How would you feel if your GP kept sending you messages encouraging you to eat less and lose weight?

I assume these letters would be sent out from the staff.........has anyone checked out the size of some of the them ? ? one assumes that would they also send a letter to themselves. ? ?????

Its the same when i go to orthapeadic consultant- also our gps practice nurses are both 'big' women,so it doesnt exude good health as an advertisement,yet these people continue to lecture us all on what we should/shouldnt eat!Its hypercritical is what it is- smacks of "do as i say,not do as i do" Im thinking next time ill turn the tables on them and lecture them

It depends how it’s handled. The country is heading for an epidemic of weight related conditions. We have become too reliant on a health service that ‘makes us better’ (there are limits to what it can do) and need to adapt our attitudes and behaviour to one that ‘keeps us well’

I think it's important to know who your doctor is and for them to know who you are. My lovely doctor decided to leave general practice and become a specialist in skin conditions.

The man who replaced him was very unprofessional. He actually whistled at me and pointed to his mouth when I was taking a few notes about my heart condition.
I changed to a new practice and my new doctor is very good. I don't see her very often, and feel I have to start anew every time. My old doctor knew me, knew my children and our circumstances.

We will never have the good old days back of the family doctor back and I think text messages from your GP like that would be a very bad idea.

By the by, an overweight nurse pinched my then thirteen year old daughter's waist and told her she had put a few pounds on. The result - bulimia that nearly killed her. She dates the start of it to that thoughtless nurse.

I thought doctors were supposed to be overstretched. I think they should concentrate on making sick people well and leave the rest of us alone. You have to be living on Mars if you don't know that being overweight and drinking too much are bad for you!

When i go to drs he mentions weight even though ive not got much to lose- im a size 16 but ive had 7 kids so ive a bit of a 'tummy'- even though gp himself is about 3stone overweight and has a belly protruding over his trousers- and im sumising he aint ever physically himself carried or given birth to his children,so no im thinking- DONT BOTHER LECTURING ME!

No thanks.

I’d end up all gangly rather like our PM.

As I'm Diabetic (Type 2) I see Diabetic Nurse once a year, Blood Tests to confirm Diabetes is under control, have given up smoking & only rarely have alcohol I would be furious. Yes I'm overweight, no I don't exercise enough but health issues reduce my ability to exercise. I eat healthily, lots of veg, fruit within guidelines & restrict sugar.

Only time I've lost weight easily was when I was taken off Diabetes medication, lost over 2.5 stone in 4 months but Diabetes reading was almost off the scale, I did feel well though. Now I'm on different medication weight has piled back and more also I don't feel as fit & healthy. Text messages can be easily deleted

Glad to read that many GNers find it an unhelpful course of action . . thought it was just me - and I agree that predominantly it is likely to have the opposite effect - i.e. make people more obstinate as the pp said its is not ignorance but a lifestyle choice not to abstain from everything . . . especially so when when the "advice" is being delivered by some of the most over weight people anywhere!! As a direct result of being diagnosed with a lung condition (have never smoked) from a cough that took me to the GP in the first instance and made worse by prescribed tablets I now find I am being directed to the dietetic clinic for my "obesity" . . . goodness knows why . . . I have been the same weight for the last decade, eat and drink sensibly and am heartily well otherwise . . . but no mention of any action to tackle the cough or how to deal with my lung condition . . . just seems like yet another "job filler" for NHS staff who we are led to believe are already stretched to the limits . . . . why jump on this latest bandwagon . . .is it because if you don't drink . . .don't smoke . . .your illness MUST be down to the fact that you have via ignorance entered the morbidly obese category?!!

At doctors with athlete's foot........
'just hop on the scales'
'Is that germane?' , i said to the young, very overweight doctor
'what does that word mean ?' she asked but she backed off.
Next time (under pressure of government directives)
' JUST slip off your cardigan and I'll take your BP'
I suffer gravely from 'white coat syndrome ' as it was called before they dropped the white coat. Even the suggestion sends my pulse racing and I feel sick.
This must have been explained to them 20 times but no-where had it been noted.. or maybe read.
'No, thank you. Otherwise I shall regard it as assault,'

The last time I saw my GP was at a party and he had a glass of in his hand ….

I'm Ok with it- I often eat the wrong things then moan about my weight and sometimes (often) have one too many glasses of wine. I'd appreciate a friendly nudge now and again.
I'm glad to see the NHS trying to modernise some of its services rather than soldiering on with things that dont work in the same way anymore e.g. GP practice.

I would hate it. Mind you, the GP I usually see wouldn't have the nerve I don't think. I'd say he's morbidly obese - about 5ft 5 and I would say 20 stone-ish, if not heavier.

Ooh yes, a tot of dark rum any day! For me, it has to be a tot of Baileys (or similar).

Surely there's more help and advice here on GN with all the various threads about weight, diet, 5:2, 16:8, LCHF et al. Some excellent advice and encouragement, from like minded people. I'd recommend GN to anyone who wanted to know.

Very surprised as I’m not overweight?
Bathsheba- I’m amazed when I discover that some people don’t know what causes health issues. To me the information seems to be everywhere.
I was talking to a friend the other day who has just been told that she is pre diabetic. During the course of the conversation it turns out that she drinks liquid sugar during the day AKA fruit drinks. She assured me they aren’t from concentrates! How could she not know how bad they are for her?
Mind you I’m not sure she would be pleased to hear from the Dr.

When I gave up cigarettes with the help of the smoking cessation clinic, the nurse running it absolutely stank of cigarettes, that helped more than any patches, to think that I smelt like that ☹️

When my cholesterol was a bit too high my GP told me to see a practice nurse for advice. She started to give me a lecture about what to eat but I'm afraid my eyes must have glazed over. She was so overweight that I couldn't take her seriously. I am not overweight and eat quite sensibly.

My mother lived to 95 and just used to say 'a little of what you fancy does you good'. She had a tot of dark rum in her coffee before she went to bed every night and slept very well.

I doubt there's a person alive who doesn't already know that a couch potato lifestyle, eating junk food, smoking and drinking is bad for them, and to become healthier and live longer they should change their ways. We all know this - we do not need to be told.
The fact that I am overweight and do little exercise is nothing to do with ignorance. Text messages from my GP will do nothing to alter my bad habits.
And don't anyone kid themselves that this is 'personal attention' from their GP or even from one of the nurses - this will be an automated function of a piece of software on their computers. Press a button, out goes the latest piece of 'encouraging' nonsense to several hundred patients

At least they will understand....
Nurses are just human beings and as imperfect as you or me! Not enough nurses to select those with perfect BMI to do the weighing!

Yes, Auntieflo But when it is face to face with the health practice nurse, and she is most definitely on the very overweight scale, hmmm...

An absolutely massive nurse at the hospital said to me "Let's see how much you weigh!"

I felt like saying "NO! Let's see how much you weigh!"

Well intentioned but badly understood by the sound of it!
When I decide I need to be more abstemious, food or drink wise, there is nothing more annoying than family or friend commenting on what I have chosen to eat/ drink!
If the messages are simply links to where support and advice can be obtained then maybe a monthly reminder of support services is ok. Any hint of a reprimand would not be appropriate. Has anyone seen one of these proposed messages??

Yes, well when it is the GP, maybe. But when it is face to face with the health practice nurse, and she is most definitely on the very overweight scale, hmmm...

Willow I m with you I have no idea who my doctor is now

Yes I would feel quite flattered to get the undivided attention from my GP.