I had an over-50s health MOT last week – at the surgery with an actual GP who asked me to step on the scales.
“Don’t tell me what it says,” I groaned, patting my muffin-top. “Too many homemade cakes.”
But she looked me in the eye and said: “75kg. Bit overweight but not terrible. Now let’s talk about your diet.”
I couldn’t be narked, because she was absolutely right.
I needed to know I’ve put on six pounds and it’s time to cut out the lard.
Because I’m well aware that being overweight increases the risk of cholesterol, type 2 diabetes, joint problems, heart disease and cancer.
And being in denial is as stupid and dangerous as failing to check my breasts, have a cervical smear or monitor my motions.
So if any doctor thinks I’m getting too fat, I trust them to cut the crap and give it to me straight.
Unlike the morbidly obese woman in Kent who was outraged when a doctor dared to point out: “It’s because of all the crap you eat.”
She lodged a formal complaint and the medic was no doubt packed off on a training course to check their body shape prejudice and stop them “othering” people of size.
A doctor in Norfolk was also forced to send a written apology to an obese patient who was simply told: “Now go home and lose weight.”
And a paramedic in the East Midlands was ticked off for saying “You weigh too much for us to be lifting you down
the stairs.”
These are not isolated cases.
Up and down the country dedicated professionals who studied for years in order to save lives are now being offered training to ensure that their language doesn’t “offend” anybody.
And it’s all because FAT has become the new F-word.
Britain is in the grip on an obesity crisis costing £6billion a year. Being too fat also puts people at greater risk of serious illness or death from Covid 19.
During lockdown, 40% of adults in England put on weight – just over 3kg on average.
But a major news study has just revealed that today’s 18-34 year olds – the generation who coined the term “fat-shaming” – are at greater risk than any other age group of becoming obese.
Of course it is always wrong to stigmatise, mock or humiliate people for their weight or body shape.
And we must be aware that for many people obesity goes hand in hand with mental health issues or serious social problems.
But obesity is now the elephant in the room at many GP’s surgeries.
The fear of hurting feelings is stopping them cutting the crap and giving it to us straight.
And that’s a fat lot of use to anyone.
