Submitted by [deleted] t3_z9xn54 in springfieldMO
CRMagic t1_iyj57jp wrote
There are a few categories of people where the BMI doesn't correlate well with the actual body fat content. Really roughly, it's young adults, women, and bodybuilders.
Any doctor worth their salt should already know about those and be explaining to you why they are concerned in spite of that, if they even are. Otherwise, you're complaining about docs using a pretty robust indicator for health problems that works for the vast majority of the population.
I seriously doubt you will find a competent family practitioner who completely disregards BMI.
Dbol504 t1_iyj6ivj wrote
I have a feeling someone doesn't want to be told they need to go on a diet.
CRMagic t1_iyj7su8 wrote
Hey, I understand. It can be hard to hear that. I tried to cling to the "BMI is inaccurate" excuse, too. But as I looked into it, I realized I was trying to fool myself.
neonlumberjack t1_iyj8y6x wrote
I’m not actually though. My doctor didn’t tell me to lose weight or go on a diet at all. The BMI doesn’t take into consideration several aspects that contribute to weight and shouldn’t be used as the only way to determine what a healthy weight should be. I’m looking for a doctor who is aware of that.
the_noblesteed t1_iyj9z5a wrote
Why does how the doctor perceive BMI matter then if you aren't going to him with weight issues? I'm confused by this whole thing
neonlumberjack t1_iyjbhep wrote
At check-ups, you’re weighed and then given your BMI. It matters because I’d like a doctor who doesn’t only look at the BMI as an indicator of a healthy weight
CRMagic t1_iyj9nnw wrote
What's the problem, then? Bring up your concerns with it with him. Again, it's going to work in most cases, and if he's already ignoring it for you, seems like problem solved.
neonlumberjack t1_iyjb4us wrote
The thing is that he told me I was at a healthy weight and didn’t need to exercise more than I already was, but then wrote in my notes that I was overweight and that we discussed lifestyle changes when we didn’t. And I have brought up my concerns about the BMI, and he wrote me off.
neonlumberjack t1_iyj8fzj wrote
I fall into the category where the BMI doesn’t correlate well, but my doctor is using the BMI as an indicator, which is the problem, so I’m looking for a doctor who doesn’t use the BMI in such a way. I’d like to find a doctor who has a better understanding of how to determine a healthy weight.
CRMagic t1_iyj9708 wrote
So why does your doc refuse to acknowledge your special case?
If you honestly fall into a category that BMI is that inaccurate for, you might need a specialist nutritionalist. BMI works for 95% of what an FP or GP is going to see.
neonlumberjack t1_iyjadu3 wrote
Not sure. When I asked to change a prescription of mine, he agreed and wrote a script for the exact same thing I’d been taking. He also wrote in my notes that I “denied being depressed”, which is just…yeah. So there’s a few other reasons why I’m looking for a new doctor, but the BMI being completely applied when it shouldn’t be is an issue.
xcityfolk t1_iyjb9bn wrote
> “denied being depressed”
This is medical speak for, "when I asked the patient if they had depression they said they didn't." For instance, if a doctor said to a patient, "do you have any pain that I should be aware of," and the patient said they did not, the doctor would note on the chart, "patient denies pain." It doesn't mean, that you argued about it or that there was some kind of disagreement, just that his findings for depression were negative.
neonlumberjack t1_iyjbp0e wrote
Nothing else was worded that way. Everything else was worded as “doesn’t have x, y, or z”.
xcityfolk t1_iyjfjww wrote
I write charts every day and that context is way more common that "doesn't have.." We use deny to describe pertinent negatives and complains to describe pertinent positives.
So a person walks into the ER trouble breathing and chest pain, you might write, "patient complains of epigastric pain, palpation in negative for rebound. Patient also complains of pain during inspiration. Patient denies any injury or illness prior to onset."
It just means that the patient said they weren't sick or got hurt before the pain, it's a pertinent negative. I don't know your doctor of course but this is the standard. It's been like this for a long time and people often confuse the context the way you are.
read this:
https://forums.studentdoctor.net/threads/the-patient-denies.373980/
CRMagic t1_iyjaybo wrote
You're kinda changing your story here. No one can really help you if you're kust mad at the doc, so my advice would be to simply go get some other opinions and stick with the doctor who gives you the one you want.
neonlumberjack t1_iyjb9hi wrote
I’m not changing my story?
CRMagic t1_iyjc3i9 wrote
Now the actual issue is "my doc agreed to rewrite my prescription but didn't and thinks I'm denying being depressed". Those are different issues than BMI, and the first one is a priori to me: I don't want a doctor who doesn't listen if I say something didn't work. BMI doesn't even factor in there.
If it's just one of your new criteria is also "and doesn't use BMI", well, circle back to my top level comment. Good luck!
neonlumberjack t1_iyjcir1 wrote
No, the main issue is the BMI. I was just trying to add context because you asked why my doctor wasn’t taking it into consideration. I’m not sure why, but there’s also other things he’s done that are off. Sorry if that wasn’t clear
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