They didn't have time to exercise.

latoyaaaa

I recently switched family doctors. Why, you ask? Well, I went in for an unrelated issue - one that still had me wearing the paper gown - and my doctor said to me when she lifted it up "Oh wow, you have a small face but such a big body". Then proceeded to prescribe me weight loss pills (which I never filled the prescription for). Unbe-freakin'-lievable. I am obviously quite aware of the fact that I am 50 - 60 lbs overweight. I found this to be quite rude and made me feel absolutely horrible and ashamed. I'm just wondering how other people's doctors "broke the bad news". Ha

Whenever I go to the doctors due to being sick or anything unrelated to weight my doctor always says 'it's because of your weight'... Yes I have a cold in winter because I'm fat. I just avoid the doctors for simple things now.

hookilau

I recently switched family doctors. Why, you ask? Well, I went in for an unrelated issue - one that still had me wearing the paper gown - and my doctor said to me when she lifted it up "Oh wow, you have a small face but such a big body". Then proceeded to prescribe me weight loss pills (which I never filled the prescription for). Unbe-freakin'-lievable. I am obviously quite aware of the fact that I am 50 - 60 lbs overweight. I found this to be quite rude and made me feel absolutely horrible and ashamed. I'm just wondering how other people's doctors "broke the bad news". Ha

Whenever I go to the doctors due to being sick or anything unrelated to weight my doctor always says 'it's because of your weight'... Yes I have a cold in winter because I'm fat. I just avoid the doctors for simple things now.

:laugh: :laugh:

Archer9304

My doctor is too busy to care about my weight. He asked me why I joined the gym. :huh:

2kellymike

oops:blushing:

2kellymike

Your doctor could have a point. White bread and white flour are both highly refined and your body metabolizes them pretty much like it would if you ate sugar. White carbs are known to cause blood sugar spikes, and the Type I diabetics I know (6 at last count) rarely eat "white foods" because of that.

Thank you, you're right. I have learned that since then, and what little bread I do eat now is 100% whole wheat. But since that was the sum total of his weight loss advice, I still feel like he was pretty useless. Good luck on your journey!

smantha32

My take on things is that so many people are so emotionally entitled that they think they have a Constitutional right to NOT be offended by the truth. If your doctor can't level with you, who can? Get over oneself.....

QFT

fattymcrunnerpants

I recently switched family doctors. Why, you ask? Well, I went in for an unrelated issue - one that still had me wearing the paper gown - and my doctor said to me when she lifted it up "Oh wow, you have a small face but such a big body". Then proceeded to prescribe me weight loss pills (which I never filled the prescription for). Unbe-freakin'-lievable. I am obviously quite aware of the fact that I am 50 - 60 lbs overweight. I found this to be quite rude and made me feel absolutely horrible and ashamed. I'm just wondering how other people's doctors "broke the bad news". Ha

Whenever I go to the doctors due to being sick or anything unrelated to weight my doctor always says 'it's because of your weight'... Yes I have a cold in winter because I'm fat. I just avoid the doctors for simple things now.

This is me to a t. I don't go to the doctor's unless I have to. Which, for me, is about once every 3 months for a refill on my meds. I told one of mine flat out that unless he was going to refer me to a nutritionist and actually help me figure out how to balance my hormones I didn't want to hear it.

GibbsGirl13072

Mine has never really brought it up. I mentioned it at my checkup earlier this year because I've gained 20+ pounds since my hysterectomy. Combine being fat with being tired, he wrote me a prescription for an antidepressant, which I never filled. I'm not depressed, I have teenage girls and I work full time...That's why I'm tired! :bigsmile: I signed up here, started exercising and eating better (not great, but better) and I've lost 15 pounds. I intend to lose more before my next physical, and tell him that I'm still not depressed, lol.

SmartForAGirl

I went to a doctor for a sinus infection. He hurried through a prescription for my infection and moved on to my mental health/weight. He told me it's not uncommon for obese people like myself to be depressed. I assured him I wasn't experiencing any depression. Sometimes even Christians get depressed, he pressed on. Again, not depressed. He could prescribe me some anti-depressants right away, he offered. Still not depressed. He, not easily discouraged, continued on to tell me that obese people who take anti-depressants enjoy the side effect of weight loss. Not only does it help your depression about being obese (I'm not depressed) but it also helps you lose weight! When I insisted I wasn't depressed, he offered me diet pills. He says to me "A lot of people don't want to take these because they have side effects like loose bowel movements... I'll just say it... Some people who take them poop their pants. But Americans are too concerned about personal hygiene. The rest of the world isn't like that. European people don't worry about hygiene like that." Despite the array of services, from mental health to weight loss to hygiene adjustment, he offered, I left with only my sinus infection meds. I never went back to him. 1) What a ridiculous thing to assume all overweight people are depressed. 2) Using anti-depressants as a weight loss strategy? Really? 3) Diet pills? No nutrition discussion. No talk about exercise. Just pills. 4) I understand that hygiene expectations vary from culture to culture but I think Europeans draw the line at soiling themselves.

GDLAZ

OMG really every one is mad because their MD did or did not say something to them. MAYBE its not the doctors nurses or PA's.
im sorry do you guys have any idea what its like to have a patient that you honestly love and care for die because of some thing so simple ! some times you need to get some ones attention and it may be rude, or frank but im sorry if your MD cares they will be honest and sometimes mean/scary . think what its like for your doctor to see you decline at the age of 20 or 30 or 40 because of a life style choice. this is a choice! your choice ! and then to have 95% or all the people you see have the same problem !if its that obvious why hasn't it been brought up before. every day I see my doctor he weights me right off (even if I go to eat at his house with his wife) calls me chunky monkey and tells me no matter what I weigh he's disappointed because I could be better for me and my son. and i don't cry about it ! because he's right ! now that I have worked in surgery its kills me to see 16 year olds getting total knee replacements. And im sorry I tell every one you need to take care of yourself . but please stop blaming your health care. DONT SHOOT THE MESSENGER

In my case the doctor wasn't listening. That's why I fired him. I attempted to tell him that when I tried to exercise I got shaky, weak, and could not continue. His response was that I was just fat and lazy. When I found a doctor who'd listen he discovered I had an adrenal tumor. Once that was removed my problems went away. So yes, sometimes it is the doctor. If your doc isn't listening to you it's time to find a new doc.

sandryc

I have a great Dr. She is kind and really listens. She orders blood work and does a physical each year. She never came right out and said "You are fat", but she has started to discuss my weight in relation to the declining health shown in the blood work. Last annual check up I had a net gain of about 15lbs from the prior year and she said "Even if you are not successful in losing weight it is important not to continue gaining it." My blood work suddenly being less than ideal is one of the factors motivating me toward serious weight loss.

CipherZero

"You're fat! I'd sugar-coat it, but you'd probably eat that, too!"

No, he never said a word.

KnitOrMiss

My most recent encounter with a professional nutritionist and female health doctor (he was a male doctor that specialized in female health) that I requested a consult to (at the insistence of my gyno), told me after taking a screening that I was a fat @$$ and until I was ready to commit 100% to his nazi-food like regime that I was wasting my time and his. I walked out of his office and never went back. That was a year and a half ago. Think I'm down 30 pounds because I got challenged and decided what the heck!

My specialist at OU told me that she apologized, she knew I was aware of my situation, but due to their insurance requirements, they have to print out a BMI warning at each appointment and notify you of it.

My regular doctor has always tried to partner with me, talked me out of fad diets, just tried to get me healthier overall, address underlying issues, and all...but at least I wasn't in denial walking it, because that could have been so rough!

lolomama_

bump

Geloza

She didn't want to remove my Mirena because she thought I needed to lose weight before attempting to have another child. :grumble: