Welcome to Debate Club! Please be aware that this is a space for respectful debate, and that your ideas will be challenged here. Please remember to critique the argument, not the author.
Does your doctor comment on your weight?
Replies
-
Every time I see them but I am obese and an army wife so military isnt in it for the money they lose money if you are unhealthy0
-
I watched a programme a couple of weeks back which basically said that gps find it difficult to bring up the subject of weight in a 10min appointment slot. They trialled requesting all patients to get weighed as part of the booking in process and it meant that the conversations were easier. It also meant that patients didn't feel attacked for their weight - it was just part of a normal check up/appointment.
It was for a TV programme so obviously simplified but it seems to make sense. Especially in the UK where stopping people needing meds saves money rather than loses business.1 -
I had a call from one of the GP’s in the practice I go to with some x ray results. I had never seen this dr. She very kindly suggested it would help if I lost some weight. Only problem was that the dr who ordered the x ray hadn’t bothered to update my records, I had lost 70lbs. I had specifically asked him to note the weight loss.1
-
I was looking over my visit notes from the doctor and he has written "obese due to eating excess calories" several times. He has mentioned I need to cut back on my food consumption. He did not have a detailed talk about it, he didn't explain calories or give me the information I needed, he just said "You eat too much" I was watching what type of foods I ate, but I wasn't watching calories.
He did send me to a nutritionist but sadly the nutritionist didn't explain food to me either.1 -
I went to the doctor for a follow up on a new problem, I saw him a few weeks ago. When the appointment was over I said to him, "You haven't said anything!" He got excited and said, "oh you lose weight?!!!" and looked through my patient notes. He said very good, and keep it up, discussed a little but more but not much. He said that I do look thinner but he was thinking about the new problem more that anything else.2
-
Nope. But I have an appointment next month and I am sure he will. I have lost 32 lbs since I saw him in April.1
-
No, but then again, I hate doctors, hospitals, or anything related and only end up going when I absolutely need to. My insurance sucks too, so that doesn't encourage me to go either.
Regardless, even at my heaviest I was in the "overweight" BMI range, and definitely overweight for my frame, but at most had about 35 pounds to lose to be back to my ideal weight. So no, doctors have never really commented on my weight.0 -
Mine has mentioned it before especially if I bring it up and say I know I need to lose weight. I have arthritis and of course it would be better on my knees to cut back and lose some weight.0
-
This content has been removed.
-
yes all the time i am 75 kgs0
-
I've never had a GP suggest I lose weight, in fact with hindsight I wish one of them had as maybe it would have made me open my eyes to the fact that I needed to sooner. I had a dermatologist suggest once that I try to reduce my weight but she started going on about "cutting out cheese and icecreams and stuff like that" and I (probably intentionally) misunderstood her meaning and thought she was telling me those things would make my psoriasis worse.
Even now, when I've dropped from 83 kilos to 54, my doctor hasn't said a word. At first I assumed it just wasn't all that noticeable but now it really is I find it pretty disappointing.... a pat on the back of some sort from a person whose job is it meant to be to care about my health would mean a lot! Also we have public health here so it's not as if he's worried about losing patients, in fact he would probably appreciate losing some as they're all so overworked.
1 -
If you looked around my town, mostly you would see a lot of overweight people. I don't know why Drs. don't make an issue. My Dr. never comments on weight - but my cardiologist sure did.0
-
My doc did not comment on my weight until I lost it, at which point she noticed and asked me how I'd done so, and congratulated me on my healthy approach. It felt pretty good!0
-
My doctor didn't say it directly to me but in my physical results online, told me to watch my diet better0
-
They're not a good Dr. if they are putting their wealth over your health.
And if something your Dr. says about your weight offends you, you need a therapist as well as a diet plan.7 -
Mine only comments if there's a change. She doesn't say much about it, but once when I had gained a lot of weight the nurse gave me a BMI information packet. I should also mention I've never been obese so I don't think it was ever a health concern.0
-
Yes... I had an orthopedic dr. tell me I would not have knee problems or plantar fascistic as bad if I lost weight.
My regular doctor would mention it at my visits, but would not hound me about it.
My child's doctor would say something when she was about 10 lbs over what she should be.0 -
Yeah he did, told me I needed to lose weight and then prescribed the mini pill
0 -
My doctor and I discuss weight management issues almost all the time . Of course he's a runner and I hit the gym frequently so, he asks about it, about my diet, etc. I only see him maybe twice a year, but he's commented that he's surprised at how at my age I am maintaining and not getting "middle age" spread as he calls it. I point out that at 57, I'm past middle age
My previous doctor, and back when i was heavier, made some comments about me needing to work out a certain way, but this guy looked as if the only exercise he did was with the TV remote so, I looked at his actions vs his words. Doctors of all people, should walk the walk if they are going to talk.0 -
My own doctor never mentions it - but to be fair, I rarely see a doctor. A while ago I had to see a different doctor (in a different clinic) to ask for a particular prescription (completely unrelated to weight) and they made me get weighed and measured, and then the doctor, without asking any questions about why I was there, got out a BMI chart, pointed at where I am and had the bare-faced nerve to tut at me. I wasn't pleased - he hadn't even asked why I was there, and if he wanted to bring up my weight he could have done so without being actively rude. I was so annoyed that I completely shut down that line of conversation. Later found out that that particular clinic has been given Government targets to reduce obesity, which is what the whole thing was about.2
-
My Dr is amazing...she gives me motivation, tips to try for eating/exercise, and is always encouraging whether I am gaining or losing. Ironically, I started seeing her before meeting my wife and I was like wow, this Dr is such an awesome person. Then I met my wife, and found out my Dr is one of her best friends...go figure!!4
-
Yes. When I was at a BMI of 30 she asked if I was going to cut soon as I had some "mild abdominal obesity" going on. I guess that was medical jargon for "... hey, you're getting fat". She does understand cutting/bulking. We've discussed it as she noted at one time my abnormal up and down extreme fluctuation in my weight. I don't think she necessarily approves but she understands why I do it. I have to see her every 6 months for a medical condition she's monitoring so fairly regular physicals.1
-
I have had my family practitioner and a PT tell me that losing weight would be good for my health. I was not offended and took their advice. After finding MFP I became successful at losing.2
-
Maybe I’m in denial, but 57 is middle age! lol3
-
It was really weird. When I was working we had a company doctor who told me the first time he saw me, I should lose 30 pounds. I looked at him askance. Back then I was 6'1", and weighed 160. Ya want me to be 130 at that height??? The last time he saw me before he retired (I hope he was forcibly retired) I was still the same height but weighed about 205ish - I was told I should lose 30 pounds. As if he had some sort of script to follow. She's TALL. Make her lose 30, no matter what...
(Actually, when I graduated college I weighed between 145-150 pounds, due to menstrual problems that eventually led to a hysterectomy at age 31 whether justified or not. Even at that height I was eating my parents (and then myself when I left to be on my own) out of house and home... except for the 8-10 days every 25 days I could barely eat a bite due to menstrual pain... Even today my self-image is skinny, though this is no longer truly so.)3 -
I think as long as it’s relevant to why you are seeking help it shouldn’t be a problem. I’ve had doctors completely dismiss me and tell me to lose weight instead of actually addressing why I was seeking treatment which allowed a disease I had that was undiagnosed to progress and damage my organs and cause cancer and require multiple surgeries because apparently “lose some weight” is the answer to severe and persistent abdominal and pelvic pain. I weighed about 145 at 5’6” when I first developed symptoms and was first told to lose some weight.
So I have no issues with a doctor talking about needing to lose weight to be in better health but there are plenty of people out their that experience a physician not seeing past their weight and actually managing a health condition appropriately. Losing weight is not a cure all for all medical conditions and if you have a disease or condition that requires something other than weight loss it should be appropriately addressed.2 -
The only time I've been offended was when they were blatantly in a worse place than myself weight wise.
I've had to have my birth control changed due to where I sit on that blasted bmi chart, which I don't mind as this one suits me better, but I do get frustrated when the go to cure for anything is you need to loose weight. I've got around this somewhat recently by turning up in my gym gear as that's where I've been heading, it just seems to make them acknowledge that I am trying to shift some fat and I'm actually pretty muscular1 -
Yes because one of the side effects of the medicine I am on is weight gain. She measures me monthly but lets me comment on it. After gaining recently, I am now on a dose where I can lose weight!1
-
All the time but at least they are nice about it!1
-
Yes, my doctor does comment that I am too heavy. He is right, so what can I say. He is nice about it, though. That is why I am here on MFP. Other than my weight I am pretty healthy for my age. My younger co-workers have so many health struggles. I have not taken a sick day since I started my position 3 years ago, except for one day I did use a sick day for a test my doctor wanted me to have. Test came back negative, too.
I did lose 75 pounds about 5 years ago. I have gained back 20, but I am back on track and taking it off again.2
Categories
- All Categories
- 1.4M Health, Wellness and Goals
- 393.6K Introduce Yourself
- 43.8K Getting Started
- 260.3K Health and Weight Loss
- 176K Food and Nutrition
- 47.5K Recipes
- 232.6K Fitness and Exercise
- 431 Sleep, Mindfulness and Overall Wellness
- 6.5K Goal: Maintaining Weight
- 8.6K Goal: Gaining Weight and Body Building
- 153K Motivation and Support
- 8K Challenges
- 1.3K Debate Club
- 96.4K Chit-Chat
- 2.5K Fun and Games
- 3.8K MyFitnessPal Information
- 24 News and Announcements
- 1.1K Feature Suggestions and Ideas
- 2.6K MyFitnessPal Tech Support Questions