Doctors Are Told To Get Serious About Obesity

[Purveyor]

ATLANTA (AP) -- Next time you go for a checkup, don't be surprised if your doctor gets on your case about your weight.

The medical profession has issued new guidelines for fighting the nation's obesity epidemic, and they urge physicians to be a lot more aggressive about helping patients drop those extra pounds.

Doctors should calculate your body mass index, a weight-to-height ratio. And if you need to lose weight, they should come up with a plan and send you for counseling.

"We recognize that telling patients to lose weight is not enough," said Dr. Donna Ryan, co-chair of the guidelines committee.

The good news? By next year, most insurance companies are expected to cover counseling and other obesity treatments, following in the steps of the Medicare program, which began paying for one-on-one help last year.

MORE...

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_MED_OBESITY_GETTING_SERIOUS?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2013-11-13-16-01-11

[Manifestor_of_Light]

1. They need to start treating a lot of low thyroid problems then.

http://thyroid.about.com

www.stopthethyroidmadness.com

[HereSince1628]

5. Yes, but try to get that a physician to treat it

if it marginally falls within statistica 'norms'.

[KittyWampus]

2. Too bad insurance doesn't cover the cost of a gym or rec center membership.

[Pretzel_Warrior]

7. In a sense, more and more do

In that you'll get reductions in premiums and deductibles as your group lowers their calculated risk profile through wellness programs.

[KurtNYC]

11. that stuff just makes me hungrier

I think the real challenge is to find foods which satisfy and nourish without adding weight. The whole "low fat" fad was very wrong headed in that respect. We are all the target of marketing which seeks to make us buy as much high margin food as possible and they have had years to perfect that science.

[maxsolomon]

3. These are "Guidelines" for doctors - I will be surprised if current practice changes.

This topic is trod upon very lightly by the medical profession. People get their feewings hurt.

[Purveyor]

6. Especially when the two doctors I've had recently could easily be considered morbidly obese. eom

[Pretzel_Warrior]

4. Oh no! Fat shaming!

[nolabear]

22. Big difference between shaming and offering help.

It is delicate, but I think there are ways to approach a real difficulty with an attitude of humility and respect and offer help.

[Pretzel_Warrior]

24. I should have put sarcasm tag in there

Although a doctor could certainly approach the topic in a rude and shaming way, my bet is most will handle it as a clinical health matter and take a patient-centered approach. Usually can use cholesterol, blood sugar, and triglyceride levels as a proxy for weight to discuss health options such as nutrition counseling and exercise program.

[Nuclear Unicorn]

8. If some GOPer suggested this as a condition to food aid there would be riots.

Just sayin'.

[Purveyor]

9. Hypocrisy is flowing in the streets and several fronts, indeed. eom

[Pretzel_Warrior]

10. How are the two related? Doctors SHOULD be the ones

To speak to their patients about necessary steps to make progress in a person shedding weight.

I don't get people's problem with this. Fighting obesity and winning would be a huge way to cut down our health care costs nationally.

Same with smoking cessation.

[Fumesucker]

13. A lot of people will simply stop going to the doctor after being harassed a time or two about weight

I'm surprised you don't realize this.

[Pretzel_Warrior]

14. Well that would be stupid and short sighted of those people

[Nuclear Unicorn]

16. It is equally short-sighted to become so invasive people begin pushing back.

People don't like controlling, nagging busybodies who are arrogant enough to presume they can tell everyone else what to do. It's called push-BACK for a reason.

[Pretzel_Warrior]

20. That's just crazy talk. If a doctor looks at your blood work

And vital signs and can see excess weight is having an adverse health effect, it would be wrong of them NOT to mention that as a health factor and discuss ways to improve that health deficiency.

Should dentists not tell us to brush and floss and avoid eating hard candies?

Should psychiatrists not counsel people struggling with depression to avoid association with negative people?

If your neighbor says you are overweight and are bringing down property values, you can rightly tell them to get bent. If your board certified medical doctor says toy're overweight and it is contributing to decline in health, I'd think a person is grateful for the warning and asks, "what next?"

Anyone who wants to ignore reality and subsequently stay away from doctor and check ups is an arrogant fool.

[Fumesucker]

19. Roughly half the population is of below average intelligence

And the number of absolutely huge people I see around is climbing rapidly, it used to be at least somewhat unusual to see the morbidly obese, it's an everyday thing now though.

[Aristus]

18. I advise my patients very carefully on both subjects.

I find reactions to both pieces of advice differ substantially.

When I have a patient whose health is affected by obesity, I start by mentioning that my sister has a weight problem, and that I'm very sensitive to it; if someone were to hurt her feelings, I'd be very upset. Having softened the ground up with that, I mention the importance of regular exercise and healthy eating (and drinking). When I advise my patients on weight loss, they usually smile and say,"Yeah, I know..."

Offering smoking-cessation advise is a bit more tricky. I get a lot of stonewalling. But I try to be as careful about it as I can, unless, as I have mentioned previously, they're smoking around children.

I remember that thread. People ended up calling for my blood, and sending up a howl that would crumble the walls of Jericho. People rely on medical professionals for health advice, but damn the torpedoes if we offer advice people don't want to hear!...

[Pretzel_Warrior]

21. Thank you for your perspective as a health professional

[nolabear]

23. Absolutely. It takes empathy and support to address the problem.

As someone who's both a therapist and who fights the weight battle I'm beginning to think I should look into it as a sub-specialty.

[maddezmom]

12. My doctors did about 2 years ago

And to be honest I am glad he and she did. It was my choice to listen and I did.

I have lost quite a bit weight bit by eating better and routine exercise but even more than lbs. I have lost 4 pant sizes. I am feeling better physically and mentally, have more energy for my teenage kids, seem less stressed and sleep better occasionally. .

My doctors actually focused less on actual weight loss but on being and living healthy, etc. I still have my vices but I try to counter them by doing things that are good for me.... not sure if it is the best plan but seems to be working for me.

[Pretzel_Warrior]

15. Thank you for sharing your story

[grasswire]

17. a lot of obesity could probably b e cut...

.....by providing an incentive for SNAP recipients to buy healthy food.

Perhaps something like this:

The recipient gets a handbook with well-presented simple nutritional info. It has a coupon to register for extra benefits if their expenditures show less junk food, processed foods, and more fruits and vegetables, whole grains etc.

Incentivize it!

[Snotcicles]

25. You should start hearing more about the new diet drug Belviq. It is a big help for me. nt

[kestrel91316]

26. I am 20 lb more than when I graduated from college as a VERY slender

woman. Any doctor harps on me about my weight, this menopausal woman is going to smack him/her upside the head, lol.