What do you think about this? England’s public health minister is telling physicians and other health professionals to tell people they are fat rather than
obese. Some believe the term obese is just another medical term and makes the condition a third party issue. Where using the term fat is brutally honest and encourages personal responsibility. I don’t know how this will go over in the UK but here in the states I would think many patients would be offended, then again has the medical community been tip toeing around the issue afraid to be brutally honest?
FYI: The term obesity comes from the Latin word obesus, which roughly translated means intensive eating.
Fat, overweight, obese, chunky, stout, plus-size, hefty, chubby, large. It’s all the same.
LOL you got a point there Cindy.
Why would a physicians or other health professionals need to tell their patients they are fat OR obese? To me, it seems unprofessional and degrading. I’d be looking for another doctor if mine called me either of those words. It would be far better to have a physician say “I would encourage you to lose some weight”. And then simply leave it at that. There is no need to use words that sting, bite, and hurt.
Jodi´s last blog ..Yellow Fairy Slippers
Because it’s a medical condition Jodi. Just like a doctor would tell you that you’re a diabetic or have hypertension. A doctor wouldn’t say, I would encourage you to eat less sugar and leave it at that if you are a diabetic would he/she? No, you can be sure treatment options would be discussed along with diet and exercise etc. The same with obese.
The doctor could simply say ‘I would like to see you lose more weight because blah blah blah’. I still don’t think we should give them the permission to outright call someone fat or obese. It’s degrading and sounds a lot like name calling to me. But that’s just my opinion.
Jodi´s last blog ..Yellow Fairy Slippers
I tend to agree with Cindy, but ‘obese’ sounds a bit more professional.
I agree, obese is a medical term, fat sounds mean. I wouldn’t use it with patients but I have used the word obese.
I think that people know that they are way to fat, however I do think that the doctor should tell them that they are in a very dangerous spot carrying around all that excess fat and how it is affecting all their internal organs and blood vessels and that fat does in fact kill, then send them to the dieticans clinic ( it is free here in Canada)where they can learn the proper foods to eat to help them to loose that excess weight and how to learn to start excericising that does not put them at risk of a heart attach and to have them coming back for weigh ins at least once a month if not every two weeks, I love to watch Dr. Oz and he makes no bones about telling people just how bad a shape they are in but also encourages them to seek help like it was any other disease. who knows it could save some lives. PS: one thing about going to a dietican clinic you find you are not alone in your struggle and may find comfort in working with others in the same place as you….
Mary Anne I love reading your comments as my one and only Canadian follower. We have learned much from you and what you’ve shared about your healthcare system vs ours. Going to a clinic and getting nutritional advice and weighed in twice a month? We are so far from that ever happening. Maybe someday.
Hi, Elaine. Wow, this subject sure hits a nerve, huh?
I have always used the word “obese” rather than “fat” with patients because “obese” is more medical/objective, though it is important to consider people’s feelings and sensitivities about it. I think the word “fat” has a judgmental/derogatory ring to it, and I would never want to come across that way. The important things are to bring the problem to attention, and to encourage ways to solve it.
And I’ve said it before, there is no magic. Eat right and exercise regularly.