How do I talk to my doctor about my weight? | Expert Opinion
Your doctor says you should lose weight. You're fine with your size. A Philadelphia doctor offers advice on how to discuss with your care team.
Does this sound familiar? Every time you go to your doctor, you’re told to lose weight. You know you’re outside the “normal” weight range, but the truth is, you’re OK with your weight.
How do you talk to your doctor about this?
First, I applaud any patient who wants to have an open and honest conversation with a doctor. In medicine, this is pure gold. Patients should be able to talk to their physicians without fear of judgment, criticism, or disrespect. Any conversation about health is most productive when patients and doctors can speak freely.
Second, I encourage all patients to advocate for themselves. That can include stating your health goals, sharing thoughts and feelings about suggested treatments, and asking questions. It also means raising concerns when you disagree with or don’t understand a doctor’s advice.
That said, advocating for yourself can be hard, especially when it means pushing back against a doctor’s recommendation. But consider this: Your physician wants to hear from you. Patients who feel embarrassed, ashamed, or unheard may be reluctant to disclose vital information to their doctor — and no doctor wants that.
Though it may be uncomfortable, raising the issue with your doctor can pay off. Doctors typically give advice with their patients’ health interests in mind. For instance, there are significant health risks associated with obesity that your doctor may be concerned about. But the way you feel about your weight is also important, and if their message is unwelcomed, it’s important to speak up.
Try this at your next doctor’s visit: Start the visit by telling your physician how you feel. For example, “I know that you are concerned about my weight. I would like to have a conversation around how to be healthy without focusing on weight loss.”
You might also ask to skip the routine weigh-in at every visit. Doctor secret: We don’t typically need this more than once yearly and if it makes a patient uncomfortable, that’s more than enough reason to skip it, unless needed for weight-based medications or treatments.
Ultimately, a conversation in which patients can express their feelings and their physician can gain clarity around their health goals is time well-spent for them both.
Amanda Finegold Swain is a family medicine physician who works in the University of Pennsylvania Health System.