I'm really of two minds about this (and I didn't see the news story on TV, only the article linked above, so I can't speak to the doctor's "bedside manner" so to speak).
Several years ago, I was overweight. I kind of was aware of it, but I wasn't paying much attention. I was carrying much too much weight for my height, genetics, and frame. I was 21 and was going to the doctor because I had high blood pressure. At 21, I shouldn't have had high blood pressure. There were no real causes for my blood pressure to be high. The doctor asked me to reduce my salt, change my birth control pills, etc. all of which I did, and still saw no results. He said that the problem might be weight related, but he didn't push it. I rather ignored him on that front. I tried the other solutions and didn't have any good results in reducing my blood pressure.
Not long after that, I independently decided I should (and could) lose weight. After about 2 years of very hard work, careful eating and consistant exercise, I had lost about 60 lbs and was much healthier. Guess what else was better? Of course, my blood pressure. It was well within the normal range for someone in her early 20s with no other health conditions.
So even though I didn't go to the doctor to talk about weight, it really was the source of my problem. It was well within the scope of his professional obligations to talk with me about it. It impacted many areas of my life and health, not just my blood pressure.
I guess that the doctor featured in the story above may not have had the best delivery (some doctors aren't good at that sort of thing, sadly), but may have been doing his best as a health care professional to help his patient increase her health levels and quality of life.
Was he right to talk with her about it? Or should have have addressed her other health concerns without talking about the weight, since she didn't bring it up, even though it may have impacted the other problems she was having? It's really hard to say what the 'right' answer is in this case.
no subject
Several years ago, I was overweight. I kind of was aware of it, but I wasn't paying much attention. I was carrying much too much weight for my height, genetics, and frame. I was 21 and was going to the doctor because I had high blood pressure. At 21, I shouldn't have had high blood pressure. There were no real causes for my blood pressure to be high. The doctor asked me to reduce my salt, change my birth control pills, etc. all of which I did, and still saw no results. He said that the problem might be weight related, but he didn't push it. I rather ignored him on that front. I tried the other solutions and didn't have any good results in reducing my blood pressure.
Not long after that, I independently decided I should (and could) lose weight. After about 2 years of very hard work, careful eating and consistant exercise, I had lost about 60 lbs and was much healthier. Guess what else was better? Of course, my blood pressure. It was well within the normal range for someone in her early 20s with no other health conditions.
So even though I didn't go to the doctor to talk about weight, it really was the source of my problem. It was well within the scope of his professional obligations to talk with me about it. It impacted many areas of my life and health, not just my blood pressure.
I guess that the doctor featured in the story above may not have had the best delivery (some doctors aren't good at that sort of thing, sadly), but may have been doing his best as a health care professional to help his patient increase her health levels and quality of life.
Was he right to talk with her about it? Or should have have addressed her other health concerns without talking about the weight, since she didn't bring it up, even though it may have impacted the other problems she was having? It's really hard to say what the 'right' answer is in this case.