Do Doctors Dislike Type 2?
Several commenters on Jan’s blog entry wrote that doctors seem to look down on, or even dislike their Type 2 patients. As a nurse, I have seen this, too. Docs will say things like “People can’t change their behavior,” or “There’s nothing I can do for them.” Doctors get discouraged because they can’t cure Type 2, and they sometimes blame the patients. A lot of this has to do with weight prejudice. I have written about social prejudice against weight before. People think that overweight is caused by “lack of willpower,” or some kind of personal failing. Unfortunately, heavy people often embrace this unfair, unhelpful, and plain wrong view. This “internalized oppression” can sap your self-confidence and self-esteem, making change harder. The reality is that overweight comes from many sources, none of which relates to “willpower.” The environment is toxic with stress, unhealthy food, and barriers to exercise. Food often feels like the best medicine for stress and for painful emotional stat
