How did your doctor tell you you're fat??
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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!0
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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.0
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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.0
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How was it obvious to your doctor that you were aware of being 50-60 lbs overweight?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". Ha0 -
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.0 -
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.0 -
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:0 -
My doctor is too busy to care about my weight. He asked me why I joined the gym. :huh:0
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oops:blushing:0
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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!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.0 -
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.....
QFT0 -
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.0 -
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.0
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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.0
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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.0 -
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.0
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"You're fat! I'd sugar-coat it, but you'd probably eat that, too!"
No, he never said a word.0 -
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!0 -
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She didn't want to remove my Mirena because she thought I needed to lose weight before attempting to have another child. :grumble:0
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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.....
Some people lack such basic concern for others and/or basic social skills that they feel entitled to say whatever they think or feel in ways that hurt others and justify it as "Oh, we'll I'm just saying the truth!" There are multiple ways to say the truth... those that help educate a person about something they need to know and help them constructively address a problem.... and callous, hurtful ways that only serve to make the speaker feel superior and the listener feel worthless, but never really assist anyone.
The people upset with their doctors aren't mad because the doctor told them to lose weight. They are mad for being told in a way that was degrading, unhelpful, or nutritionally ill-informed. There's a big difference.
My doctor told me to lose weight, exercise, eat healthier because it would help with my blood pressure and cholesterol. No insults or random comments at vulnerable moments while I'm in the middle of a pap smear!! She just sat down and had a factual, respectful conversation with me about the health risks of my weight and habits. Gave me helpful suggestions. We even did an "experiment" where I lived super-healthy for just two weeks and then came back to have my BP checked again. It dropped 30 points on top from just that. Point taken.... my diet was making my health worse. She gave helpful advice, has been super supportive as I've lost weight. She is doing her job and doing it with proper bedside manner.0 -
My ex-doctor advised me to put up a photo of a woman of a bikini on my fridge so that I will see that and be reminded that this is what I should look like instead of eating.
Uhm, never really wanted to wear a bikini and never stated to this particular doctor that I wanted to look like that.
Like many others, I'm aware of my eating and my weight. It's not something that I'd thank him for in the end, or any other moron out there that likes to point out that I'm overweight.
Am I healthy? Not as much as I could be.
Am I attractive? Sometimes I don't feel like I am.
Am I overweight? Duh!
Am I fat? Yes.
Do I care what others think? No. Although this is a new breakthrough for me.
I want to be healthy for my child. I want to be healthy for me. I want to play with my baby boy and not have to rest every 20 minutes because I'm tired.
My current physician just stated to me the facts that my BMI is in the obese category and I need to work on lowering my BMI due to higher risk factors and with family history, well, things need to change.
Nothing about appearance, it was about health with her. I can appreciate that much more.0 -
My doc didnt tell me I am fat. I told her I am. She gave me statistics on obesity then offered to prescribe appetite suppressants and offered to send me to a nutritionist and even gave me handouts on what to eat, servings, etc.
After beating around the bush for another year or two I decided to try it the old fashioned way: counting calories...
So I'm thinking I won't need the pills or dietician. I'm only ten days in but I'm sticking to it and it's slowly working.0 -
"Do the treadmill machine broke when you stepped on it?" <--I was weighted at 245lbs
Thanks to my doctor's cruel joke, I had lost from 245lbs to 188lbs within few years.0 -
He said:
"You are diabetic, cant walk, have sleep apnea and will likely die within 10 years and are 33, how many more reasons do you need to do something about this; how can I help"
then we made a plan, and I got to work.
ETA: After his speech he gave me his personal email address, and saved my life. All i needed was a stiff kick in the *kitten* with the bottom line defined clearly to me.0 -
Some doctors are just jerks. I'm so sorry you had to go through that. I've been really lucky - my doctor has very gently brought up the issue of my weight (when I was in for a bad knee). She tried to be positive and non-judgemental, which I really appreciated. I've had several relatives who weren't so lucky. One doc told a cousin "You are killing yourself. Do you want to die?" A little over-the-top blunt, but at least honest, I suppose.0
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My doctor just mentioned the need for me to lose weight at a regular physical exam and I said little in reply to his comments. Eight months later at my next appointment he was shocked when I had lost 55 lbs. The funny thing was when he mentioned being concerned about such a drastic weight loss in that amount of time. I just laughed.0
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My ENDOCRINOLOGIST told me I could afford to skip a few meals...just like that. This was my first visit with her because I relocated...but I found a new one fast! She said some other rude things and even commented on how my eyebrows needed to be waxed lol.. like wth.0
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Well! Yes, your dr wasn't too salty with her speech gah!
Mine told me my BMI was a little high. I did not really care. BMI is not my thing. How I look in a bikini would be more my thing.0 -
The physician at the ER told me on the day that he told me I had T2 diabetes. By then, no one really had to tell me I was unhealthy and out of shape, I already knew it. I could feel it every day of my life.
I went to an endocrinologist after I was diagnosed and asked her about weight loss surgery, and she said that she wouldn't stop me if I really wanted it, but that she wanted me to try and lose it on my own first.
I never did go back for the surgery. :drinker:0
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