I thought I would share the link to the NPR story about doctors who are hesitant to discuss weight issues with their patients. I found this story interesting and pertinent to yesterday's discussion.
Physicians who are in charge of taking care of the patients should try to lead these patients by example! They are healthcare providers as leaders and I feel that all physicians must be able to be honest and truthful when discussing any matter with the patients. Also, this article picked a good point where physicians must take care of their health first so that patients can learn and receive better advises and tips to be healthier.
I just read an article related to this that states that many physicians lie to their patients (probably mostly to "soften" diagnoses), but also lie when they have made a medical error. It is worrisome when the group of people we trust (along with religious leaders and law enforcement, probably the most trusted) either don't offer help, or outright lie. Here's the article:
I can see everyone's points on why we should pay attention to peoples weight, however, a good doctor not only cares for the physical part of a human but also their soul. Overweight people KNOW they are over weight. You don't sit there and have someone gasp with shock when you tell them they are over weight.
It can definitely get out of hand. Along with seeing examples of it myself I found an article of an overweight doctor and how he is treated differently. He states:
"I felt I had to prove myself more than the "normal" physician," he wrote. "A surgeon stopped me on the floors and told me I needed gastric bypass surgery; another internist sat down next to me at a nurses’ station and openly guessed my weight, then pontificated on what my approach to weight loss should be. A fellow cardiologist stopped me on the street to tell me I looked "disgusting" and asked whether I "had no shame."
He has more examples of this in the article. Yes, people should take care of themselves but doctors can get out of hand and just plain hurtful like the ones mentioned above. You should never motivate someone by humiliating them in front of others.
I have seen over weight people finish multiple marathons (something I can't even do...and Im in shape!) and skinny people having trouble walking up a flight of stairs. Each person has a different body type and I know weight loss can be dreadfully hard for certain types.
Physicians who are in charge of taking care of the patients should try to lead these patients by example! They are healthcare providers as leaders and I feel that all physicians must be able to be honest and truthful when discussing any matter with the patients. Also, this article picked a good point where physicians must take care of their health first so that patients can learn and receive better advises and tips to be healthier.
ReplyDeleteI just read an article related to this that states that many physicians lie to their patients (probably mostly to "soften" diagnoses), but also lie when they have made a medical error. It is worrisome when the group of people we trust (along with religious leaders and law enforcement, probably the most trusted) either don't offer help, or outright lie.
ReplyDeleteHere's the article:
http://content.healthaffairs.org/content/31/2/383.full.pdf+html
I can see everyone's points on why we should pay attention to peoples weight, however, a good doctor not only cares for the physical part of a human but also their soul. Overweight people KNOW they are over weight. You don't sit there and have someone gasp with shock when you tell them they are over weight.
ReplyDeleteIt can definitely get out of hand. Along with seeing examples of it myself I found an article of an overweight doctor and how he is treated differently. He states:
"I felt I had to prove myself more than the "normal" physician," he wrote. "A surgeon stopped me on the floors and told me I needed gastric bypass surgery; another internist sat down next to me at a nurses’ station and openly guessed my weight, then pontificated on what my approach to weight loss should be. A fellow cardiologist stopped me on the street to tell me I looked "disgusting" and asked whether I "had no shame."
He has more examples of this in the article. Yes, people should take care of themselves but doctors can get out of hand and just plain hurtful like the ones mentioned above. You should never motivate someone by humiliating them in front of others.
I have seen over weight people finish multiple marathons (something I can't even do...and Im in shape!) and skinny people having trouble walking up a flight of stairs. Each person has a different body type and I know weight loss can be dreadfully hard for certain types.
http://featuresblogs.chicagotribune.com/features_julieshealthclub/2010/11/obese-doctor-tells-story.html