Don't Let Your Weight Keep You from Going to the Doctor

For those of us who struggle with weight, there is no more intimidating place than a doctor's office. We can dress our best, but those clothes come off to reveal every bulge we own. We can look ten pounds thinner than we really are, but the scale does not lie. As a result, far too many of us are neglecting our check-ups. Not only are we neglecting our check ups, we do not even go to the doctor when we are sick unless we are feeling it is extremely urgent. By that time, it is very often too late.

It is very easy to feel shamed when you step on a scale and it reveals that you are fifty or one hundred pounds overweight, and very often the person weighing you makes a comment meant to be helpful, but one that only makes you feel even worse. I remember sitting in many a doctor's office with my heart pounding and my stomach churning as I would wait for the nurse to call my name. Just thinking about it now makes me feel sick. I would step on the scale, never looking at the number, for I really didn't want to know. Then she would take my blood pressure, which was often too high. She would usually comment on this and start writing furiously on my medical chart. After this, she would usher me into the exam room, hand me one of those lovely backless gowns, and leave.

I would put the gown on, and it was usually too tight, which meant that more of my backside was showing than I wanted or needed. Then I would wait in anxiety for the doctor to come in. He would always come in, smile, shake my hand, and ask how I was doing. Of course, I would smile and engage in some small talk, trying to distract him from noticing my weight and blood pressure.

And then the comments and questions would come:

You know....you have quite a bit of weight to lose. (NOOO...REALLY?)

And your blood pressure is in the danger zone. If you would lose some weight, that would most likely drop significantly. (YOU THINK?)

To lose weight, you must burn more calories than you take in. (REALLY? THAT'S IT?)

Also, due to your weight, you are now classified as morbidly obese. (That sounds totally disgusting...Am I totally disgusting?)