3 points away from what Doctor?
Posted on May 3rd, 2007
by 
Rob
Rob
A few weeks ago I finally made it in for an annual physical - although in my case it would be more accurate to call it the decade physical.
I'm pleased to report that in i'm in good health; I've got no ringing in my ears, my eyes appear to be doing well and I didn't have any pain as the Doc pushed into my stomach feeling out my organs. My blood pressure is "very good" and my resting heart rate was so low the nurse asked me if I "exercised a lot."
I said "yes."
I thought I was doing pretty good until my doctor brought my weight to my attention. As he put it "Now I want you to be aware you're 3 points away from what we consider obesity."
According to the wonderfully efficient and innovative Body Mass Index or BMI as its often called I'm "overweight" and not just a little overweight. I'm only a few pounds shy from being clinically obese according to the BMI.
My doctor continued, "now I know you've got some muscle; however, I want you to be aware of this."
My 6 and a half minutes were up with the doc after a brief discussion of my asthma and I was finally given permission to put my clothes back on.
As I was getting dressed I was laughing to myself, I just got my first obesity talk!
Here's a guy who was poking and prodding around on my body, I've attached a photo of me in my pre-obese state to give you a sense of what he saw, and then he talked to me about obesity.
Come on Doc? Are you serious? You're really going to mention obesity to me?
Personally I think the BMI is so profoundly out of whack it's amazing it actually gets used. Next time I go in I plan on being clinically obese according to the BMI. But next time he's going to have to demonstrate that he knows the importance of body composition as opposed to generalized measurments.
Here I come obesity!
Access: Public
annual physical
June 2008
Dude, it's nothing to be embarrassed about. There are literally tons of obese people in the U.S.
Seriously, I would find a new doctor. I can see how an average person could get mixed up about the BMI thing, but a doctor? Wow.
you? obese? ….. wha? 0.o
Go on a diet, Fatty.
I know Matthew - I’m trying but starving yourself is just such hard work :-)
Welcome my friend to the world of the weighted- the last frontier of unchecked discrimination and despair. Just so you know, you should expect to be glared at with disgust, forced to purchase two airline tickets when you travel, and inundated with propoganda for the lastest corporate fat-relief techniques and gizmos. I don't care how cut and trim you “appear” to be, when the label is given, it sticks (you know, it's all that toxic-glue they use on the backing). Contact me for comfort- we can commiserate by spotting each other on the military press and slurping down Full Stregnth Shakes. I'm here for you.
HI Rob, I was just curious what exactly the BMI measures. At the risk of looking totally naive, I actually don't know much about it.
Do they just measure body weight? If that is the case, obviously, as you know, muscle weights more than fat. I was under the impression that they can measure fat as seperate from muscle mass, am I wrong?
It all does seem a bit odd!
I was also curious if this comment by your doctor has changed your own view of yourself. Obviously you are a man of deep practice so on the deeper planes this is just another insignificant detail for the non-existent self to chew on. But I often wonder on the relative plane how much these kinds of comments from our doctors effect us, even when they are so obviously way off.
Much love,V
Hey Vanessa,
The BMI simple measures body weight and height - nothing else and thus its massive flaws. While it is an extremely fast way to assess someone’s “health” as it pertains to their weight, it’s largely a broken system in my eyes.
The big hole is muscle weight vrs fat weight as you pointed out, but there’s other variables that also play a role in variations - for example bone density variations that impact overall body weight.
There are a number of ways to measure fat separate from muscle; however, some are incredibly expensive using extremely sophisticated imaging technology while others are a simple as breaking out some calipers which do a pretty good job. Apparently the calipers would take too long and may push a doctor’s visit close to 10 minutes of face time and that might just break the whole doctor patient per minute system in half…
As far as my doctor changing my view of myself - not at all with regards to my weight. However, he did wake me up to the reality that I’m in the prime age group for certain cancers, this has introduced a new consideration that I wasn’t aware of prior to my physical. That and my blood work introduced new perspectives on the relative side of the street.
I hear you on the power doctors often carry; however, I think it’s important for all of us to deeply consider what power we do hand over to doctors (or others), in what areas and to what extent. As for a doctor spending 6 or 7 minutes with me, personally he’s not going to get much unless he demonstrates a high level of competence, knowledge and expertise really really really fast, or he could just spend some more face time with me.
Peace Vanessa -
~R
Bro,
Seriously, start manufacturing the Full Strength Slim-Fast Edition. You and all the other folks with a “little” extra muscle could use some low-carb, no-fat, no-protein drink to start your body's cannibalizing process. Give it about two weeks and I guarantee you will drop about 20 points below the BMI, and there I am sure you will feel self-assured and safe from being closely identified with the world of FAT. After your done, tell the doc to get on his donkey and take a long ride!!
Peace,
CP
This was funny sorry …. I want to be as obese as u in female form!
Cait
oh, to be as big a FATASS as you!
i'm going to get me a pint of ice cream……
~e
you're an embarrassment. seriously, you talk about all the “training” you do…how about putting down the peanut butter sandwich once and a while. get it together you hypocrite!