I was listening to a NPR broadcast this morning on the AMA's recent ruling that Obesity is a disease. They mentioned that a lot of doctors do not talk to their patients about weight.
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=194239969
Does your doctor talk to you about your weight? Whether you need to gain or lose weight?
hostess / wonderful persimmon / 25556 posts
When I was preparing to TTC, I went to my GP. It had been about a year since my last visit. She looked at my weight (141 and I'm 5'7) and told me not to lose anymore weight. I had lost about 10lbs in the past year, but not really intentionally. She told me to continue/start exercising but I didn't need to lose weight. She always mentions it and that's why I sent my husband to her, as well. I like that she is thorough.
grapefruit / 4278 posts
I just had a physical last week and my doctor mentioned that I should try to lose some weight, my BMI is in the overweight category. She recommended watching what I eat and exercising more... She would have been obese by BMI standards though, so I had a hard time not laughing in her face.
GOLD / wonderful pomegranate / 28905 posts
@kiddosc: that baffles me!!! How people in the health profession are unhealthy. You see so many overweight nurses and it's like....uh...you should know better!
pear / 1861 posts
Yes, they do. I'm overweight though, so that's probably why. I've lost 23lbs so far and am working on more. Not because they talk to me though.
grapefruit / 4187 posts
Years ago when I wanted to get on accutane my internist talked to me about my weight first since my cholesterol was really high and he wanted it to come down to a normal level before putting me on the drug. He avoided phrases like 'overweight', etc. but I was technically overweight. I'm really glad he did because I lost 30 lbs and now have a normal cholestorol number which is much healthier.
My OB doesn't talk to me about it at all. And it's funny because that's the question I get most from people "How much weight have you gained?" and "How much has your doctor told you you can gain?" People are so curious about this for some reason! So finally I asked him about it and he said "Just by looking at you, I can tell you're fine so don't worry about it". I also checked my chart with the nurse and I'm totally within the normal weight gain range - so I don't worry about it or obsess.
wonderful pea / 17279 posts
Yes. The first time was when I was about 13 or 14 and my doctir told my parents we needed to switch from whole milk to low fat milk. Since then every doctor has advised me to lose weight (if I was slightly or severeky overweight when I saw them).
wonderful olive / 19353 posts
Nope, but I think I'm in a good range. The doctor has talked to the hubby about his since he's considered overweight.
watermelon / 14467 posts
My GP really doesn't talk about it much. According to my BMI, I'm in the high end of normal, but I am also a runner and muscle weighs more than fat. Pre-preg I weighed 145 lbs at 5'5" and had excellent blood pressure, cholesterol, and a good resting heart rate. My midwife isn't concerned and always tells me that I'm gaining appropriately, and my numbers are similar to what they were pre-pregnancy.
pear / 1672 posts
@regberadaisy: My mother worked in a hospital setting for over 25 years, and she would say the same thing. She talked about how so many of the doctors smoked or ate poorly. I'm wondering if it's a "Do as I say, not as I do" type of thing.
pear / 1571 posts
Not really. I'm otherwise healthy, so there's really no reason to bring it up- I'd practically have to be skin and bones to actually not be considered overweight on that stupid, stupid, inaccurate BMI scale.
I did have on midwife, believe it or not, who only wanted to really focus on my weight and what I was eating during my last pregnancy. Lots if fat-shaming going on there and I wasn't mentally in a good place for that. I'd go home and be depressed for days because I was at the end of my rope. I was eating as healthy as I could afford to (she wanted me to buy all kinds of special snacks for myself so that I could stick to the super strict diet she wanted me on), healthier than any skinny people I knew. Never mind that I had no blood sugar or blood pressure issues (except, incidentally, every time I saw her my BP just went higher and higher) and I wound up not gaining a single pound through that pregnancy. Blah. 18 months after my daughter was born, I went on a pretty extreme metabolic program to fix my metabolism and lost over 70 lbs. (and then accidentally got knocked up again) because *I* wanted to- and because I finally found something that worked for me.
eggplant / 11716 posts
They've always mentioned it when there's a big change. Like in college when my dad was dying, I gained 20 lbs in ine year and my doctor told me I needed to work on that. After he died and I had more time to be healthy, I lost it all in about 3 months and the doctor congratulated me and asked how I'd done it.
Similarly, before my wedding, I lost about 15lbs and my doctor brought it up, thinking it was related to my GERD, and I had to assure her that I'd been trying to lose the weight--it wasn't because I couldn't eat.
And then of course, in pregnancy, they mention it every appt.
Overall, I think it's a good thing, but some doctors need a little training about how to bring it up in a professional, but not condescending way. My doctor in college did it just right...my OB was rude about it.
coconut / 8861 posts
During pregnancy, it was mentioned about getting into one of the hospital's programs. Other that, not mentioned. I just went to my doctor for a sinus infection. She didn't note my weight. If anything, she was more concerned with my birth control than my weight. I started WW with my mom this week since I'm not confident with my body. Once I drop weight and feel better about my body, we'll consider TTC again. I want to be pregnant, but don't want to start a pregnancy with this much extra weight on me.
GOLD / wonderful apricot / 22646 posts
during pregnancy he mentioned it here or there...
never by by primary care doctor.
pomegranate / 3890 posts
Yea my Dr. Commented that I lost a bunch of weight.....ummm she was looking at my weight when I was 9 months pregnant.... Hahaha she didn't know I had a baby. Lol
coconut / 8483 posts
Never, but I am on the low end of normal BMI, so I don't think its ever been a concern.
honeydew / 7687 posts
@stargal: haha!
Only during pregnancy when she told me I wasn't gaining enough 
She prescribed me Haggen Daz, which I happily stocked up on.
nectarine / 2765 posts
Mine has never discussed weight with me. I've always had a healthy weight so perhaps that's why. Now that I'm pregnant it hasn't come up either but spose there's still time.
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