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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to want a doctor to tell me that I need to lose weight?

26 replies

AKMD · 01/02/2012 21:23

Please? I have regular hospital checkups and I get weighed and measured every time. I see my doctor regularly on related issues. Surely someone should have said that I need to lose a stone by now? Having a medical professional tell me that I'm overweight might actually shock me into doing something about it now rather than wait until I pile on another stone...

OP posts:
squeakytoy · 01/02/2012 21:26

Eh?

Surely you know if you are putting on weight, or eating too much... as an adult, do you really need anyone else to tell you that.

Bluebell99 · 01/02/2012 21:28

Well I don't think you should need a medical person to tell you, not sure what difference it would make if you know anyway?! But having said that my GP told me recently that I was too thin to be at risk from diabetes. Now I was a bit flattered as I could definately do with losing a stone or two.

joomtape · 01/02/2012 21:28

How you live your life should be up to you

Original poster
AKMD · 01/02/2012 21:28

I do, and I am trying to do something about it, but I am weighed every time I see anyone and am visibly overweight and no one has yet said anything about it. Part of me thinks that I'm pretty normal or they would have said something by now, which doesn't help.

OP posts:
weblette · 01/02/2012 21:29

AKMD come and join us on the C25K thread, take control yourself - you can do it!

PacificDogwood · 01/02/2012 21:30

A stone? As in one st?? That's more a fashion problem, non?

In the face of people needing to lose 5, 6, 10 st, one measly one is really up to you.

But if you insists: go, lose weigth. I am a dr - will this help you to do it??

TartyMcFarty · 01/02/2012 21:30

I know what you mean. You almost want the decision to be taken out of your hands because you feel it might give you the kick you need.

But essentially, if you can't motivate yourself to do it in full knowledge (I assume) of the health risks, you won't be much more likely to do it because the doctor tells you to. You need to take the decision for yourself.

Cherriesarelovely · 01/02/2012 21:33

I agree weblette, if you know you are overweight and don't like it then do something about it. If if bothers you that it has not been raised by your Dr then why not ask her/him when you see them next time.

PacificDogwood · 01/02/2012 21:36

NHS BMI calculator

hatesponge · 01/02/2012 21:36

TBH, I think drs are becoming so used to dealing with the morbidly obese, they only give weight advice to those who are suffering serious weight-related health issues. I was 7 stone overweight last year, and was taken to hospital with chest pains (I thought it was a heart attack, turned out to be muscle strain of some kind). Anyway, I saw various drs, nurses etc that day - not one person said I was overweight, asked to weigh me, or suggested my size could be a risk factor (though asking about things like smoking etc)

If you want to lose weight, try and do it for yourself, don't wait until someone tells you - given they didn't even tell me at the size I was, you might be waiting a long time otherwise.

Cherriesarelovely · 01/02/2012 21:37

Is it really a stone? Then you are not very overweight by medical standards (not that I am a DR!) but I think that is correct. Do you eat healthily and exercise? If you do then I wouldn't worry about it too much. i am in the same position, I need to lose around a stone to be comfortably in my "healthy weight range" but I am very sporty and eat well so I am not that worried.

Original poster
AKMD · 01/02/2012 21:38

I'm actually doing C25K :)

One stone might be a 'fashion problem'? So where's the cut-off? Isn't it better to mention to someone that they're headed in the wrong direction when it's still fairly easy to correct than to wait until corrective action is far harder and options (e.g. running) are limited?

Other than making sure that I get the right dose of anaesthesia if it's ever needed again, what is the point of weighing me? I have visions of them plotting me on a chart Blue-Peter style until I get to the 'target' level of overweightness :)

OP posts:
thingamajig · 01/02/2012 21:38

My Mil was a GP and she hated telling people that they needed to lose weight - The doctor-patient relationship was very important to her as she needed people to share very confidential info with her. She preferred to refer to the practice nurses, who are capable and trained in weight loss and healthy eating.
So if you need medical bidding, and assurances that you do need to lose weight and how much, why not book a slot with your practice nurse?

Original poster
AKMD · 01/02/2012 21:41

That's a good suggestion thingamajig. I'll try it and expect them to be ruthless!

BMI-wise I am 24.8 but it's clear to anyone with eyes that I am carrying too much weight around my middle.

OP posts:
ComposHat · 01/02/2012 21:43

Surely as an adult you should be able to decide if it is time to shed a few pounds?

If you want to lose a stone, you are probably within the normal weight range and aesthetics aren't their concern: they are medical practitioners, not the editorial staff of Heat Magazine.

Why do you feel that the scary man/woman in the white coat telling you to do something with make an iota of difference?

PacificDogwood · 01/02/2012 21:46

Well, I did tell you to lose weight in the end, didn't I

In all seriousness, I do say to people they 'carry extra weight' or that their weight has an adverse effect on their arthritis/diabetes/blood pressure/heart disease etc etc pp, but it is difficult not to be seen as 'fattist'.

I was of course being fascitious re 'fashion issue', but in all honesty up to 24 is a healthy weight; you are just a smidgeon over, it bothers you, what do you want a dr to say to you: you'd look better if you lost a few pounds??

Original poster
AKMD · 01/02/2012 21:51

Yes, Pacific Blush

I do know that it's ridiculous, but just having someone look at me, look at my weight and say, 'Oh, you're heading into orange territory there, what are you going to do about it?' would confirm to me that there is an issue. So what Tarty said...

I'm sure I can't be the only one who gets weighed, then waits for the dr to say something and goes away rationalising that because nothing was said they don't have to do anything.

OP posts:
JasperJohns · 01/02/2012 21:51

What do you weigh & how tall are you?

If you need to lose weight, I will tell you Wink!

Original poster
AKMD · 01/02/2012 21:53

I am 164cm and 67kg. NHS BMI calculator says I am a healthy weight for my height and sex Hmm

OP posts:
WorraLiberty · 01/02/2012 21:54

You don't need anyone to confirm to you that it's an issue as clearly it already is to you.

If you're looking for motivation, there are other areas you could possibly find it rather than the NHS.

Good luck

WorraLiberty · 01/02/2012 21:55

And there are plenty of people with flabby stomachs/bums/thighs that are still within a healthy BMI range...but that doesn't mean they don't look at themselves and know they need to lose weight.

eurochick · 01/02/2012 22:20

I rely on the mirror and my waistbands to let me know whether or not I need to lose weight. And I make small adjustments. I agree with you that it is much better to do that than let it get to the point where you are several stone overweight and it is a massive effort to get back to a healthy weight.

JasperJohns · 01/02/2012 22:40

So you are (am luddite so have had to convert) about 5ft 4 and 10 1/2 stone?

Yes, you could probably do with losing a bit, but it's so little that it will be a doddle!

SparkleSoiree · 01/02/2012 22:41

Believe me, it's not all it's cracked up to be when they DO tell you.

grooveisintheheartahahahah · 01/02/2012 22:45

The bitch nurse who weighed me for my last contraception check took great delight in pointing out to me that I had put on Shock Shock 2 kilos since my last appt 6 months ago.

Actually, I haven't - I weigh myself on the same set of scales at the gym and know I haven't. I could have pointed out to the nurse that she didn't take off a kilo for clothes and shoes like the nurse did last time, and that she was using a different set of scales (digital) to the ones I was weighed on last time.

BUt instead I fixed her with my gaze as if to say "why the fuck are you telling me this? I am here for contraception and am a healthy weight" Grin

OP, you aren't overweight in medical terms so why would they tell you to lose weight? Confused

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