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

My doctor patted my belly and said "you need to work on this".

My doc didn't tell me, one day I woke up from my fantasy that everything was fine that I was of normal weight for my height and decided to do something about it. I informed him several months after I started that I was in the process of losing weight. While he didn't say I needed to, he didn't argue with me losing weight.

He didn't. I could pretty much tell I was fat.

spelling. ugh.

The subject of my weight came up. My doctor told me that he had a woman who came in who was obese, but her vitals were as healthy as they come and that she could probably live a very long life in spite of it. He said that I, on the other hand, would end up having a stroke if I didn't control it because my vitals were not good.

I got on MFP and took off every last pound. I was very proud of myself. Not being overweight meant I could go back to eating whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted.

You would think at 60 I would know better...

Well, here I am, two years later and at almost the exact same weight I started at before. Hopefully I have learned my lesson and will eat healthy, exercise, drink lots of water, take the weight off, then continue to keep it off!

This has been a great thread. I have really enjoyed everyone's stories.

There's a lot of people complaining about their doctors telling them to lose weight. They look after your health. Being overweight is bad for your health. It's their JOB to tell you you need to lose weight. For many people that's the final push they need towards a healthier diet. Just because you're touchy on the subject doesn't necessarily make them rude, it's really no different from telling you to quit smoking or drinking. Would being told to quit smoking offend you? No, it makes sense that you should stop. Being told to lose weight is no different.

I think people take offense to the *way* some doctors tell them that they are overweight. There's more than one way to say things. Assuming that someone who is overweight needs a prescription for diet pills (or is a candidate for weight loss surgery - I've heard that one too) is not exactly a responsible way (at all times) to go about informing a patient how to lead a healthier lifestyle.

I know I'm fat, no doctor had to tell me.

Mine asked how my diet was, if I was experiencing any symptoms that might be weight related. I let her know I was eating better, controlling my calories and working out much more often.

She -did- offer me an appetite suppressant if I wanted one. I politely declined. No scolding or disappointing looks. I think as long as they know you're not ignoring your weight problem, and actively trying to take steps to improve your health, they're usually pretty supportive.

I don't generally have a doctor...I find no need to have one except when I need something, so I use walk-in clinics if something comes up, or if it's urgent enough, the ER at the hospital...

But anyway, they didn't need to tell me I was fat, but they always preach about me quitting smoking. One day I will be ready for that, but not sure when.

As far as being told I was fat, it was my pants that told me. When I could no long suck in enough to do up my pants, and had to go buy new ones,...well at first I kept going like it was no big deal, but 2 more trips to get pants to wear to work and I finally had enough and decided to weigh myself. 165 is the high end of Normal BMI for my height, and I was up to 208. I started to eat a bit better, and forced myself to use the gym at work (with some friendly encouragement from my co-workers at my request) and then started using MFP once I had gone through a week or two of the transition. My first weigh-in on MFP was at 203, I'm currently down to 186 as of a few days ago...so I am about halfway to my goal.

It takes time, effort and dedication...but it wouldn't matter to me who told me, how they told me, or how I found out I was fat...The reality was something needed to change and that was easy to see, hard to start.

He didn't. I kind of figured that out on my own.

In November 2013, I weighed 384 pounds at the doctor's office. My doctor sat down across from me and told me I needed to lose some weight, the same talk we had had 6 months earlier. She told me I should work on not gainning anymore by our next appointment, that in itself would be an accomplishment.

In May 2014 when I returned to the doctor I had gained 16 pounds, 400 pounds. I know she saw in my eyes the hurt and humiliation I felt.

She sat down across from me, took my hands in hers, and asked how could she help me. I cried and we talked for awhile.

She told me about this awesome website called MyFitnessPal.com. I've logged on everyday since, good days, bad days all days. I'm so glad she did. I'm eatting healthier and I've lost some weight. I know this journey will be long and sometimes difficult, but I will succeed.

Just watch me :-)

you are awesome!!!

Given my family's history of diabetes and high cholesterol, I figured I should go see a PCP for a routine physical for the first time (I'm 33). My blood glucose was fine, but my cholesterol was a bit high. My PCP suggested I check out the AHA's website for ways to lower my cholesterol. And that weight loss, diet and exercise may help. So...I got back on here and got at it.

I know I'm overweight. My doctor didn't need to mention it. One of the doctors I work with however.... "Do you think you've put on a few pounds?" My response "No. I don't think so, I know I've put on a whole lot of them. Thank-you for your concern." Other than my Mom telling me I'm fat, repeatedly, no one else has brought it up. It's a very uncomfortable conversation to have and approaching it in a tactful manner is even more difficult. Everyone has a different level of where they become offended.

That being said, OP, I agree that your doc was rude. I hope your new one has a better bedside manner. Although, in my experience, a good bedside manner =/= good clinician.

This happened with a doctor I went to about ten years ago:

"You need to lose weight."
"I know..."
"How much did you weigh when you were 18?"
"I was about 105 lbs."
"Then that's how much you should weigh now. You should exercise. And eat fish twice a week."
"Um...okay."

End of conversation.

I was 24 and healing from a knee injury. My doctor said "you wouldn't have so many knee problems if you lost weight". At the time I was about 20 pounds overweight, 10 of which I put on because of my knee injury.
My doctor now brought up my weight after my first was born. He brought it up gently, suggested I try substituting healthier foods for the foods I already eat and to make sure I get at least 5 servings of vegetables a day.

There's a lot of people complaining about their doctors telling them to lose weight. They look after your health. Being overweight is bad for your health. It's their JOB to tell you you need to lose weight. For many people that's the final push they need towards a healthier diet. Just because you're touchy on the subject doesn't necessarily make them rude, it's really no different from telling you to quit smoking or drinking. Would being told to quit smoking offend you? No, it makes sense that you should stop. Being told to lose weight is no different.

It's also their job to help figure out why without making assumptions first.

Example:
Doctor: You're fat, you need to exercise and eat 1200 cals/ day.
Me: But I eat about 1600 and I just ran a half marathon last mont
Doc: Oh no, no, walking will help you more and cut those calories
Me: mmm OK
Doc: Oh, hey your thyroid is HUGE I think you might have a tumor there.
Me: Hey doc, I think we found the problem

^^^ Actual conversation me and my doctor had.