Rrrrrrrr... DOCTORS!

Many doctors are relying on the BMI index. Using this index your husband is considered overweight and won't be at "normal" weight until he hits about 169 pounds. As you can see this is totally ridiculous. It does not consider his muscle mass percentage. The BMI index seems to think people have little to no muscle mass at all.

My doctor is actually pretty heavy and he always told me my high blood pressure was genetic and not caused by being overweight. He had no comment two weeks ago when my numbers looked great and I told him I hadn't taken any blood pressure medicine in several months. When I pointed out that I had lost 40lbs since the last time I saw him he asked "On purpose?"

I'd kill for 11% body fat.
Really...point out who and I'll do it.

Amazing

I'd kill for 11% body fat.
Really...point out who and I'll do it.

Amazing

No joke.

Mainstream medicine or one particular doctor........if you want horror stories about alternative medicine let me know.

Mainstream medicine - this guy isn't an outlyer. About 7 years ago, I saw a doctor because I had backpain. He took a quick x-ray and tried to schedule spinal surgery. I told him 'hold on there,' and left. Basically, I needed to get in better shape and wear better shoes. I dropped 30 pounds, and the backpain mysteriously vanished. But how many people have had discs in their back fused for absolutely no reason? For lots of people, a doctor tells you that you need a procedure, they just take their word for it and show up at the hospital.

So you're suggesting that all mainstream practitioners should be held in disrepute based on a couple of anecdotes? (BTW, I'm not defending the doctor who suggested your friend lose weight, I'm just curious why you're tarring all mainstream medical practitioners with the same brush - what's your agenda?)

Docs are trained to treat the biological workings of the body. Nutrition and nourishment really isn't their strong point. It's a damn shame.

BMI is ridiculous. They just discovered that it grossly over estimates the body mass of fit individuals and UNDER estimates it for obese individuals.

If my doctor ever told me that based on the BMI chart I was obese I'd laugh.

Then find a new doctor because clearly they are not doing their job and reading up on important things.

My husband is on Warfarin (blood thinners) and the Dr put him on Niacin as an added help for his cholesterol, but the Niacin caused bad flushing (feels like you skin is on fire) rather than change the Niacin the Dr actually wanted to put him on a Full Dose of Asprin daily to help the flushing. Asprin + Blood thinners = VERY BAD idea!!!! This is even after we reminded Dr that he was on the Warfarin! Damn Idiot!! No longer our DR!!!

My husband was taking niacin and had to stop because of the flushing. We take a daily multi with niacin and the only time I actually notice the flush is if I haven't eaten anything.

I tend to say, "Doctors are idiots".

I don't really mean it. Usually, they are pretty smart people. Every doctor I have met outside of their office, like in a social gathering, seem pretty sharp. But, I think they get caught up in weird *kitten*. A guy I work with is probably in the best shape of anyone I know, and his doctor was telling him that he is obese. He kept questioning them, and kept asking because it concerned him. Eventually, the doctor backed off and told him to not worry about it. Why make that statement at all until you are sure. All you have to do is look at him and you can tell he's not obese. It's ridiculous. It's times like those when I realize that they aren't really using their brains. They are just looking at paper.

Going through cancer with my mom, I've learned to never ever trust a single word any doctor tells you, ever. Question EVERYTHING they say and never just take their word for it. Ever. They might kill you.

I tend to say that doctors are idiots and I mean it fully.

There have been so many issues with SO many doctors that my wife has visited over the last few years that it makes me crazy! I could go through it all and give examples but this post would turn into a gigantic wall of text.

Needless to say that while you still have to be on your toes, we've had MUCH better luck with naturopath doctors actually LISTENING to what she has to say, does the appropriate tests, takes time to interpret them and provide her with treatment options, with plenty of follow up and reliance on drugs only when it makes sense.

My doctor literally blaims everything on my weight. Oh, you have a headache? Its cause you're fat. You broke your arm? Fatty. But I've lost 35 pounds and she hasn't even acknowledged it. As if my self esteem wasn't low enough. I don't need this wench telling me all my problems are because I'm overweight when I know they're not.

I agree with Brian. Look for a doctor that you can speak with, you trust and who comunicates ideas well to you. They could be the smartest one of them all and if they can not communicate with you regarding results and plans they have for you - then it doesn't matter - you might as well use Dr. Google. Would you go to a store or a restuarant over and over if you kept getting bad food or over charged? I bet doctors have just as many stories about us as patients. Surround yourself with people you trust and work well with, the rest takes care of itself.

And of course BMI doesn't tell us anything about body fat%, it was never intended to. It remains a quick and easy method for INSURANCE companies to predict risk of certain illnesses.

I HATE the doctors that use BMI to determine obesity and whether or not you need to lose weight. I was told when I was 16.....16!!!!!! that I had to lose at least 10lbs to be in a healthy weight range. At my lowest weight as an adult I still was not within the "healthy" range and I looked like I didn't eat (I had been sick) and people were asking me if I was ok. If any doctor told me that today I would kick them to the curb.

**Do I also need to mention I was playing soccer, field hockey and many other sports at the time and was pretty much all muscle?

Stupid Doctors!

Docs are trained to treat the biological workings of the body. Nutrition and nourishment really isn't their strong point. It's a damn shame.

This^ and trained to treat illness, not prevention. Unfortunately, that now usually means pharmaceuticals or other questionable procedures. Any doctor who "poo poos" natural remedies, medicinal plants, and promotes an unhealthy diet (low fat) isn't very knowledgable imo.

I've had a number of doctors who were very honest and disclosed that they could not offer nutritional advice because they didn't learn much about it in school (one course). I appreciate the honesty, but since diet is the main factor for health, I must rely on gathering my own information and taking responsibility for my own health. However, there certainly still is a time and place for their advice/treatment, keeping in mind that they work within what I consider to be a very flawed industry.

Doctors have their uses, but one must also do what makes sense for their own health. Following only the BMI recommendations to determine a healthy weight isn't accurate nor necessarily healthy. Achieving the mid to low range of my BMI would make me too thin, gaunt, and unhealthy. I've seen my Mom at that range and she looked, and felt, close to death.