Patient's Obesity Diagnosis May Depend On Doctor's Weight, Study Suggests

Whether or not you get a diagnosis of obesity may come down to more than numbers on the scale -- it may actually be about what your doctor's weight is.

A new study conducted by the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health shows that when a doctor had a normal body mass index (BMI, a ratio of weight to height) they are more likely to talk to their patients who are obese about weight loss (30 percent of normal-weight doctors, compared with 18 percent of obese or overweight doctors).

In addition, 93 percent of normal-weight doctors are likely to diagnose a patient with obesity if the patient's BMI is the same or greater as their own, while just 7 percent of overweight and obese doctors were likely to do this, researchers said.

"Our findings indicate that physicians with normal BMI more frequently reported discussing weight loss with patients than overweight or obese physicians," study researcher Sara Bleich, Ph.D., of Johns Hopkins, said in a statement. "Physicians with normal BMI also have greater confidence in their ability to provide diet and exercise counseling and perceive their weight loss advice as trustworthy when compared to overweight or obese physicians."

On the other hand, researchers found that obese doctors were more likely to prescribe and report success with prescribing medications for obesity to their patients.

The Los Angeles Times reported that 53 percent of normal-weight doctors gave diet advice, compared with 37 percent of overweight or obese doctors. And 56 percent of normal-weight doctors gave exercise advice, versus 38 percent of overweight or obese doctors.

The study, in the journal Obesity, is based on results from a survey of 500 primary care doctors; doctors were asked to self-report their weight.

Recently, a study in the journal Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine showed that many doctors aren't talking to overweight kids about their weight.

The study, conducted by researchers from the University of North Carolina, showed that less than a quarter of parents said that their child's overweight was addressed by the doctor, the Associated Press reported.

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Comments

[SmartEaters]

03:48 PM on 01/30/2012

This is a very interesting study and a sad indictment of where we're at really. In my profession of nutritional therapist, you absolutely must live the healthy message, be it, look and be inspiring in every way, every day or you simply don't get any clients. And yet we have fat doctors ?!?! Where obesity is known to significantly increase both the risk and severity of just about all the of the most devestating ailments out there: cancer, diabetes, heart disease, Alzheimer's etc. And the vast majority of these "healthare professionals" themselves afflicted by excess weight apparently won't even allude to the known and serious healtcare implications of carrying such excess weight to the patients in their paid care? I may be biased but why would anyone with a choice continue to patronise a "healer" that themselves continues to be overweight? What ever happened to "Healer, heal thyself ... "

[LadyAriana]

05:28 AM on 01/30/2012

I don't understand this 'obesity diagnosis'. This may be an American thing, but since when is obesity something to diagnose? I'd see it more as an obesity confirmation. As an obese person, I didn't need a diagnosis - I knew I was huge!

Please don't tell me a 'diagnosis' by a doctor is them calculating your BMI and informing you that you fall into the obese category - cos you can do that yourself for free online. I wouldn't waste my money on a doctors visit for this diagnosis.

Do you need some doctors diagnosis to enable you to get access to medical benefits to treat your obesity? Is this how it works in the American health system?

[jaynes]

11:22 PM on 01/28/2012

why dont people just starve themselves? then id date them

[jessiernut]

01:21 PM on 01/29/2012

Sounds like a good enough reason to keep eating for me

[jaynes]

11:21 PM on 01/28/2012

hahahahahahahaahhahahahahahahahahhaaha

[Missjreneejd]

03:21 PM on 01/28/2012

When was the last time you went to a doctor's appointment and got the bum's rush from the doctor? You're lucky to get a few minutes of time much less a discussion about your weight.

[SCboy]

06:58 AM on 01/29/2012

When was the last time? Every time.

[mypalsharon1]

01:59 PM on 01/28/2012

it's a lot easier to see the risk in someone else's circumstances than it is our own...

[tiemposdepaz]

10:19 AM on 01/28/2012

I think doctors should address a patient's weight. Through the years of wanting my doctors to offer suggestions, they are very lax in that area. One gave me a food pyramid sheet, which was worthless. I was hoping to be referred to a nutritionist or gym. My deceased mom who was obese was told by her doctor, don't worry, she can still eat her ice cream, when she really needed an intervention. I don't know the liablilty behind helping patients lose weight. Most are more confortable prescribing medications for the complications of high blood pressure, diabetes, or whatever else that results from poor nutrition. I just don't like whats going on when it comes to doctors not addressiing weight problems. They would actually save their patients a lot of grief in the long run, if they truly cared.

[jessiernut]

01:25 PM on 01/29/2012

I do agree it is an issue doctors should take on, but sometimes you have to speak up as a patient and be vocal about your wants. You can't just hope they will offer suggestions, they aren't mind readers.

And, you don't need to be referred to a gym or a nutritionist. Joining a gym is easy, and everyone I have been to have certified trainers that know how to work with clients of all fitness levels. Most have had nutritionist on staff, and if they did not they had one to consult with clients outside the gym. This in particular is an issue of a patient needing to take responsibility for their own health. The only thing you would need a doctor for is to clear you to begin exercise programs.

[artgrrl74]

09:08 AM on 01/28/2012

... do people really think overweight individuals are not already aware they have a weight problem? how about we make massive changes to the way we "grow" our food? and companies who have installed gyms in and around the workplace, setting time aside for exercise has proven to improve the health of workers. instead of cutting phys-ed from schools how about we prioritize it? wouldn't THAT be more productive? people who are heavy are quite aware of that and no amout of finger-pointing is going to fix it. tyvm.

[Ossit]

02:00 AM on 01/28/2012

I don't think it has anything to do with the weight of the doctor. It's the 'in' thing to do to dictate to others what obesity is. People should just mind their own business, their own bodies, what they put in their mouths. You can have heart disease fat or skinny. You can have Diabetes fat or skinny. You can have high blood pressure fat or skinny. It depends on family history and genetics.There's only two things everyone has in common. Death and taxes and your taxes aren't affected by whatever problem your CPA has.

[tiemposdepaz]

10:21 AM on 01/28/2012

I don't care if someone is fat or skinny, if they have poor nutrition, that is a problem that needs to be addressed and inquired.

[Ossit]

02:55 PM on 01/29/2012

Their nutrition is none of your business, tiemposdepaz. Will you cook for them since you're so concerned? Nope. Will buy them their meds since you're so concerned? Nope. Have you taken anyone to their doctor appointments who are overweight or otherwise have poor nutrition? Uh...nope. Worry about yourself because they're certainly not concerned about you.

[noahmarder]

06:23 PM on 01/27/2012

Why is a doctor necessary to diagnose obesity and to "prescribe" lifestyle changes like exercise and portion control? If a fat person needs a doctor to tell him he's fat, he probably won't do anything about it. And I choose "fat" not as an insulting term, but as a deliberate avoidance of the terms "overweight" and "obese", which are both linked to the BMI - a very poor metric in determining who is at a healthy weight and who is not.

[FSMbaby]

09:15 AM on 01/28/2012

Not true. When you hear it from your doctor it can be a real wake-up call.

[walk1111]

11:26 AM on 01/28/2012

Anybody that is fat knows it without having a doctor tell them. When they get dressed in the morning or look in the mirror, they see it. They choose not to do what is necessary to get fit.

[Ranveig Elvebakk]

06:02 PM on 01/27/2012

It is unfortunate but true that many doctors role model obesity and bad health because they know no different, while happily chomping their cholesterol and diabetes medication and telling you to do the same. Any contribution to the debate to the contrary is most unwelcome. I speak from personal experience. This attitude can only go on for so long and time is about to catch up with medicine -