Hi!

I have some ideas for anyone who has had issues with doctors or medical care because of medical providers focusing so much on weight, and/or on weight to the exclusion of the actual problems someone is having.

I don’t come from the perspective of someone who’s currently overweight so much as someone who has been through, like, a marathon of medical problems and types of doctors and nurses and hospitals and all that! I have been thin - too thin, without a thing I could do about it. I’ve been overweight - without a thing I could do about it. Right now, I am nearly exactly between the two extremes, tending toward the higher weight; I honestly cannot lose any weight - but I can gain it, so I’ve reconciled myself with where I am now.

My Ideas for Anyone with Medical Provider Issues Based on Weight:

1. Please, don’t neglect your own medical care because you have had bad experiences before. You’re too important for that!

2. If a nurse or doctor (or anyone) makes you feel worse than when you came in that day, that is not right – remember that.

3. You have the ability and right to say to your doctor, “I am not here to talk about my weight. I’d appreciate it if you would please focus on why I am here.” That is worded very politely; if stronger wording is more your style, go for it.

4. If weight could realistically be adding to a medical problem, or even if it is mentioned during a checkup, it probably won’t be what you want to hear. But, please, please at least consider it. But don’t let the provider leave it at, “You need to lose weight.” No! Not enough. Ask them why you need to lose weight. Ask them how to lose weight; do you need more exercise, a better diet? And ask them what will be achieved by losing weight: will your medical problem improve? Will it potentially go away? And if your provider can’t give you these answers, you may want to consider changing to a different provider.

5. If your medical provider suggests a better diet, and you are eating a balanced, healthy diet, tell them so, and find out from them what they would recommend. If they insist on the diet route, ask for a referral to a registered or licensed dietician or someone specializing in that area. Don’t let a doctor simply say, “Eat better.” That’s just patronizing and really not helpful. The same goes for exercise. If the provider insists you need more exercise, ask for a referral to someone who can tell you exactly what type of exercise you need to get the most benefit for YOU and to best help your particular medical issue.

6. If your medical provider ignores your specific issues entirely, either dismissing them or blaming everything on weight, then would be a good time to say goodbye, and find someone new.

7. When you search for a new doctor or other medical provider, these are the ways I’ve had the best luck. If you currently have a doctor who you like and trust, and are looking for someone with a different specialty, ask your current doctor if he or she knows someone who might be good. I’ve found the best doctors I’ve ever had simply because they were friends with another of my doctors. Also, look for a D.O., rather than an M.D. It doesn’t always hold true, but D.O.’s are generally trained to look at someone as a whole, rather than just a lot of parts. This can help tremendously, because a D.O. may see someone who is overweight “on paper” but also see that the patient is on a specific medication causing weight gain, and realize that telling the patient to “lose weight” will simply be pointless and insulting. I have always had a much better experience with physicians who are Doctors of Osteopathy, versus Medical Doctors.



And that’s all I can think of for now. As someone who has been overweight in the past, once due to medication for depression, and another due to treatment for breast cancer, I’ve heard some of the old, tired cliches and platitudes that are used in the medical profession when treating people who are overweight. I think it’s just wrong for even physicians to see weight before they see their patients. So I just wanted to share some of the things I learned, and things I wish I’d done, in my interactions with different medical care providers. But, not everything I have written will work for everyone, and I’m not a doctor, nor do I have any sort of medical training. These are just ideas; please don’t rely on them as if I were any sort of expert! Just ideas, as if from a friend to a friend :) .