Does my doctor understand obesity? The Differences between an Obesity Medicine Specialist and a Primary Care Physician
Obesity is a disease, like diabetes or high blood pressure — a fact that was recognized by the American Medical Association in 2013. Because obesity can be perceived as like many other diseases that you would see a primary care physician for, it seems only natural to ask your primary care physician to help you with your weight, doesn’t it? Why then do so many physicians give uninformed answers ranging from “Eat less, exercise more!” to “Push away from the table and close your mouth?” Often, patients leave their doctor’s office feeling more demoralized and frustrated than before they had asked for help with this sensitive issue. As a family physician, I completed four years of medical school and three years of …