This is Thin Privilege

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I read many stories about doctors telling patients to lose weight. Do they generally recommend patient-specific weight loss plans, refer to nutritionists with relevant expertise, or just stop at the assertion that weight loss is recommended? I am sure it depends on each doctor, but I never read any stories about what the doctor is recommending in terms of weight loss plans. I am surprised, as doctors aren't just suppose to diagnose but also prescribe based on specific patient conditions.

Asked by
pmardie

maggiemunkee:

thisisthinprivilege:

I don’t know. On this blog I’ve heard of doctors recommending WW, and stomach surgery (including lapband). Sometimes they refer to dieticians/nutritionists. Sometimes they just give the ole “eat less move more” lecture. It seems to be a mix. Followers, what kind of weight loss advice have you been given by your doctor? Was it specific, and did it mention brands/methods in particular? Were you referred, or did they try to sell weight loss surgery (including lap-bands) to you?

-ATL

Generally I’ve gotten the “do more eat less” lecture like it’s some kind of profound secret they’re letting me in on. My old PCP recommended medifast, as she started supplying it directly to her patients. The surgeon who did my gallbladder removal suggested I strongly consider a lap-band or gastric bypass, as those were her primary procedures.

I had a doctor tell me once that there were so many calories in sugary drinks, and that people don’t even know how much they’re consuming sometimes. I was nodding along, not really knowing where he was going with it, and then it dawned on me: “Oh he means he thinks *I* drink a bunch of sugary stuff.” My main drinks at the moment were milk, coffee, and seltzer (the unsweet version).

Of course, I was lucky enough on another occasion to having seen the most amazing nurse practitioner with whom I had a long conversation about HAES-type stuff. She was awesome. Though the likes of her are rare.

-ATL

Notes

  1. mustachioedmoose said: My 1st endocrinologist implied that I was making excuses for gaining weight because of my thyroid instead of doing work to lose my weight. My 2nd endocrinologist says I need to lose weight or else I’ll automatically get diabetes and heart disease.
  2. starrology101 reblogged this from thisisthinprivilege
  3. femme-in-floral reblogged this from thisisthinprivilege and added:
    The last time I went to a doctor I did a treadmills test because I had been having chest pains (the tests didn’t lead...
  4. sithrenity reblogged this from thisisthinprivilege and added:
    I’ve heard “just lose weight” and “eat less, move more,” and “have you considered a walking program (that was funny as...
  5. memichellese said: I had one doctor push lap band surgery. Claimed it’s not invasive & dangerous like stapling.
  6. under--the--willow reblogged this from thisisthinprivilege
  7. springald-jack reblogged this from thisisthinprivilege
  8. idontreallylikecandy said: i had a dietician sent into my room while i was waiting for the doctor to come back. the “advice” she gave me could have been boiled down into a brief commercial and was nothing i hadn’t heard before.
  9. kliapatra said: I’ve had “lose weight, period,” and one recommended WW as the “program with the most success” (I later learned that “success” in WL programs is defined as people who maintained a loss of ~5% of their starting weight.)
  10. orodemniades said: I was asked if I wanted WLS after I’d lost 50lbs. My dr had just come back from maternity leave, so I blame mom brain, because she was otherwise lovely and never said anything about my weight.
  11. thisisthinprivilege reblogged this from maggiemunkee and added:
    I had a doctor tell me once that there were so many calories in sugary drinks, and that people don’t even know how much...
  12. somethingtrivial said: Like it’s any less hurtful when they hand you pamphlets and business cards for nutritionists that can “help you watch what you’re eating and help you lose weight”?!
  13. maggiemunkee reblogged this from thisisthinprivilege
  14. norwegianpornfaerie said: The one time I got “specific” instructions, the doctor simply repeated “eat less pasta and potatoes”. I interjected that I was already losing weight, by eating healthy food and working out, and she repeated “try to eat less pasta.”
  15. minionripley said: None of the doctors I’ve been to have ever bothered to even ask what my eating or exercising habits are. Usually they just give me a bunch of pamphlets on various diets and tell me to try those. :/
  16. rubyredriots said: Personally, the first time my doctor suggested Atkins, like he talked about it and the suggested I should get more exercise (WITHOUT ASKING IF I ALREADY EXERCISE OR HOW I EXERCISE). The other time he just gave me a packet suggesting dieting.
  17. geeksarecutetoo reblogged this from thisisthinprivilege
  18. kr00vy said: Its always a scare tactic. “You need a lifestyle change or you’ll die.” I go to a free clinic and they never bother looking at my records, or they’d know. I eat a vegetarian diet (for 6 years) and I do exercise 4 days a week. I’m just simply not interested in weight loss…
  19. hell-sunset said: most of my doctors focused on dieting mostly. I’m sorta sporty so increasing that was out of the question. I still am overweight
  20. willworkforspoons said: My mothers doctor recommended she get gastric bypass at every appointment.
  21. geeksarecutetoo said: Never any specifics. “You won’t need to be on asthma meds once you lose 40lbs and exercise daily.” “What’s your diet like? I’ve noticed you’ve gained some weight. Losing weight is the best way to protect against diabetes.” Thanks loads! How helpful!
  22. queliotpasta said: “Keep a food diary!” “Start walking more!”