AIBU to go to GP about weight?

[techmum99]

Is it considered accetable to go to the GP for advice abut being overweight? My GP is very dismissive in general so I'm often left feeling I'm wasting his time. But would you think it is generally wasting a GP's time when the advice would probably just be to go on a fucking diet?

While generally a bit podgy, I have a huge increase in upper abdomen fat in the last 6 months. Look pregnant. Would just like to know why? Is it internal fat, am I pre-diabetic, is it my hormones/perimenopause? Think some info/advice would help me deal with it, depending on the reason. I'm even worried about ovarian cancer as I've heard that can cause stomach extension.

Or maybe I'm just fat and I should just go on a fucking diet and not waste the GPs time?

Make an appointment with the Practice Nurse, the GP will prob refer you to her/him anyway. There are lots of programmes for weight loss available and the PN can give best advice.

it might also be a waste of your own time, because GPs are generalists and not all have good knowledge of what works in sustained weight loss.

He might, however, be able to refer you on - OR you could ask at the practice (before even making an appointment) if they have a nurse practitioner who sees patients directly to support weight loss. I'd recommend asking the receptionists if there is support available first.

Also ask for some routine blood tests if you haven't had any for a while to check thyroid, HbA1c (diabetes), LFT (liver function) etc

Is it fat? Or a suddenly expanded stomach?

Have it checked

It is fine to go to the GP about weight loss, but in the first instance you should expect to be sent away with weight loss advice. You won’t get a barrage of blood tests. Whilst all those things you mention can cause weight gain, in the absence of other symptoms the most common reason for gaining weight is that you’re either eating more, moving less or a combination of the two. And it’s very easy for this to happen without you realising, and you probably think you’ve been doing everything is exactly the same.

Have you actually made any effort to lose weight? For now, I think you’re better off giving your habits an honest examination and seeing what you can change, making those changes and seeing what happens over the next three months or so.

Your GP cannot make you miraculously lose weight, whatever the cause.

I went to my GP just over 3 years ago, weighing almost 21 stone, begging for help with losing weight. He was no help at all, simply saying that the only way I'd lose was surgery.

3 years on, I weigh 10.5 stone, have a bodyfat% of 20.5, am a size 10/12 and run marathons.

Rather than seeing the doctor I would recommend downloading the myfitnesspal app, then honestly record everything you eat for a week before deciding on a modest rate of loss (1lb/week), plugging that in to the app and then stick to that.
If you can start adding in activity, even if it's just starting to walk more.

I've been to my gp about weight and was referred to a dietician. I didn't find it particularly useful but i think it would be worthwhile.

In your case i would get checked anyway for the other reasons you have stated. Always best to be on the safe side. Have u had a chance in your diet that could cause weight gain?

Thanks, the nurse in the practice is approachable so that's a good idea. I feel a bit embarrassed about it. I know how to lose weight and don't need advice on that and feel I would look like an idiot to ask. I just want to know why the increase in upper abdomen fat. Wish it was easier to do tests on yourself like for menopause or diabeties rather than basically have to beg for them at the practice.

Have you read the NHS advice for weightloss, OP? It might be an idea to try that first before taking up a slot at the GPs.
As to why you have noticed an increase in the upper abdominal area, the chances are thats just where you carry the most fat. It's called being an apple. Welcome to the club

I have been to the GP twice about my weight. Well, about my binge eating disorder, which directly affects my weight. In 2010 I was referred to a psychologist but I changed jobs and wasn’t allowed to attend appointments during the day, so couldn’t continue.

In 2015 I went to a different GP (I’d moved across the country). He referred me to an NHS weight loss clinic but it was basically a weekly weigh in and it was useless. I know what I need to do but being crushed by an eating disorder is a totally different beast. I’ve struggled with this my entire life (I have memories of stealing food from the kitchen and eating in secret as a small child) and I’ve tried literally every diet you can imagine. The diets work while I’m doing them but the binge urge never goes away.

I’ve made another appointment to see the GP on Monday and I’ll beg if I have to. Between November 2016 and December 2017 I lost four stones (unhealthily and obsessively), and between December 2017 and summer 2018 I gained five stones. Yes, five stones in a few months I’ve tried private counselling and I’ve even looked at privately paying for weight loss surgery.

The nurse at the family planning clinic is outraged that my GP was previously so unhelpful and said that it’s a GP’s duty to either help or refer on.

@amusedbush You do deserve the GP's attention and I'm probably a time-waster. Hope you get the help you deserve.

Posters are correct that I'll probably just need to knuckle down and eat less but what I'll also do is go see the nurse about something else (need a smear anyway) then casually ask her about this too so as not to be embarrassing myself making an appointment about simply being a bit overweight. 48 years old and behave like a child at the doctors.

Personally, if I had a rubbish diet and ate too much, I wouldn't go the Dr about gaining fat.

But if your diet has stayed the same and all the sudden you are gaining weight or fat, then yes I would absolutely go get checked

You can get blood sugar and cholesterol testing at some pharmacies - I went a couple of years ago after a horrible energy crash in the middle of a sporting event. I'm quite overweight so for me it was worth checking if that near-blackout was something serious lurking, or just poor fuelling. Turns out I just hadn't had enough breakfast

Sorry techmum99, I totally hijacked your thread I think I’m just really nervous about what the GP will say on Monday.

Good luck on Monday @amusedbush

@firef1y you are incredible

Thanks for the tip, @silentcrow

Have you considered doing something like Thriva? They are blood tests you can do privately - they have recently released a female hormone test, and also have various others.

It might sound like it but I don't work for them - I am just slightly obsessed with understanding my health, as I need to seriously sort myself out!!

You will most definitely not be wasting the GP time if your symptoms match those of ovarian cancer. For which you need a CA125 blood test (and possibly others) and perhaps a referral for a scan (fibroids might also be a possibility)

Ovarian cancer symptoms are fairly non-specific, so you need to mention to your GP that you were wondering if it should be considered. It is way better to take up lab time for the blood test when not sure, rather than just assume it's not cancer (sorry, OP, I realise that's all going to sound rather alarming, but late diagnosis of ovarian cancer is quite an issue, and the later detected the harder to treat)

Symptom checklist:

Abdominal bloating, indigestion or nausea.
Changes in appetite, such as a loss of appetite or feeling full sooner.
Pressure in the pelvis or lower back.
A more frequent or urgent need to urinate and/or constipation.
Changes in bowel movements.
Increased abdominal girth.
Tiredness or low energy.
Changes in menstruation.

Wish it was easier to do tests on yourself like for menopause or diabeties rather than basically have to beg for them at the practice. Try a pharmacy, eg:
www.lloydspharmacy.com/en/info/type-2-diabetes-testing

Thanks @BrusselPout, I would consider Thriva although don't think I should have to. Suppose I'd like to get regular-ish general tests as routine but I guess that would be too expensive for the NHS.

You're right, @scaevola, better embarrassed than sorry. Not sure why the thought of suggesting anything serious might be wrong with me to a medical professional fills me with dread. I cringe that I would be so presumptuous. Need to get over myself!

Regarding ovarian cancer I had a bloated out stomach along with stomach pain, and periods alternate months, I had a ultra sound scan for diagnosis.
If you suspect even slightly that you could have it go to the GP as with early diagnosis you can get well.

I went to the GP for help with weight loss as so needed surgery. They only offered slimming world vouchers apparently but because I pay for prescription I didn't qualify. The Consultant refused to operate until I lost weight but again no support. So I took food out of the equation and did a Cambridge Style diet. Lost the weight and had the op but not did I make myself ill and a year later I was a stone heavier than before. This time I have upped my exercise and doing My fitness pal.
It worked for me op.