No cartman pix yet? WT?
Posted on 08/24/2005 7:20:13 AM PDT by Millee
As doctors warn more patients that they should lose weight, the advice has backfired on one doctor with a woman filing a complaint with the state saying he was hurtful, not helpful.
Dr. Terry Bennett says he tells obese patients their weight is bad for their health and their love lives, but the lecture drove one patient to complain to the state.
"I told a fat woman she was obese," Bennett says. "I tried to get her attention. I told her, 'You need to get on a program, join a group of like-minded people and peel off the weight that is going to kill you.' "
He says he wrote a letter of apology to the woman when he found out she was offended.
Her complaint, filed about a year ago, was initially investigated by a board subcommittee, which recommended that Bennett be sent a confidential letter of concern. The board rejected the suggestion in December and asked the attorney general's office to investigate.
Bennett rejected that office's proposal that he attend a medical education course and acknowledge that he made a mistake.
Bruce Friedman, chairman of the board of medicine, said he could not discuss specific complaints. Assistant Attorney General Catherine Bernhard, who conducted the investigation, also would not comment, citing state law that complaints are confidential until the board takes disciplinary action.
The board's Web site says disciplinary sanctions may range from a reprimand to the revocation of all rights to practice in the state.
"Physicians have to be professional with patients and remember everyone is an individual. You should not be inflammatory or degrading to anyone," said board member Kevin Costin.
Other overweight patients have come to Bennett's defense.
"What really makes me angry is he told the truth," Mindy Haney told WMUR-TV on Tuesday. "How can you punish somebody for that?"
Haney said Bennett has helped her lose more than 150 pounds, but acknowledged that the initially didn't want to listen.
"I have been in this lady's shoes. I've been angry and left his practice. I mean, in-my-car-taking-off angry," Haney said. "But once you think about it, you're angry at yourself, not Doctor Bennett. He's the messenger. He's telling you what you already know."
While being 10-30 pounds overweight might be distressing to your self image, it's not really that big a deal as long as you have none of the complications that coming with being truly obese.
And the dirty little secret (well not so secret) is that many guys prefer Rubenesque, fluffy, pleasingly plump women. (Well maybe not fluffy :) )
A doctor was once rude to me (not about losing weight, and it was even over an issue that was none of his business), and I read him the riot act so loud everyone in the waiting room could hear. I then proceeded to the front desk, told the woman I refused to pay, and explained why. I made sure I spoke loudly enough that the waiting patients could hear.
Of course, I found another doctor. Doctor's don't have a need to be rude to their patients. They can speak firmly and plainly (as this doctor seems to have done) without being stupid about it.
Back to the picture ----- Does her shirt say what I think it says?
Interesting thing about that - a lot of those same people think that homosexuals 'can't help it', and we should be understanding and accepting.
Of course, that makes them hypocrites, but there's nothing new in that.
She is a fat body and should put down the damn fork and lift some weights.
I am utterly sick of fat slobs seeking sympathy when they are the ones who usually exercise the least and eat the most food.
"Wish me luck..."
Good for you! Now stick with it! You can do it! I always think of something I read years ago about losing weight when you don't have that "immediate" loss you had hoped for..... think of how many years it took to put it on!
So, remember that, and don't get discouraged. I'm excited for you! I wish my cousin had the same attitude you have.
Good luck!
I just cleaned this keyboard last night!
I was a PT for 10 years. I heard all sorts of excuses, mostly lame. The bottom line is this:
1. If you really try, you will lose weight. Rarely ever do people have true disorders.
2. Most people grossly underestimate the amount of food they truly consume.
3. Many people think they are exercising when they are not. To burn fat, you have to move and sweat it off.
4. Most people give up too soon. It takes months, not days to lose any real weight.
Hooray for this doctor.
This woman is not only fat -- she is fat AND stupid.
You are right I was rude in my post....I am also about 30 lbs overweight and would NEVER sue a Doctor for telling me to lose weight I am not healthy. My response would be, "Just quit smoking last month, one miracle at a time, thank you"
No cartman pix yet? WT?
I tend to discount the BMI index as being worth much. If I put in my weight and height back in the early 80s, I get a BMI of 28.8. Photos of the time have me looking like a somewhat broad shouldered and long armed scarecrow. That weight was also right at the top of the barely acceptable range for the US Air Force. At that time I was running 3 miles three times a week, and 5 miles twice a week. The Air Force (reserve) doctor who gave me my physical said that I did not need to lose any more weight.
Other doctors have told me that 40 or 45 pounds higher than that would still not be bad for me.
>> And the dirty little secret (well not so secret) is that many guys prefer Rubenesque, fluffy, pleasingly plump women. (Well maybe not fluffy :)<<
Thank you!
My hubby actually prefers me chunky and alive than skinny and dead.
The last time I lost a large amount of weight, I was part of the Anorexia club in college Ballet. We lived on Slim Fast and coffee.
Now he is like the Food Police. "What did you eat today?"
God Love him!
You could just bunge cord your laptop to the treadmill and exercise and FReep to your heart's content. Might try it myself, but I don't know how well it would work with a Nordic Track skier instead of a treadmill. :)
If you'd care to start a thread, I'll grab some popcorn.
My brother has lost about 100 pounds twice, this last time he kept it off for 6 years but he is back up again. He hurt his knee and had to stop jogging and the weight just crept back on.
The funny thing is I had been warned about another doctor in the practice - that she was cold fish and I wanted to avoid her. I ended up scheduling a C-section with the "nice doctor" that turned out horrible. She did not communicate one thing to me the whole time, the nurses had to tell me what was going on. There's more to it, but I wished I had chosen the cold fish - then I would have been prepared.
Good luck on the 3rd! We are done (I hope) but I do love babies. Glad you aren't getting transferred around in a practice and that you like your doctor - makes all the difference in the world.
As a Freepin' Fattie, I agree with your statements...
"1. If you really try, you will lose weight. Rarely ever do people have true disorders."
Nope, just controllable addictions (urges). Some even eat out of boredom.
"2. Most people grossly underestimate the amount of food they truly consume."
Too true, which is why I've started to write EVERYTHING I EAT down in a journal. Now I look at something and think... is it worth writing down?
"3. Many people think they are exercising when they are not. To burn fat, you have to move and sweat it off."
Try getting balls hit at you for an hour (or more) with a catch expectancy of at least 75%. You'll pant, sweat, and have a GREAT TIME doing it! Of course, if you have the $$ you can hire a PT. I know I'd love to!
"4. Most people give up too soon. It takes months, not days to lose any real weight."
This is the truth of the matter. We all want a magic pill that gets rid of fat in hours, but it ISN'T GOING TO HAPPEN. Truth hurts.
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