Should Gps Stop Mincing Their Words With Obese Patients?

[naomi24]

//GPs should stop worrying about causing offence and offer obese patients help to control their weight, experts have said.//

http://news.sky.com/story/gps-told-dont-mince-your-words-with-obese-patients-10631431

[Islay]

Naomi that's a simple way of looking at it - can a druggie just decide to take a slightly less powerful drug? Can a drinker take more water with it?

No

[youngmafbog]

There are many reasons, greed is one of them.

[Cloverjo]

Naomi, they're not going to nibble on raw carrots while there's a tin of cream or biscuits around.

I don't like thinking about this. It reminds me of a bad time.

[hereIam]

But it is true in many cases Eccles and your view ticks me off too.

[naomi24]

Cloverjo, // they're not going to nibble on raw carrots while there's a tin of cream or biscuits around. //

Exactly... but if they hate being overweight so much, why not?

[Purist]

My concern with this story is that other potentially dangerous conditions are going to be ignored as the 10 minute consultation will be taken up with the same lecture regarding weight. What if the person has pneumonia, oh its okay, he is breathless because he is fat, bad back..Fat, migraines = fat, symptoms of hypothyroidism (which ironically includes weight gain) = just overeating... serious problems are going to be put to one side, maybe is a stealth plan by the NHS to cut back on referrals and blood tests.

[ummmm]

Most fat people are comfort eating. There is something wrong with them and food makes them feel better. Then it becomes a vicious cycle.

[Cloverjo]

Naomi, for the same reason that drunks don't just drink water instead of gin, or whatever.
They know it's doing harm, but they can't stop it.

[Deskdiary]

I don't have expertise. My observations are borne out of common sense.

Common sense dictates that obesity is not "often" as a result of an underlying issue.

To suggest it is is to suggest most people are fat not through their own fault. If this were the case, then how come as a nation we are getting fatter? Is the increase in obesity "often" as a result of an underlying issue? Or course not.

People need to accept we are becoming fatter because too many people are eating too much, and eating too much of the wrong things, and exercising too little.

Searching for an excuse to justify it is wrong for the majority of fat people.

[Islay]

//I don't have expertise//

Ahh that explains it then!!

[hereIam]

Another good post Deskdiary.

[Deskdiary]

Explains what?

[naomi24]

Cloverjo. //Naomi, for the same reason that drunks don't just drink water instead of gin, or whatever. //

But alcohol is a drug. Food isn't. It can become an addiction, but it isn't a drug.

[RandyMarsh]

The message can be severe without the need to call people names.

You risk dying 10 years early if you do not lose weight is clear enough.

[Zacs-Master]

Anything can become an addiction Naomi. Including food.

[Purist]

"But alcohol is a drug. Food isn't. It can become an addiction, but it isn't a drug."

Some foods can bring about chemical reactions in the brain similar to those experienced when ingesting drugs or alcohol. Which is why when a person gives up an addictive food like sugar they experience withdrawal symptoms.

[ummmm]

Very true, Purist.

I gave up coffee and had awful withdrawal symptoms and I put most of that down to the sugar my body was missing.

[ummmm]

Sex is also addictive apparently.

[ummmm]

And porn, and gambling.

[naomi24]

Zacs-Master, I said food can become an addiction.