Comments on: Fat or Obese?

By: Elaine

Elaine — Mon, 11 Oct 2010 13:51:37 +0000

I guess it’s hard too for a doctor to know what approach to take with a patient. It is sad that you spent 10 years being miserable when you could have been doing what you’re doing now. The important thing is you did change, turned your life around, you’re happy and look great! Good for you.

By: Joni Vicarioli

Joni Vicarioli — Mon, 04 Oct 2010 18:24:22 +0000

Looking back on all my visits with my Dr. where my main complaints were tied directly to being FAT I wish he had been much more blunt maybe I would have listened 10 years ago. Instead he stayed polite and I stayed miserable.( not his fault) Obesity is a disease with sometimes fatal complications at the worst.In addition to the physical damage it steals your happiness and your sense of worth and those scars last a lifetime. So if the word fat needs to be used to illicit change (in my opinion) it will never hurt more than it already does and yes it could possibly save a life.

By: Ferd

Ferd — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 16:01:00 +0000

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.

By: Elaine

Elaine — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 23:50:57 +0000

I agree, obese is a medical term, fat sounds mean. I wouldn’t use it with patients but I have used the word obese.

By: Elaine

Elaine — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 23:49:19 +0000

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.

By: mary-Anne Horton

mary-Anne Horton — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 14:38:25 +0000

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….

By: Cilicious

Cilicious — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 12:43:40 +0000

I tend to agree with Cindy, but ‘obese’ sounds a bit more professional.

By: Jodi

Jodi — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 13:49:26 +0000

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 [type] ..Yellow Fairy Slippers

By: Elaine

Elaine — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 12:53:55 +0000

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.

By: Elaine

Elaine — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 12:47:42 +0000

LOL you got a point there Cindy.