If that question were applied to any other medical recommendation, it would be obvious just how bonkers it is. "This cancer treatment has a 95% chance of failure, and will likely make tumors grow larger, but if I tell patients that they won't try it!" smh
This was the section that rang my bells the most - in a good way :) "On the other hand, if the patient is told that this is an intervention that is rarely successful and that if they lose weight and then regain it they are having the experience of the vast majority of patients and that it’s not their fault, then when they (almost inevitably) have that experience, they are more likely to be clear that they didn’t fail the intervention, but rather the intervention failed them. This can lead to continued engagement with healthcare and the benefits that can come from that." Continued engagement with healthcare and the benefits resulting sounds like the most sustainable and humane way to go. Thank you, Ragen!
This almost made my head explode. The years I wasted because Drs told me weight loss was possible and in fact the only option for a variety of issues is infuriating and part of the reason I rarely visit them anymore.
I appreciate this post very much. Not gonna lie, I think it’s way more depressing that doctors wanna withhold information we’re entitled to because they want to coerce us into doing things they want us to do than to simply be told the truth.
I remember when i got my first “real” job out of college with health insurance, I was so excited to get my health under control. I had a very nice (or so I thought) doctor who helped me with everything I needed but she pushed exercise a lot. (In hindsight, I was walking a couple miles a day for work, which was HUGE with my spinal cord injury, and idk why she wasn’t happy with it.) anyway, I joined “curves” which promised all kinds of weight loss, so when I told the doctor (I wanted her to like me and treat me better! Im a “good fatty”!) she clapped and her face lit up. “If you keep it up, the pounds will just melt away!”
I never lost an ounce, by the way. I also didn’t gain any strength. All I lost was money.
Anyway, thank you for what you do. This work is so important.
I just want people to know that there are doctors (a D.O. in this case) who do not push higher-weight patients to lose weight. My doctor is in his late 40's and has not once in six years mentioned weight loss. He understands that my (unmedicated) blood pressure is fine, my diabetes well-controlled on just Metformin, and my cholesterol levels are good. They are out there.
I was denied surgery this week based on BMI. No mention of the dangers of weight loss or the GLP-1s recommended was stated. I look forward to your presentation this month.
This is something i would like to be able to hand to / share with others (clients and my damn providers) ; i know this is how you make your living; do you provide this in a paid transferable format? Thank you
If that question were applied to any other medical recommendation, it would be obvious just how bonkers it is. "This cancer treatment has a 95% chance of failure, and will likely make tumors grow larger, but if I tell patients that they won't try it!" smh
100000% this
This was the section that rang my bells the most - in a good way :) "On the other hand, if the patient is told that this is an intervention that is rarely successful and that if they lose weight and then regain it they are having the experience of the vast majority of patients and that it’s not their fault, then when they (almost inevitably) have that experience, they are more likely to be clear that they didn’t fail the intervention, but rather the intervention failed them. This can lead to continued engagement with healthcare and the benefits that can come from that." Continued engagement with healthcare and the benefits resulting sounds like the most sustainable and humane way to go. Thank you, Ragen!
This almost made my head explode. The years I wasted because Drs told me weight loss was possible and in fact the only option for a variety of issues is infuriating and part of the reason I rarely visit them anymore.
I appreciate this post very much. Not gonna lie, I think it’s way more depressing that doctors wanna withhold information we’re entitled to because they want to coerce us into doing things they want us to do than to simply be told the truth.
I remember when i got my first “real” job out of college with health insurance, I was so excited to get my health under control. I had a very nice (or so I thought) doctor who helped me with everything I needed but she pushed exercise a lot. (In hindsight, I was walking a couple miles a day for work, which was HUGE with my spinal cord injury, and idk why she wasn’t happy with it.) anyway, I joined “curves” which promised all kinds of weight loss, so when I told the doctor (I wanted her to like me and treat me better! Im a “good fatty”!) she clapped and her face lit up. “If you keep it up, the pounds will just melt away!”
I never lost an ounce, by the way. I also didn’t gain any strength. All I lost was money.
Anyway, thank you for what you do. This work is so important.
And WOW, those handouts from Medical Students for Size Inclusivity are fantastic!! So glad to hear they exist!
I just want people to know that there are doctors (a D.O. in this case) who do not push higher-weight patients to lose weight. My doctor is in his late 40's and has not once in six years mentioned weight loss. He understands that my (unmedicated) blood pressure is fine, my diabetes well-controlled on just Metformin, and my cholesterol levels are good. They are out there.
I'd love to know what you said to the doc that asked the question.....
I was denied surgery this week based on BMI. No mention of the dangers of weight loss or the GLP-1s recommended was stated. I look forward to your presentation this month.
This is something i would like to be able to hand to / share with others (clients and my damn providers) ; i know this is how you make your living; do you provide this in a paid transferable format? Thank you