To think a doctor telling you that you need to lose weight isn't "fat shaming?"

[FrankieDoyle]

Genuinely interested in opinions.
I follow a plus size Instagram blogger/influencer who normally posts about fashion, inspirational quotes etc.

Today she posted about a trip to hospital that she had. The doctors there were apparently unhelpful and told her that they couldn't operate on her because, amongst other reasons, her weight. They told her she would need to lose weight before they could consider it.
I think she's about a size 26-28, from her posts about her wardrobe where she's mentioned the size she wears.

So she posted a video stating that she was sick of being fat shamed, something needs to change, and the doctors don't take her seriously etc.

It got me thinking that actually I disagree with her viewpoint that it's "fat shaming" to inform a patient that they need to lose weight? The doctors have to check that it's safe to perform an operation on someone don't they?

I say this as an overweight person myself (currently a size 20 but following a diet plan and trying to lose weight. )

Maybe I'm wrong I don't know, but it seems unfair to criticise doctors on a public platform with thousands of followers, simply for doing their job.

I understand some doctors can be patronising or seem to focus on a person's weight, and that can't be a nice experience. But I really disagree that it's "fat shaming" actually I quite dislike the phrase being used to criticise these medical professionals.

@lotsofdogshere

Not meaning to minimise a great OP. I’m on Facebook groups for specific dog breeds. There are so many posts that attack vets who dare suggest fluffy is overweight. Pics of fluffy confirm (IMO) the vet is right, the dog needs to loose some weight. What follows are numerous pics of other overweight dogs with the comment ‘see just like mine, perfect’. Some of us seem to be losing all understanding of what being significantly overweight does to us

Animal abuse. Pure and simple

@Longdistance

It’s not fat shaming per se, but would be more helpful if the GP gave some dietary advice or referred them to a dietitian.

It wasn't the GP, it was a hospital doctor. It isn't the consultants / anaesthesiologists job to provide dieting info

I was at a museum yesterday and people were negatively commenting on the size of Henry VIII's arse and waist.

Even if he could hear, he’s a man so unlikely to be so sensitive, or even bothered at all

My husband went to visit his doctor and he hadn’t even sat down before the doctor said “You could do with losing a stone or two”. He came home and laughed about it. Then lost nearly three stone.

@Vates

Also I was surprised that surgeons were just like on tv medical drama shows. Stuck up and thinking they are demi-god like. The surgeons that saw my Mum whilst I was there were just plain rude.

I haven't dealt with any surgeons but I've run into a few GPs and specialists like this in the course of an over 2 decade chronic illness. I know people with my chronic illness who have been told to go away and lose weight first as if it's a panecea. When really what they needed was a way to reduce their suffering so they had the mental and physical capacity to cook and exercise and make healthier choices.

In the case of the OP not fat shaming, but there are doctor's that do see the weight, not the person, and in so doing fail to help them. I think society still falls to much on the side of thinking of weight, of fat as a value judgement.

There are definitely some doctors that basically just see the fat and as the only possible cause for your illness. "Got a pain in your stomach? Have you tried losing weight". "Feeling depressed Have you tried losing weight". "think you might have autism? Have you tried losing weight".

And if they can't mop up their diagnosis via fat shaming, they'll go for "it's your age" and maybe with some added "it could be the menopause"

Of course it’s not fat shaming for a doctor to give their medical opinion regarding a patient’s weight. I wish more would tbh. Being overweight contributes to so many health problems and imo should be the first port of call for patients as something they can address to make a real difference to their health.

I’m a good case in point having been overweight for many years after having children. The weight creeps on and you just get used to feeling crap and tired all the time. The problem is there’s no quick fix and it takes an enormous amount of effort on the patient’s part to change their lifestyle.

Also I was surprised that surgeons were just like on tv medical drama shows. Stuck up and thinking they are demi-god like i imagine the absolute power they have to give life plays into the ego, but I've had the same surgeon who's properly balled out a nurse in the middle of the ward because his word is law, then calmly sit there whilst I've screamed and shouted at them. There's rarely one side to anyone

I'm sorry for the metaphor sounding like a slur, it wasn't invented to have anything to do with obesity. GPs can't win, I suppose, and would rather risk giving offence than be negligent.

It's ignoring the elephant in the room not to tell someone that their hugely excess weight isn't a known or likely problem. Like saying "Sure! I'm a debt specialist & I'll loan you £5 to pay Paul & let's just ignore that your home is about to be re-possessed and you have to go bankrupt, you don't want to talk about any of that, do you?" Don't collude in denial.

Fat shaming or……..sound medical advice in relation to postoperative complications, issues with anaesthetic and mid-operative cardiac arrest?

@kittykarate

There are definitely some doctors that basically just see the fat and as the only possible cause for your illness. "Got a pain in your stomach? Have you tried losing weight". "Feeling depressed Have you tried losing weight". "think you might have autism? Have you tried losing weight".

And if they can't mop up their diagnosis via fat shaming, they'll go for "it's your age" and maybe with some added "it could be the menopause"

It may not be the only possible cause but in a lot of cases it’s a contributing factor. For example, exercise can greatly improve mental health, but if someone is very overweight they may feel unable to exercise. Losing weight can improve someone’s confidence which then translates into them being able to make other lifestyle changes.

Of course it's not fat shaming.

It's another piece of evidence of the increases entitlement some people seem to be getting.

I'm pretty sure if she had surgery and had complications due to her morbid obesity she'd try and sue the consultant for that.

Telling someone in your care they need to lose weight is the right thing to do. Telling someone you love that need need to lose weight is the right thing to do. Asking someone who is complaining about a health problem that you know can be caused or worsened by being overweight if they've considered trying to lose weight is the right thing to do.

It people will not take care of themselves how can the Dr?

@Flatdisco

It's not actually proven weight has a negative impact on health but doctors have been taught this is true and have no reason to learn off their own backs so keep spouting this as truth.

What a load of bullshit. There are a million ways weight affects health and they are very much proven. Where do people get this bollocks?

She's too busy believing g her own propaganda to listen to common sense

"Got a pain in your stomach? Have you tried losing weight". "Feeling depressed Have you tried losing weight".

These two can actually be weight tied. Being obese afects digestive system so does not exercising. Also obese are more likely to be vit d deficient which can lead to depression and even suicidal thoughts. Interesting research on it. People, including often doctors, sometimes don't realise how physical and mental sides are tied

I was at a museum yesterday and people were negatively commenting on the size of Henry VIII's arse and waist. It made me feel uncomfortable as l thought these are people that probably don't understand the concept of fat shaming. I mean it was just a model so it doesn't matter in that context but ...it wouldn't enter my head to say 'look at that enormous bottom!!' about a model

That's not fat shaming either. You can't fat shame a dummy and you can't fat shame someone who has been dead for centuries. There's nothing at all wrong with discussing how massive Henry VIII was when he died.
People are still allowed to have opinions on things, it's not illegal (yet). The "body positivity" movement goes on and on and on about "fat is beautiful" and so on. Well, I'm happy for women who feel beautiful if they are morbidly obese and I'm happy that other people find them so and I hope no-one treats them badly about their size...BUT I don't personally have to find it beautiful and I don't have to think its great. Because I don't.

A good friend is a dispenser in a pharmacy, they have been told , backed up with training , that if someone is overweight they must initiate a conversation about it . She just told the manager to jog on !

It’s not fat shaming to not want someone to die on an operating table.

“It's not actually proven weight has a negative impact on health but doctors have been taught this is true and have no reason to learn off their own backs so keep spouting this as truth.”

So not link between belly fat and type 2 diabetes?

Extra weight on joints?

Heart disease cause by excess fat?

I’m often deeply concerned about the number of very obese children I see when I’m out and about with my children.
The poor kids are just being set up for a life time of struggling with their weight and suffering terrible health issues.
I wonder what will have to happen before it will start being taken seriously instead of labelled as “fat shaming” to discuss the issue.

@Popetthetreehugger

A good friend is a dispenser in a pharmacy, they have been told , backed up with training , that if someone is overweight they must initiate a conversation about it . She just told the manager to jog on !

If a chemist dispenser started talking to me about my weight I would think it was highly inappropriate! The same would apply if they asked why I was taking certain medication. These conversations are for me and the doctor.

@SchrodingersImmigrant

"Got a pain in your stomach? Have you tried losing weight". "Feeling depressed Have you tried losing weight".

These two can actually be weight tied. Being obese afects digestive system so does not exercising. Also obese are more likely to be vit d deficient which can lead to depression and even suicidal thoughts. Interesting research on it. People, including often doctors, sometimes don't realise how physical and mental sides are tied

Absolutely agree that this tie in with physical and mental health is often totally ignored by the medical profession. It’s not a coincidence that we have both an obeisity and mental health crisis in this country.

Drs need to really start seeing obesity as a symptom of mental health struggles, as I mentioned up thread there are numerous studies that show poor mental health leads to obesity, they are even well understood reasons why.
it’s increasingly recognised in the mental health word but the general medical profession are appallingly misinformed about the realities of mental health.

The government really needs to be focusing on mental health, drs (and society) need to move beyond the whole obese =lazy +greedy, = stupid often this is so far from the truth.

They need to move away from if you just lost weight you might feel better/less depressed etc to if you felt better/less depressed you would probably loose weight. It’s impossible to go for a run if you’re talking every ounce of energy to put one foot in front of the other.

Eating might quiet that stomach churning with anxiety, facial movements might pull you briefly out of fight or flight. It’s about (as one rape victim respondent said) after losing more than half her body weight and regaining more, feeling safer as men don’t look at fat women. It’s impossible to look after a body you can’t feel through dissociation or hate so much because you still associate it with being abused as a child. We like to think these situations are rare, unfortunately they are not.

Obesity wont be solved by removing snickers from advertising boards, it will be solved by investing in mental health services and people starting to see obesity as largely a symptom of a very serious and complicated disease rather than something to laugh at and blame the person suffering.