Obesity Guidelines- The New Way
Today I was reading an article about Canada's obesity guidelines. The focus of the article was sharing with the reader about the shifts being made in the medical system. These shifts are being considered “a much needed update” and they are essentially outlining how they plan to treat those who are considered "obese" with empathy and compassion instead of judgment... to treat them like people.
I'm sorry. Is this just a new thing in the medical field- to treat bigger people like humans now. Gosh, how kind of you to consider us and our feelings. I know that seems a bit harsh- but I believe the medical fields “old” view is part of the problem. Shaming people for the way they look, scaring them into going on a diet which creates restriction, furthers the feelings of hate when they aren’t successful and in turn can cause stress. This is a problem.
As a bigger girl I've always been more conscious of the treatment I get. Both from the people I interact with regularly as well as when I am going for a routine check-up. I'm fortunate to say that my MD has always been kind with his words. And while he certainly has made comments in the past about my BMI and how the cartilage breakdown in my knees is potentially being affected and causing me pain as a result, he's never made me feel judged. I mean sure, he’s told me I could stand to lose some weight- but thankfully his approach has always been a suggestion.
The OR doc is a different story though.
When I was 22, at the height of my weight gain, I spent a lot of months in abdominal pain without a known cause, that finally ended up in an emergency appendectomy. That day I was directed to go to the hospital and that my doctor would let them know I was coming. I was greeted by a very brash surgeon who took me in right away, but wasn't what I would consider warm.
The next time I saw him I was in recovery when he came up to see how I was doing post op. And wouldn't you know one of the first things out of his mouth when I asked him about how it went were, " you're a big girl aren't ya?”
That has stuck with me until this day and I can almost guarantee my experience is not an isolate incident. It’s likely that women have felt this way in the offices of medical professionals. Perhaps maybe how you have felt. On one occasion or another, maybe a doctor has bluntly made a comment about YOUR weight without regard of how it might make you feel.
You see, our weight is about more than the number on the scale- and truthfully even that number isn’t a perfect determinant of health. The advancements are now acknowledging things like genetics and how they play a role in our body structure. They are recognizing that just because the number might be higher (than say the 1800’s created BMI) that you may in fact still be healthy. That your cardiovascular strength might be great, that your muscle mass might be high, and that in fact you do eat clean and whole regularly- despite the fact the scale says 225.
Perhaps there is a BIT of weight to be lost, but we are more than just our bodies and our weight. We are people. With feelings and stress and lives and families and jobs and expectations. And if someone would just tell us it’s OKAY to prioritize ourselves, take care of ourselves that our “weight” might be a little bit different. Or maybe it wouldn’t be, who cares.
I’m not here to promote an unhealthy lifestyle. I firmly believe in health, and I strongly advocate for eating well and exercise being apart of that. But I am here to tell you that you should make yourself a priority. And you should take care of your body (and also your mind). You should move it and feed it well. You should give it grace and show it love. And treat it with the compassion.
Which is what I guess the doc’s are gonna do now for us too. I am happy to hear it.
Hugs and Kisses,
