Do some doctors just get a kick out of telling you to lose weight?

[Crawdle]

Saw my gp for the first time in years. He commented that I looked very well (told him I have lost 30 pounds with about a stone until I am in the normal bmi range).

Anyway, as we were talking about how to treat the issue I went in for he was looking at his computer when he said “okay and then we really do need to get your weight under control to bring you into the healthy BMi range, it will be extremely beneficial”

Like okay?? I told the gp I’m on track to be in the healthy range by my birthday (end of summer). We even discussed my plans to go on a special trip to watch a sporting event for a few mins!

He said all this whilst his gut (MUCH larger than mine) was pressed against the desk.

AIBU to find this very annoying?!

He just took on a very serious tone when he said it. No “you’re getting there blah blah”

Read again, was my DIL describing the scene 🙄

Biggest ways to prevent cancer are obesity and not smoking

Really? Obesity causes more cancer. But is that because smoking is so unusual now?

Good for you. Putting an underpaid medical professional 'in her place' (wherever that may be) for simply doing her job. What a clever person you are. 👏👏👏

It’s their job to talk to you about it

The NHS is totally obsessed with weight and treat is as a personal failing. They have little to no understanding of weight as a function of health and their main tactic is to continually tell people to do things they clearly can't do. Obviously it doesn't work.

Interestingly, my DH's family and consequently my daughter struggle with being underweight. They treat that as an actual health issue and investigate it. They still don't know what to do, but they don't blame the patient, strangely enough.

That's not true.

What an illuminating comment, thank you.

Why did she weigh you? I've never been weighed apart from check in for pregnancy

It's annoying to be told that losing weight is the answer to everything, as it really isn't. But I don't get why the weight of the medical professional giving advice is relevant. Losing weight is really hard for a lot of people. If anything, I think they'd be more empathetic and they'd have a better understanding of weightloss.
Some of the ways pps have reacted to medical professionals are so rude and unkind. Basically implying that they shouldn't be doing their job because they're fat.

When I was 3 stone heavier, my weight was never mentioned. Now that my BMI is 25, I got a huge lecture about losing weight. Not that I was actually weighed at all, it seemed like the doctor just eyeballed it.

I've never been overweight so I don't get the lose weight solution to every single one of my medical problems.

I get every single medical issue blamed on anxiety instead.

You can't win!

This.

DS is a doctor (in the US) and part of his 'bedside manner' training included how to tactfully broach the subject.

I had pregnancy induced hypertension that was related to a pre-existing endocrine condition.
When my endocrinologist saw me for a review 12 mnths after DS was born he said I needed to lose weight. Suggested I tried the gym, I was back working full time ( self employed) with a young child. I didn’t say anything, resisted the temptation to make a sarcastic comment.
Twelve months later I was back for my annual check up. His first comment was about how much weight I’d lost, I hadn’t, so he said that it must be down to being more toned and that muscle weighs more than fat. I suppose running around after a toddler is good exercise.
I still had high blood pressure and asked my GP if losing weight would lower it. She smiled and said no. My BP is not the result of being overweight but is related to my endocrine problem.
I am currently losing weight and the HCA at my last review congratulated me on my progress.
Now I have to motivate myself to exercise more. My DS is now 20 and life has not been easy over the last few years. I’m determined to hit normal BMI by the end of this year. I have about 20lbs to go.

I can't believe you never get weighed at a doctor visit. It is done every single time you visit a doctor in the US, and your blood pressure and blood oxygen taken.

If time is such a premium surely not making the comment about weight (knowing I am already committed to weight loss) would be more time efficient

I’m the opposite I weigh much heavier than I look. I have a waist and a thigh gap and thin ankles. And you can see my ribs but have a BMI of 28. BMI really only works for average people. I think they need to come up with a much better way of assessing you.

I think the Dr could have spoken better, i.e. "It is great what you are doing with losing weight, and continuing with that will certainly help".

In general, fat Docs and nurses, and this concept of "fat-shaming" doesn't change the fact that that maintaining a healthy BMI will help with so many conditions and help prevent a lot of others. As much as people might not want to hear it, especially when the person delivering it is overweight themselves, it is great advice.

What would these docs do if BMI was eradicated. Couple of months ago I went to a diabetes support group meeting and they were saying bmi might be wiped out but I don’t really know how true that is as one of the other attendees was like you have an nhs eat well plate poster out of date!

I remember when in hospital one of the ward doctors had to specially come back to ask if I was a smoker.

I so cheekily wanted to say yes 30 benson & hedges please! and wheel me round the car park whilst you are at it. (never attempted to smoke.)

I even once had a GP help insist there was no reason for me to go on statins, if it had been left up to the diabetic nurses I would have been.

Most professionals have kindly never mentioned my weight to my surprise, the only one that has done in the past said with it but you are on a lot of medication so I kind of see their point. Sorry this happened to you OP.

@Springersrock did you have a double appointment for your HRT, diet discussion, and shoulder problem? Or was it a “while I’m here doctor….”

Being rude is not part of a nurses job, they need to apply manners if they want to be see as professionals, I showed her the same level of respect she showed me

But they'd have to believe you were telling the truth and as you well know, plenty of patients don't.

This goes for how much they eat, drink or smoke.

People pretend they're already doing something about it in the hope they'll close any conversation down.

With that in mind, doctors will tell you what they need to regardless.

It's not personal, unlike your comments about his body.

I’m a GP and after reading the outrage repeatedly on MN about clinicians who dare to advise weight loss, I rarely mention it now. Patients can just stay fat. Not my problem. I’d like to help but I know from MN that any discussion about weight is seen as being hugely offensive. One of my patients recently died as a direct result of her morbid obesity. It’s a shame we can’t discuss it without risking such fury. Smokers are far easier to deal with. They expect advice and they just take it without arguing the toss.

A lot in the NHS are overweight so they obviously don't practice what they preach

This is so short sighted. If a clinician is overweight themselves they probably cringe when giving this advice, but being overweight themselves doesn't make it any less valid.