Wait weight

Driving in this morning, the Morning Edition story was about doctors, patients and weight loss. The premise is 30% of us are obese. Some doctors aren't encouraging us to lose weight. As the story progressed, I began to empathize with the doctors. If they tell us we're fat, some of us get insulted and accuse the doctor of insensitivity. Some doctors assume we can see ourselves in the mirror, so they don't point out the obvious. Doctors get paid to cure diseases, not prevent them. Doctors can 'tell' us, but that doesn't mean we'll 'hear' them.

One lady shared her doctor didn't give her enough encouragement when she said to him "do you think I can lose 80 pounds in 8 months and run a marathon". Mind you she's 50 years old. His response- "well, you could but it's unlikely". She left and found 'support' in a friend. Good grief. He responded like a normal human being- let's see, you're 50 years old, you want to lose 10 pounds a month and run in a marathon- yes it's possible but, really?, I mean, really?

What's a person to do - either doctor or patient?

My suggestion, unasked for but here it is. The doctors should point out the obvious when a patient is in their office, your current weight does not match the norms for your height and skeletal structure. These diseases could result from your weight. The doctor should provide a resource or two for the patient.

I admit, my doctor did this - pointed out the statistics and provided a resource. I wasn't insulted. My reflection doesn't lie. The scale is fairly accurate.

So what did I do?
Did I follow his advice.
.....Hmmm, no.
Is that his fault.
.....Hmmm, no.
What's a doctor to do?
What's a patient to do?

Information may result in motivation. Look in your mirror. Really look. Stand on your scale and be honest. If you need a resource (or two), television ads are full of opportunities for help with weight loss. Better yet, read a book.

A search in our catalog for weight loss retrieved 176 titles. I redid the search and limited the library to Electronic Books (which I can read at my desk), this pulled up 43 titles. The newest title in the catalog is 'The gravity of weight, [electronic resource] : a clinical guide to weight loss and maintenance'[2010]

New York-based psychiatrists Sylvia (Weill Cornell Medical College) and Byram (Albert Einstein College of Medicine) review the entire body of medical and scientific knowledge about weight and weight loss, always emphasizing that there are nothing but indications--though some of them very strong--about causes and consequences, no linear relationship between one cause and one effect. They consider obesity in the US; food and the basic principles of calories; the psychology of the eater; the metabolic complexities of weight control; psychiatric disorders and weight; medical conditions and weight; exercise; circadian rhythms, sleep, and weight; diet and weight; psychological treatment strategies and weight; and pharmacological and surgical treatments for overweight and obesity

It's not a how-to book but a resource of information on what might cause the weight gain and weight retention. This could be the needed inspiration. This Ebsco ebook can be downloaded onto an e-reader!

Your CTC librarian can give you the login to access e-books off campus!


-kss