Morbidly Obese doctors

Don't we generally go to the doctor to get their help and opinion/ advice?
I don't go there to judge them for their lifestyle, their size does not make their medical degree any less valid.

It doesn't bother me, in fact having someone who knows my struggles can be comforting.

As a side note, I have yet to see anyone really healthy who is in orthopedicts. Guess all those knees and hips drive the point home.

A doctors weight should be the last thing you worry about. I had a few friends that became doctors and went to a Uni with a large student nurse population - fun drinking people but dear God I try not to think about that when I visit them.

every doctor in my surgery is thin bar the one that owns it and hes just slightly more chunky!
I dont think being overweight would make a bad doctor though its hard staying healthy, plus my partners doctor is a health nut!! pure mad about hiking and she is a stupid nasty cow loads of her patients have been complaining, so fat or skinny dosnt mean your bad or good at your job

Only thing I care about my doc is hearing my blood test results. They are adults and make whatever decisions they want about their own lives. I just worry about my own health and my family's health first.

A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

I had a morbidly obese Dr. once, and it bothered me b/c when I saw him, he never advised me that I needed to lose weight for my own health.

My current doctors are all thin/healthy weight, and have advised me to lose weight/fat for my health, which I appreciate.

So if obese doctors are less likely to advise their patients about the risks/benefits of weight & weight loss, then that's a problem. Otherwise, I can acknowledge that they're human, and subject to the same temptations & challenges as the rest of us, so who am *I* to criticize or judge them for their own condition? To me, it's no worse than doctors who smoke and know all the risks associated with that, but do it anyway.

My boyfriend's parents are doctors. Surgeons, specifically, so they're mostly in the business of fixing problems rather than preventing them in the first place (mom's specialization is plastic surgery, dad is a general surgeon), but still - you'd think their particular line of work would make them *more* inclined to make good decisions. His dad eats more salt in a single day than I do all week, pouring the stuff on his dinner plate before he even tastes it. His dad is also probably about 40 pounds overweight, easily. Their clients seem to like them, so I guess they do good work, but it's still troubling.

I do think that regardless of their lifestyle, doctors need to hold themselves to a higher standard when it comes to health. When my daughter was in the hospital it always made me nuts to look out the window and see the number of doctors and nurses standing just off the property to smoke.

"Do as I say, not as I do" should not apply.

Why shouldn't it apply? If a doctor knows how to make someone healthy or healthier, are you suggesting that they shouldn't do it because they don't keep themselves healthy?

I'm saying that doctors should not be allowed to use "Do as I say, not as I do" as an excuse to be unhealthy. They need to lead by example.

Edit to add- I'm not saying a doctor can't be a bit overweight, but obese is or smoking is another thing. I prefer my and my children's physicians practice what they preach.

They are human and capable of faults just like us. More hospitals and other health care fields nowadays are pushing their employees to lose weight and show healthy lifestyles. I know--for a fact--that some require employees in positions of power to weigh in or meet other health goals (like to stop smoking).

We all know how hard it is to lose weight and the pressure we put ourselves under. Can you imagine having your boss tie your work goals and bonus pay to how much weight you've lost or gained lately!? I'm mean, it's great that they are taking notice and want their employees to practice what they preach, but I personally would not want that sort of personal/professional cross on something like that! Can you imagine the extra pressure that adds?

Odds are that any doctor or nurse you know that is overweight is already well aware of it and may even be working to change it. If they work with a large system there are likely incentives and employee fitness programs that they are strongly encouraged or even required to participate in. But that doesn't mean they can do it overnight or that they'll want to tell you all about it. They deserve privacy too.

I honestly. Think I'd see a doctor who was morbidly obese. I could handle a little overweight- but not morbidly obese. That is a serious conflict in my book- they obviously aren't interested in their own health, why would they truly be invested in mine. I'm not saying they shouldn't practice medicine, I just prefer not to go to them. If I knew my doctor smoked I would also find another doctor. In my eyes, a doctor should be utilizing the knowledge they have to live the best possible life. If they ignore all of that information and live an unhealthy lifestyle, what are they ignoring about my health?