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“You’re Perfectly Healthy, Except…”
Why do doctors bring up weight in otherwise healthy patients?
A friend recently went to the doctor and, for the umpteenth time, was told:
“Everything indicates you’re in perfect health; except you’re overweight.”
When she shared this, my own countless experiences hearing the same line came rushing back. One memory bubbled to the surface: a comedian doing a bit about his doctor saying the same thing, calling the extra weight “cosmetic.”
“Well doc, I’m not here to find out whether I’m cute, I just want to know if I’m healthy, so let’s focus on that,” was the gist of his response.
Why are we being warned about our weight when we’re healthy?
Doctors’ Concern
On paper, warning people about excess weight is the responsible thing to do. After all, being overweight or obese increases the risk of type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, heart diseases and strokes, kidney disease, certain types of cancer, and more. Doctors likely just want to be sure their patients are aware (in case they already weren’t) that they’re in a “risky” demographic with their weight.
Unfortunately, however, this is one area of healthcare doctors are ill-prepared to discuss.
