To think that most health care professionals are hopeless at advising on weight

[Hellostrawberries]

I had a hospital appointment today and the doctor, as expected, advised me to lose some weight. (My BMI is 39). He then spent around 30 seconds explaining how to do it, basically by eating less processed foods and more fruit and veg, lean protein, whole grains etc.

I couldn't be bothered to say what I was thinking so I just thanked him, assured him I'd try and went on my way. What I was thinking was more along the lines of 'FFS do you honestly think I don't know that! I've spent the last 30 years trying to do just that. I succeed for a few weeks and then the hunger and cravings overwhelm me and I abandon the diet yet again. Each time it happens I hate myself a bit more. I've also got a history of ED and had a year of therapy for bulimia in my teens. My weight and my disordered eating are the biggest struggle of my life. And you reckon you can wipe it all out by trotting out a line about how I should eat more vegetables and less cake! Fuck off!'

So AIBU to think that HCPs are hopeless at advising on weight? I'm happy for it to be mentioned. I'd just like it to come from a place of understanding, of assuming my weight history is long and complex, of crediting me with knowing what healthy eating is.

The advice they give will never be right for everyone. Just look on this thread- there are posters with conflicting advice on how to lose weight but are all acting like they are 100% right and everyone is wrong.

OP said: He then spent around 30 seconds explaining how to do it, basically by eating less processed foods and more fruit and veg, lean protein, whole grains etc.

This is hardly controversial advice, though.

@queenparrot I agree but if you go by some responses on here there are some people who will say that it is not correct advice. That's what I was trying to say (but clumsily)

Oh, yes, the eat more lard people!

Unless this doctor was somehow specialised in weight management or eating disorders he has no business advising you. An ENT consultant wouldn't advise on how to deal with heart issues and this is just the same.

But in society obese people are just seen as greedy pigs who don't know anything about a good diet and need to be told the basics. I know it couldn't be further from the truth.

I got sent to slimming world by my GP. After I researched it I just laughed and never went.

I have to laugh at the posters here who are clearly not obese but speak like they know the issue inside out. Unfortunately OP, with food everyone thinks they know what you are talking about and if they themselves were obese they sure could easily fix it.

Remember just a couple of decades ago ppl were blamed for being depressed. They just needed to lighten up etc. only now is society starting to see depression as an illness that needs treatment. It's going to be like that with obesity in 30 years time.

How else do you think the gp could have helped you?

@TeaandScandal I was there for something totally unrelated and received this unqualified and unsolicited advice.

Your question does not come accross as genuine either. I am just going to assume that you aren't actually willing to see a different perspective and won't go into detail how I believe eating disorders should be dealt with. But certainly not by sending someone to a cult that will keep the obsession with food going.

Unless this doctor was somehow specialised in weight management or eating disorders he has no business advising you.

Of course he does.

Or are you seriously suggesting that we need to see a different doctor for absolutely everything?

I had this with the 'health coach.' I told her I went to the gym 3 or 4 times a week - did Zumba, yoga, weights, cardio, swimming and badminton. I also told her I walked 40 minutes a day on the school run. She suggested I try a 30 minute walk everyday.

Her advice amounted to 'do less exercise and eat more' 😂

My dietician was great about exercise too. Really listened and looked for tweaks based on my actual circumstances. Wish I'd been referred to him straight away.

That's why they should refer to a professional (dietician) who is able to give individual advice. (Obviously that would mean we would need more dieticians.) Otherwise it's meaningless.

It's just unhelpful if you are already doing that as many overweight people are.

I have found that it was only the dietician that had the knowledge to help me lose weight. Most GPs have no real training in weight loss so can just make the situation worse.

What exactly is your experience with disordered eating and the psychological aspects of it? Or did you just want to come and disagree and berate others' experience by saying 'are you seriously suggesting that we need to see a different doctor for absolutely everyting'? Your statement does not show you are open to ideas. You just wanted to make a point how ridiculous this all is.

Do you feel better about yourself now?

Do I feel better about myself for pointing out that a doctor does have business advising overweight patients to lose weight, without being specialised in weight management or eating disorders?

I don't feel one way or the other, just as I'm sure most people replying on this chat forum don't 🤷‍♂️

@Riversideandrelax there needs to be an understanding why each individual is obese. A minority need to be shown how to eat correctly, but many already know this but don't manage because food is a coping mechanism. The healthcare system does not address this however.

People have many unhealthy coping mechanisms and unfortunately eating too much is one of the most visible ones and people are so quick to judge.

I sincerely hope future generations receive better help. I believe help would be mostly psychological.

Well, you are twisting what was said now to suit your narrative. I'm not going to engage with you further.

Thank fuck for that.

She hasn’t twisted anything 🤦‍♀️

But do you not understand that when someone is not trained to give the right advice their 'advice' will very often make the problem worse.

Advising an overweight person to eat healthily and take more exercise will never make anything worse.

Yes, absolutely for many people they need psychological help. For me I needed a dietician because my weight gain was caused by medication. My point is when people who aren't trained in this (i.e GPs) start trying to give out advice they very often make it worse. And that's the last thing we need.

Of course it will!

I was given that advice (well to eat healthily and actually exercise less as I was already exercising more than the recommended amount.) and it just made me feel hopeless. Because I was asking for help and noone could help me. It affected my mental health. It made things much worse.

'Advising an overweight person to eat healthily and take more exercise will never make anything worse.'

Exactly but people really do not like to hear it. It's the meds, it's stress, it's addiction, it's this and that. Yes many things cause hunger therefore folk overeat but the solutions are always the same. Eat less.

Who knew GPs now aren't qualified to give health advice! We had someone upthread with an obese 12yr old. If someone doesn't speak plainly, clearly (obviously kindly) then the obesity problem will continue to be enabled by the 'it's not me it's a condition' excuses. I've every sympathy for overweight people it isn't easy to eat less but it must be done for long term health risks.

I feel strongly about this. I've battled with an eating disorder since the age of 13 ( now mid sixties). I recently had a medical appointment during which I was advised to lose weight in order to help with a health condition that I have. Like I didn't know and haven't been trying! My BMI is 27.1 and I genuinely don't think BMI works for me. Felt completely humiliated and because my ED is linked to emotional issues, I've now put weight on 😳
I really don't know what the answer is, but I do feel that training for medical professionals around weight issues could be better. Even some acknowledgement of the issues involved would help.