"Doctors are _______ to Fat Patients"
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I thought this was an interesting article on jezebel:
http://jezebel.com/5959682/doctors-are-****ty-to-fat-patients
I'm sure we all have plenty to say about it?
http://jezebel.com/5959682/doctors-are-****ty-to-fat-patients
I'm sure we all have plenty to say about it?
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Replies
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Yes, damn those doctors for telling people to get healthy. :huh:0
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Wow! I think if my health was at risk I would want my MD to tell me the truth and not sugar coat things. The truth may hurt sometimes although I would view it as constructive criticism. I think what would be wrong is if a MD sugar coated things and someone passed away w/ something that could have been preventable. Although that is only my opinion!0
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Yes, damn those doctors for telling people to get healthy. :huh:
Really? Losing weight /= healthy.
Since I was 10, the first thing every doctor ever said to me is: You need to lose some weight. Never mattered what I came in to see them about. They never gave me and info or help on how to do this. Most of them seem to believe being fat is the root of every health problem I've had.0 -
Yes, damn those doctors for telling people to get healthy. :huh:
Really? Losing weight /= healthy.
Since I was 10, the first thing every doctor ever said to me is: You need to lose some weight. Never mattered what I came in to see them about. They never gave me and info or help on how to do this. Most of them seem to believe being fat is the root of every health problem I've had.
Basing off your ticker, which has a highest weight of 300lbs, yes that IS unhealthy. Losing weight would YES = healthy. Did you ever ask your doctor for any info?! Sorry to say, but at 300lbs, being fat was probrably a major factor in health problems.
I don't get why you disagree that to lose weight would be healthier. You are here to lose weight..........0 -
I think the author has a point. However, I have a real problem with her checklist of questions to ask a doctor:
"Do you think people can be healthy while being fat?" She thinks the answer is yes. She thinks the "establishment" is out to discredit and prove that fat people are unhealthy. I think the answer is, if you are fat your health is being slowly damaged from the inside --whether you like it or not. I admit, though, I'm not a doctor and I haven't actually read any scientific literature about it.
As far as losing weight, my Mom lost a whole lot of weight over the course of 6 months, and I congratulated her on looking so slim and fit. She then told me that she'd lost the weight because of IBS, and she was miserable. Probably everyone knows someone with cancer who has lost a lot of weight. So, losing weight does not always equal good health!0 -
I rarely go to the dr....and my general care physician is my grandfather soooo I dunno if I can answer this properly. He did tell me in all seriousness to lose 90 pounds and has always been honest and up front about other health issues I may have had, but he was never mean to me about it. He's somewhat estranged from my dad btw because he walked on when my dad and his brothers were young so there's weird levels of awkward and I avoid the dr when I can. I was in the ER twice (once for an ankle injury once for an infected spider bite that abcessed on my arm) and even though I was heavy at the time, all the drs and nurses I saw were totally fine to me.0
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Yes, damn those doctors for telling people to get healthy. :huh:
Really? Losing weight /= healthy.
Since I was 10, the first thing every doctor ever said to me is: You need to lose some weight. Never mattered what I came in to see them about. They never gave me and info or help on how to do this. Most of them seem to believe being fat is the root of every health problem I've had.
It could be the root of every health problem you have ever had. I am not trying to be mean, just honest.0 -
Yes, damn those doctors for telling people to get healthy. :huh:
Really? Losing weight /= healthy.
Since I was 10, the first thing every doctor ever said to me is: You need to lose some weight. Never mattered what I came in to see them about. They never gave me and info or help on how to do this. Most of them seem to believe being fat is the root of every health problem I've had.
I have dealt with this all my life too.
I think the point is, they say it in a way that makes you feel like you're invisible cause you're fat. Like poof,if the weight disappeared over night it would solve all your problems. they just don't take you seriously. My dr, just puts his head down, scribbles something on his pad, waves at me and says "oh thats just your diabtese"...oh really?? explain to me how a 24 hr itch in my ear cannal is due to diabetes? he didn't even look in there. ( this is just one example.)
When i go to a dr, i have a short list of what i need to have checked out. I don't try to waste his time. But he was wasting mine by not even looking at me.
the other part is...sometimes, and im not looking to allow for excuses, but sometimes gaining weight is the symptom, not the disease. If we got some real attention, maybe we could, "just loose weight and you'll get better"0 -
Yes, damn those doctors for telling people to get healthy. :huh:
Really? Losing weight /= healthy.
Since I was 10, the first thing every doctor ever said to me is: You need to lose some weight. Never mattered what I came in to see them about. They never gave me and info or help on how to do this. Most of them seem to believe being fat is the root of every health problem I've had.
It most certainly can be and probably IS the root of every health problem you've ever had. I have a friend who was obese and has just lost 250lbs and guess what? Every single health problem that he was having while he was obese have miraculously disappeared. Coincident? Hell no. Type 2 diabetes, atherosclerosis, high blood pressure, difficulty breathing just to name a few would be significantly reduced if not eliminated if one were to lose weight and become healthy.
It's your own fault for not asking the doctor how to go about losing the weight. I would rather have a doctor who was honest and told me I was fat, that I was killing myself by being over weight and that I needed to lose some pounds rather than a doctor who ignored the issue and pretended everything was fine.0 -
I have dealt with this all my life too.
I think the point is, they say it in a way that makes you feel like you're invisible cause you're fat. Like poof,if the weight disappeared over night it would solve all your problems. they just don't take you seriously. My dr, just puts his head down, scribbles something on his pad, waves at me and says "oh thats just your diabtese"...oh really?? explain to me how a 24 hr itch in my ear cannal is due to diabetes? he didn't even look in there. ( this is just one example.)
When i go to a dr, i have a short list of what i need to have checked out. I don't try to waste his time. But he was wasting mine by not even looking at me.
the other part is...sometimes, and im not looking to allow for excuses, but sometimes gaining weight is the symptom, not the disease. If we got some real attention, maybe we could, "just loose weight and you'll get better"
The doctor is there to listen to you. Who cares if you're "wasting his time" or not. Why do you think you made an appointment? While doctors do tend to toss things out and not explain what they're talking about it's up to you as the patient to ask the questions and demand answers. If those answers don't seem right or don't make sense press him for the reasons WHY XYZ is happening and if you're still not satisfied go get a second opinion. Too many times I sat back and let the doctor do and say whatever it was they said without questioning because they're the "all knowing doctor" when the truth is they're NOT all knowing and it never served me to walk out of an examination confused and not knowing what the heck he's talking about. If I don't like the answer they give me or they're just not taking the time to listen to me then I get a second opinion or I'll call them back up and ask them to please explain better what just transpired.
There is absolutely no reason why you should leave an appointment clueless and confused because you didn't question the doctor, ask the questions and yes, "waste his time".0 -
Doctors go staight to the obvious
weight
smoking
and in my case that I didn;t see a shrink when my Mum died.0 -
My cardiologist telling me I was obese was one of the biggest triggers for me to change FOR GOOD. Did I hate him for it at the time? YES. Do I love him for it now? YES.
Obesity is a major contributing factor in long-term disease and a major risk factor for many forms of cancer as well. Those are facts. You might have "perfect" bloodwork now, but if you remain obese into your 40's and 50's, more than likely, you will be suffering some health problems from it, some of which are irreversible. Denying this is just lying to yourself.0 -
Yes, damn those doctors for telling people to get healthy. :huh:
Really? Losing weight /= healthy.
Since I was 10, the first thing every doctor ever said to me is: You need to lose some weight. Never mattered what I came in to see them about. They never gave me and info or help on how to do this. Most of them seem to believe being fat is the root of every health problem I've had.
Basing off your ticker, which has a highest weight of 300lbs, yes that IS unhealthy. Losing weight would YES = healthy. Did you ever ask your doctor for any info?! Sorry to say, but at 300lbs, being fat was probrably a major factor in health problems.
I don't get why you disagree that to lose weight would be healthier. You are here to lose weight..........
And for those who say "but I am healthy" - you are healthy NOW. That's not to say you will be in the future. Being overweight is like a ticking time bomb....or like being a smoker. My dad smokes a pack a day, and has my whole life. He's healthy now, but I have no illusions that I'll be sitting by his bedside while he dies of cancer or suffers from some other problem. And no one would hesitate to tell him that smoking is unhealthy. So why can't we say that being overweight is unhealthy?
My doctor never said one word to me about my weight. I'm kinda pissed about that actually. I wish he had - maybe I would have figured this out sooner instead of spending so much time fat and unhappy and jeopardizing my health.0 -
Yes, damn those doctors for telling people to get healthy. :huh:
Really? Losing weight /= healthy.
Since I was 10, the first thing every doctor ever said to me is: You need to lose some weight. Never mattered what I came in to see them about. They never gave me and info or help on how to do this. Most of them seem to believe being fat is the root of every health problem I've had.
Losing weight is healthy in the case of overweight and obese patients, it can eliminate many health problems that are caused by weight issues. While being fat is not the only cause for health problems, they are guiding people to at least cover one aspect, thus reducing the number of issues that may occur.0 -
Yes, damn those doctors for telling people to get healthy. :huh:
Really? Losing weight /= healthy.
Since I was 10, the first thing every doctor ever said to me is: You need to lose some weight. Never mattered what I came in to see them about. They never gave me and info or help on how to do this. Most of them seem to believe being fat is the root of every health problem I've had.
Basing off your ticker, which has a highest weight of 300lbs, yes that IS unhealthy. Losing weight would YES = healthy. Did you ever ask your doctor for any info?! Sorry to say, but at 300lbs, being fat was probrably a major factor in health problems.
I don't get why you disagree that to lose weight would be healthier. You are here to lose weight..........
And for those who say "but I am healthy" - you are healthy NOW. That's not to say you will be in the future. Being overweight is like a ticking time bomb....or like being a smoker. My dad smokes a pack a day, and has my whole life. He's healthy now, but I have no illusions that I'll be sitting by his bedside while he dies of cancer or suffers from some other problem. And no one would hesitate to tell him that smoking is unhealthy. So why can't we say that being overweight is unhealthy?
My doctor never said one word to me about my weight. I'm kinda pissed about that actually. I wish he had - maybe I would have figured this out sooner instead of spending so much time fat and unhappy and jeopardizing my health.
JINX again!
Totally agree with this. Too many people make the mistake of thinking they're healthy now and assuming it will remain that way despite their poor habits. It's a shame too since a lot of diseases can be prevented by no longer being obese/overweight and quitting smoking early. It's also a quality of life issue. 60 year old pack a day smokers rarely have the energy to get up and do something fun with their grandkids. Same goes for older obese people. It gets harder to manage with age, not easier.0 -
I read this thing in one of Jillian Michaels books once. She said she went on some TV show, a sort of panel debate thing. One side was health and fitness experts, the other were "weight rights" people. She was on the fitness side, and her fellow fitness side panellists were very antagonistic to the "weight rights" people. One of them had a close relative that had died of an obesity related disease and the other one had some other emotional issue of their own with obesity. Bottom line was, they started lecturing and ordering round the weight rights people, not listening to them and not treating them with basic human respect and dignity, basically being really angry and acting on their own emotional reposnes and fears rather than connecting with the other people and responding to them.
She realised that the "weight rights" people were really not just saying "respect us however we are" but also "look, it is hard being 300lbs, hard enough as it is without being treated like we are sub-human when you know nothing about me and what my life is, without having your anger and fear taken out on me like I am some kind of punch bag". And she realised that any kind of automatic response like that is prejudice and that that always leads somewhere wrong.
So she just spoke to the weights rights people like normal people, because they were normal people. She stayed in touch after the programme with one of them and she helped her lose weight, when the other person realised that was what she wanted and asked for help. So a bit of understanding, respect and empathy, as well as just plain old kindness and niceness was what got a result in the end.
And I think a LOT of doctors could do with learning that, and a lot of other people too. A human connection and a bit of respect is going to lead somewhere better or quicker than fighting about what weight is right or wrong.0 -
Yes, damn those doctors for telling people to get healthy. :huh:
Really? Losing weight /= healthy.
Since I was 10, the first thing every doctor ever said to me is: You need to lose some weight. Never mattered what I came in to see them about. They never gave me and info or help on how to do this. Most of them seem to believe being fat is the root of every health problem I've had.
Losing weight is healthy in the case of overweight and obese patients, it can eliminate many health problems that are caused by weight issues. While being fat is not the only cause for health problems, they are guiding people to at least cover one aspect, thus reducing the number of issues that may occur.
Overweight > diabetes t2. > renal failure > CVD > neuropathy > amputations, in any order.0 -
Yes, damn those doctors for telling people to get healthy. :huh:
Really? Losing weight /= healthy.
Since I was 10, the first thing every doctor ever said to me is: You need to lose some weight. Never mattered what I came in to see them about. They never gave me and info or help on how to do this. Most of them seem to believe being fat is the root of every health problem I've had.
It most certainly can be and probably IS the root of every health problem you've ever had. I have a friend who was obese and has just lost 250lbs and guess what? Every single health problem that he was having while he was obese have miraculously disappeared. Coincident? Hell no. Type 2 diabetes, atherosclerosis, high blood pressure, difficulty breathing just to name a few would be significantly reduced if not eliminated if one were to lose weight and become healthy.
It's your own fault for not asking the doctor how to go about losing the weight. I would rather have a doctor who was honest and told me I was fat, that I was killing myself by being over weight and that I needed to lose some pounds rather than a doctor who ignored the issue and pretended everything was fine.
Is being overweight sometimes the problem, yes. Is it always, no. I don't think a doctor should sugar coat it, or pretend a weight issue doesn't exist, but they also need to realize someone can have problems due to something other than weight. I spent a year in pain because the doctor I was seeing told me my back pain was due to my weight (and I wasn't all that overweight at the time) didn't look into anything else, just assumed that if I lost weight the problem would disappear. Switched insurance and had to switch doctors. This doctor listened to me, examined me, sent me for x-rays and turns out I had compressed vertebrae from an accident. Spent a year in pain because a doctor wouldn't look past the fat for something else.0 -
Okay... I realize I'm probably being naive right now, but I'm just wondering, how does a vegan get fat? If you're a true vegan? Do you eat like, 15 pounds of carrots a day? I really don't get it, I'm sorry...
Anyway, this woman just sounds like a whiny *kitten* to me that doesn't want to be told she has a DISEASE called OBESITY.0 -
As someone who is matriculating to medical school next year and who has gone through periods of my life where I was 20 pounds overweight, I agree with both sides of the argument.
For doctors, it is extremely difficult in our "slap a bandaid" on it medical community. Health care costs are skyrocketing each year, and it is because we don't focus enough on preventative medicine, ie nutrition, exercise, healthy weight management, anti-smoking, vaccination, etc. Even after only shadowing other doctors, I have already become frustrated with patients coming in with multiple complaints looking for a miracle pill that will save them when SURPISE, there is a miracle pill: weight loss and healthy living. When patients do nothing about it, doctor's feel helpless and frustrated.
On the otherhand, I know that as a child and adolescent, my doctor gave neither me or my parents any tangible information about how to life a healthy lifestyle. I think that the best thing for both parties is for patients to be informated and proactive about their situation, doing research and then asking the doctor for specific professional advice without the sugar coat (literally and figuratively).0
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