to think this GP is a total idiot!!!

[ButterflEi]

hello

so i went to see one of the GPs in my practice today as i am wanting to take control of my weight issues and was looking for advice.

the GP asked me general questions about lifestyle etc and what i eat on an average day which i answered thinking to myself that finally i was going to get somewhere (i have struggled with my weight since i was about 15, im now 27). he said he would refer me to a dietician but that could take a matter of months for that referral to materialise.

the conversation went as follows:

me: so can you help with what i should do in the meantime??
idiot GP: i would sggest restricting your diet as much as possible
me: ok...meaning what??
GP: dont eat
me: huh? you mean eat less??
GP: no dont eat
me: dont eat??
GP: yes dont eat. excercise and dont eat.
me: is that not called ANOREXIA??
GP: no it is a medically sanctioned diet plan
me: no it is called anorexia...thanks for nowt.

i then stormed out in a bit of a huff and went home. i have since called the surgery and made another appointment with a different (nice lady) doctor for later today!!

i just wondered if IABU to think that doctor is a complete incompetent arse or is my fat addling my brain??

Moondog that's not really helpful! Thow out the biscuits and get on with it? Not everyones weight is to do with biscuits and is that easy to deal with. A little understanding maybe?

You are told to discuss with gp if you are about to start a weight loss programme. but I thought that was to ensure that you didn't have any health issues which would contraindicate the diet. Not for them to plan it with you.

Is that aimed at me Moondog? Because I actually SAW her type it in and print it out. It's not an assumption, it's a fact.

OFGS, if all it took to turn someone anorexic was to have someone say to them 'Stop eating' the country would be full of 7 stone women. Which it aint.

Credit yuorself [and others] with amodicum of intelligence and independent thought Butterfly.

Out of interest, what did you think he might say to you?

exactly juuule
that is why you are supposed to go to the gp

and we never said it was easy to deal with but what did you expect the doctor to say to her

Actually I sort of agree with moondog on this one.
All you really need to lose weight is a good kick up the backside. I get mine from the practice nurse who has a great repetoirre of disappointed looks if I come in for my monthly weigh-in and have not lost any weight. That spurs me on to aim for half a stone a month!
I have struggled with my weight since my teenage years (am now 37) Have tried all sorts of dieticians, fad diets, slimfast, Paul McKenna mind bending etc.
I have been dieting since March and have lost 53lbs. By simply cutting down on fatty and sugary food and increasing my exercise.
And it is working. It is working well! No dietician required. And no matter how much advice you take from a dietician or other expert, at the end of the day it is all down to you simply eating less. That is the only thing that could do it.

I think the GP was being sarcastic. I honestly do not believe he really meant 'do not eat for several months'. I think he was being sarcastic because of having to spell out the obvious...

I'm with hippi

WELL DONE HIPPI

I don't understand why you've made an appointment with another Dr? You've already been referred to a dietician.

The second doctor might be nicer but she's not going to come up with a miracle cure.

Thank you Trinity
(hijack alert)
Am sorry I have not been back to the other tread re your dd - but I hope things are well.

Yes, well done Hippi!
You must feel great.

Well done Hippi

What an inspiring post.

Oh, thank you all
I feel better. Not great yet, am still too large to feel great. But it is definatly better and I feel more comfortable in my skin

equally moondog, if it was as stupidly easy as saying to people 'chuck the biscuits out and get on with it' then the country would be full of slim people

What kind of advice is that? It is EXACTLY like saying to a depressive, 'pull yourself together and cheer up'. It's crap.

Weight problems are usually a combination of many things - it can be bad habits, poverty, complex emotional and mental health issues, a million things. A GP and a dietician can be very necessary for people. Sometimes it is as simple as giving someone practical strategies to make healthy habits from bad ones. Some people clearly less wonderful than you, may NEED this kind of re-educating.

Saying chuck away the biscuits and get on with it is not a helpful strategy.

If someone struggles to lose weight, there are usually psychological issues ime.
I just think - 'eat less and get more exercise' is as helpful as 'cheer up' or 'pull yourself together', or say 'stop drinking'.

yes well done indeed hippi

But can I say that all YOU clearly needed was a kick up the backside.

Other people need more.

That's not a crime and not a reason for people to be utterly crass and insensitive on this issue.

I think it's overly simplistic to say to an overweight person "oh just eat less and exercise more". There is a huge amount of contradictory advice in magazines and on the internet on the best way to lose weight. You only have to look at weight loss threads on here to see that. Someone is bound to come along in a minute and say just cut out carbs - that'll do the trick - bollocks.

Many GPs have resources which they can prescribe. Council gym memberships, weight loss club memberships and of course weight loss pills. These things do cost the NHS money, but is a cheaper solution in the long run if it helps to re educate the patient. To tell someone to simply stop eating is very bad advice, even if they don't think the patient will take it seriously. It is common practise for GPs to suggest 1000 calorie per day diets too - that is also bad advice - and something most people would find hard, if not impossible to stick to long term.

Becoming overweight is something which happens over a period of time and many people do need help in identifying what the cause is. Not all overweight people spend all day with their faces in the biscuit tin.

No I don't think the GP is an idiot. I think if anything he might have meant dont eat crisps, biscuits, ice-cream, fried foods etc assuming to get overweight in the first place meant you probably ate too much of the wrong food. He's also referred you to a dietician who actually has no miracle cure either, she will plan a diet with you but it's up to YOU to stick to it.

I think you're all being a bit mean -

There was a thread a few weeks ago on here, saying "right - I need help on how to lose weight. Do you think I should consult my GP?"

And everyone responded "yeah - well done for knowing you need some support, it's a great first step".

Surely the GP could have discussed slimming world (can't they "prescribe" for this now?" Or discuss ways to make a difference. Surely there's an NHS leaflet on health/wellbeing and exercise that he could have handed her. Perhaps he could have gone through medical notes and asked if there was anything she was nervious about before embarking on a new exercise regime.

Well done on seeing the GP, OP. Don't let him put you off!

Well, how about the GP suggesting some reputable websites, giving her some leaflets, and perhaps putting her in touch with some healthy weight loss classes? More than likely there will be a public health practitioner in the area (if not the OP's health centre) somewhere providing this type of class.

And that's just for starters. GP's know all too well that obesity increases the risk of diabetes, cancer, high blood pressure, stroke, CHD etc etc etc. Any GP worth his/her salt will take the health promotion approach, will adhere to HEAT targets and will take seriously any request from anyone wanting to lose weight - not give this type of stupid, puerile 'advice'.

well thanks for the many responses i appear to have X-posted
i do understand that there are sick people who the doctor is due to treat but i am a patient of his, i also have a few medical conditions (UA thyroid- which incidentally doesnt help the weight issue and a few others) i went asking for advice on how to best lose weight as is recommended BEFORE starting any plan, i DIDNT ask him to plan my meals i asked, simply for advice as everything i have ever tried has not worked and i want to take control of it while i am young enough to avoid the almost inevitable further health issues that comes with obesity.
i want to get my point across that my GP DIDNT say 'dont eat so much' he said DONT EAT. as plain as that as food is what is causing the fat so it must be avoided at all costs. i have asked if IABU simply because as a sensible person this struck me as an odd thing for a medically trained professional to advise young women, struggling with their weight to do.
it isnt an unusual thing to ask someone who is medically trained to give advice on something that when left unchecked causes a massive amount of strain on the NHS.

I think you're being unreasonable. Is there no space for humour? I expect he thought you were intelligent enough to work that one out by yourself; and I'm sure he's intelligent enough to work out when he is talking to someone who would take him seriously. Perhaps he made a misjudgement in this case, though?

Mih, I think the doctor should have been way more professional but he was probably just frustrated at effectively being asked to do the dietitcian's job. He's a GP his official involvement in weight loss doesn't extend much beyond referring and telling patient to reduce calorie intake and increase exercise.

I'm not sure this is worth a formal complaint.

Doctors don't google things btw

GP's diagnose/treat through looking things up for latest info on internet, is it mediweb they use? Can't remember...

I would expect a better way for appointment to proceed may have been:

Examining you for evidence of health/thyroid problem/depression which might be underlying cause of obesity. If thyroid problem is suspected blood should be taken to confirm.

Check if exercise on prescription might be suitable/available or other treatment/further assessment of underlying cause needed.

Referral to dietician and/or other specialist if necessary.

When patient asks for advice in the meantime suggest buying a heart healthy cookbook and cutting down/replacing sugary drinks, take aways, snacks and fatty foods and reducing portion sizes. Also light exercise - walking often, getting off bus one stop earlier, not driving for short journeys e.t.c. Joining a gym and being assessed for an exercise plan by one of the personal trainers.

And to not do anything dramatic until you see the dietician...

Butterflei, you were being absolutely reasonable to expect help. Good for you for getting help - I wish you well.

He was an idiot - and if that was his idea of humour, then I can only imagine he grew up in the 70's listening to Bernard Manning and Jim Davidson.

General Practitioners are that. General. They're medically trained but not experts in the thousands and thousands of medical conditions, complaints etc. Which is why they refer you to specialists. Your GP has referred you to a dietician who will give you expert advice on what to do.
He may have been insensitive in the way he spoke to you or what he said. However, he's probably thinking that the specialist dietician will be more able to help you and, in the meantime - perhaps a little foolishly (and I mean that by he may have been a fool to say it, not that you're a fool) - that you would have some ideas of what to do. IYSWIM

My surgery does give a 'diet plan'. Not personalised meal plan but a sheet with 'choices'. For example:bread: 1st choice wholemeal pitta, 2nd choice white, 3nd choice french stick and only occasionally garlic bread. and so on with other groups of food.

But i agree with Northenlurker. I think the word idiot is used a lot here particularly for doctors, teachers and shop assistants. for people who studied very hard or who work very hard. (and i 'm none of these btw).