Physician, Heal Thyself

Aquajock

Aquajock

Cathlete
Just read a fairly sobering article (pulled from the CNN main web page), about how more and more physicians are starting to specialize in "weight management". While this might be positive at first glance, what really got me was the information on how little nutrition has historically been addressed in medical schools . . . and EXERCISE SCIENCE WASN'T EVEN MENTIONED AT ALL.

From everything I've read in popular media sources, "weight management" dialog is ~95% about food intake . . . with only the most cursory nod toward exercise. Which, given the paucity of training - and probably interest - in medical schools on exercise science, is probably understandable. But dangerous, considering that sedentary living in and of itself is at least as potentially life-threatenining as food overconsumption.

I know the mantra always is "Check with your doctor before beginning this or any other exercise program yadda yadda" but from what I've seen, we "patients" had better make pretty damned sure Doctor SoAndSo knows what the *&^% she's talking about when it comes to exercise. My guess is we here know more about the subject then 9 out of every 10 doctors, especially about the value of high intensity exercise.

Rant over. Happy Easter-To-Be to my gentile friends, and belated Happy Passover to my Jewish friends!

A-Jock
 
Hi Annette,
I'm going to address this carefully since DH is a physician and I certainly don't want to put him down BUT, you are right- Dr's get scarily little training in nutrition. My DH was required to take ONE nutrition course and that course focused on chemistry more than what to actually eat. He told me that excercise is addressed to the extent that it helps overall health, etc but that when he was in school there were not weight management courses. Maybe things are different now but I would say that for Drs age 40 (DH) and over be wary of their nutrition advice.

DH freely admits I know more about excercise and nutrition than him. Its scary how little he knows. When I first met him (right after he finished med school) he thought salad was not a vegetable because it did not contain enough vitamin A. NO kidding, he actually thought that!! His strange definition of what constituted a veggie was how much vitamin A it contained. He is FAR better informed now due to me.

But that all being said, DH KNOWS when he is short on something. When his patients ask his advice on weight loss, he tells them to never drop below 1,200 calories, 1,500 is better, eat a well balanced diet, and if they have any further questions he can refer them to a registered dietician.

Be wary, be very wary before asking your Dr. for nutrition advice. My ob/gyn knows NOTHING about nutrition but he won't admit it. I know he knows nothing due to the bizzare eating advice he gave me when pregnant.

As for Drs specialising in weight loss, I certainly hope they will get a lot more training in the topic.

Even if they did not, as long as they are medically licences to practice medicine they could legally still do it.
 
A-Jock agree whole heartedly! I've read many threads on the less than adequate responses some doc's give their patients in regards to weight management and exercise. I remember one post where the doctor told the poster to drop her calories to 800-900 a day as she didn't need to eat more than that. Wow!

We live in the 21st Century and the medical schools need to step up to the plate and add extensive training in nutrition and exercise. One course, as amynicole mentioned, is just rediculous!

And amynicole, bravo to your DH for his sound advice to his patients. We need more docs like him!

Then there are the pharmaceutical companies pandering their products to our unsuspecting docs to farm out all the drugs that promise a patient miraculous results. If one were to read all of the side effects of said drug, I would hope they would tear up the script and run. Perhaps these are the doctors who "specialize" in weight management?
 
Many of my friends are doctors, and as far as I can tell, they don't know squat about nutrition or exercise. None of them exercises and I don't know one who is particularly nutrition-conscious. One of them, in fact, is quite obese.

I don't want to be sexist, but it seems as if male doctors (at least those I know) seem less informed nutrition/exercise-wise than their female colleagues.
 
I read that article this morning in my local paper. You're right...exercise was not mentioned except for "increasing activity" or something like that. I have a physician in my family with a 200+ cholesterol count but figures he doesn't need to do anything about it until he's 50! What...when he needs byapass surgery?

For the past few years that I've been exercising DH (who is an optometrist) didn't exercise at all. A tall, thin, never-had-to-worry-about-my-weight Swede...with elevated cholesterol when he hit 30 and required meds to control it...finally began exercising and GREATLY changing his diet. It was an answer to prayer! If only he'd start lifting!

I'm sure there are physicians who are the exception. Perhaps this will be a starting point that the medical community can build on.

Cardiac disease, diabetes, obesity, osteoporosis, stroke, high cholesterol, etc. all run in my family. If I can avert them without pills, I will!

Loving exercising and being strong,
CinDee
 
You definitely can, CinDee. Just think, if docs were better informed about nutrition and exercise, instead of managing disease, they could prevent it and reverse it. And even those unfortunates who do succumb to disease would find it more managable, i.e., a better quality of life, if proper nutrition and exercise were the first RX the doctor gave.
Bobbi http://www.handykult.de/plaudersmilies.de/chicken.gif "Chick's rule!"
 
I like my Dr. but I know what you are saying. I tried to pin her down to help me set a goal weight and she kept saying set small goals like 10 lbs. I had to flat out insist pointing out that I had already lost 60 lbs., and knew about setting small intermediate goals, but that at the rate I was losing I'd hit my "goal" before a year from now, which is when I will see her again. It was like pulling teeth to get a number for me to shoot for that was realistic, yet healthy. I finally got one but only after really pressing the issue. She then talked about hitting plateaus (already done that for 2 months I know they can be broken) and that I may get stuck somewhere on the way down and not be able to lose any more. I just don't buy that. Maybe if you don't exercise, but I do, regularly, consistently. Basically the entire conversation was a downer. I felt deflated when I left as if she was saying "you probably won't be able to do this". IMO Dr.s should be encouraging not discouraging. She is overweight, probably more than I am now, so maybe her own failure to lose has her down about people's ability to do it? I *will* do this, I know I can.

Also, while eating and exercise go hand in hand for weight loss and health, I think exercise is almost more important if not equal, because even after a modest 20 lb. loss but with a lot of exercise, my vitals were excellent. I recently had a fitness test done and I was still a good 40+ lbs. overweight at the time and my cardio was good, flexibility was good, and strength excellent. So you CAN be in good health and overweight with regular exercise. I plan to be both physically fit AND at a healthy weight but it's nice to know my vital statistics and fitness statistics are already good. :)
 
You ARE doing it, Venus, and very well! I look forward to the day when I read the post in which you let us know you've met your goal. My exercise program has evolved over the years to suit me where I am. At 41, post truamatic foot injury, I am back and better tahn ever. I am still amazed at all the good stuff I learn here on a regular basis. Don't let anyone discourage you. You are awesome!

My doctor is wonderful. She's very conservative and likes to use meds as a last resort. I have had several people tell me I need a new doc who will prescribe for me. But she takes her time when I see her and lookd for the best treatment, be it exercise, meditation. She's from India! :)
Bobbi http://www.handykult.de/plaudersmilies.de/chicken.gif "Chick's rule!"
 
It's my pleasure, CinDee! Don't forget to toot your own horn because you are smart enough to be aware of your risks and to do what it takes to minimize them. Our genes are not our destiny. As the saying goes, "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." :) Those genetic predispositions may put you at higher risk but it's within your power to overcome them with your lifestyle. One of the greatest things is having a place like these forums. I can't tell you how much they've meant to me during one crisis and another. But I can tell you I love hanging out with such bright, fit women who are on the ball and all the knowledge, and laughter and comeradierie and even the sorrows and disappointments we often share have made me a better person. Such a blessing is Cathe.com and all you Catheites! :D Here's a link to a page that you may find interesting:

http://www.soulkurry.com/v2/health/article.php3?articleid=1290
Bobbi http://www.handykult.de/plaudersmilies.de/chicken.gif "Chick's rule!"
 
Well...this article just confirms what I've come to find as truth for years. I could go on forever about this subject, but won't. Thanks to Marci for sharing your honest conversations with your husband who I am sure is a very fine doctor.

Doctors are only human (not gods, we seem to forget this while discussing these things in their office....or they do). They cannot know everything which is why we need to completely educate ourselves and come to our own conclusions regarding health and fitness and how it affects our whole being. But that being said....I can't comprehend why doctors don't seem to "see" the connection as of the utmost importance when diagnosing and treating disease and maintaining health and learn to give prescriptions regarding exercise programs (and diet). I realize the vast majority of patients are looking for a magic pill to solve their problems and the doctors and pharmaceuticals are happy to step in and make one,$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$, BUT they have compromised their original intent by doing so, which I think was to do no harm and "HEAL", make healthy...something on that order. We need to be told as a nation that exercise/healthy diet is the ONLY way to get back into shape and get off our butts and do it. And doctors need to have the guts to say that exercise/healthy diet is the only way that we will ever really get our health back (their sure to loose patients by doing this...oh bummer) and get themselves educated on the relationship of exercise/diet to disease and health management.

AND....as soon as they can find a way to make as much money off of this approach as they do off of drugs....it will happen. $$$$
}( }( }( $$$$$

Briee
 
Bobbi thanks for the kind words of support! Great site, just bookmarked it. I'm studying Healing Touch and several of the articles there are really interesting to me. :)
 
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