Doctor phobia: supporting the millions of people unhappy with their weight who are too scared to go to the doctor
Carolyn Pallister, registered dietitian and Head of Nutrition, Research and Health
| Slimming World
As Wes Streeting pledges billions to GPs to ‘fix the front door’ of the NHS, weight management experts are urging the Health Secretary to support the millions of people who are too scared to go to the doctor because they fear being judged.
More than three-quarters (78 per cent) of UK adults who are unhappy with their weight say they feel nervous ahead of visiting the doctor, with over half (55 per cent) admitting they rarely visit or put off going to the GP unless absolutely necessary.
The survey of 2,003 UK adults revealed over a third (38 per cent) of those unhappy with their weight and who feel nervous ahead of visiting the doctor worry that they could be diagnosed with a health condition, while 23 per cent fear they will be judged about their weight by the doctor.
The results come as Slimming World, the UK and Ireland’s largest weight management organisation that commissioned the survey, is calling on the new government to commit to providing all healthcare professionals with training to enable sensitive and skilled conversations about weight.
With excess weight being linked to a range of serious health conditions, such as heart disease, stroke and type 2 diabetes, the idea that people are actively avoiding getting their health checked or seeking help because of this is alarming.
As well as the personal cost to individuals, the number of people living with obesity has a knock-on effect on the NHS and the economy. And by 2025, it is predicted that the number of adults who are living with obesity in the UK will rise by 73 per cent to 26 million people.
Our survey showed that people who had previously had negative experiences when visiting the doctor leaving them feeling ashamed about their weight, highlighted several reasons including a lack of understanding, the use of blunt or stigmatising language, and a lack of advice and support.
People living with overweight and obesity need care, compassion and support, and not to feel stigmatised about their weight. At Slimming World, we know that a weight-related conversation between a health professional and a patient, when effective, can lead to life-changing results. We are now urging the new government to commit to training for all healthcare professionals to enable sensitive and skilled conversations about weight, as we know that failing to do so causes far greater health problems, and costs to the NHS, further down the line.
“The training must address the psychological as well as physiological impact of weight on health. From our 55 years’ experience, we know that it’s when people are being treated respectfully, with kindness and understanding, that they’re more likely to make the lifestyle and behaviour changes needed for them to lose weight.”
The survey also reveals these worries are seeing people favour online interactions over seeking in-person support, with nearly one in four (24 per cent) admitting they would rather Google health questions than visit the doctor and 10 per cent buying medication online, according to those who are unhappy with their weight and feel nervous ahead of visiting the doctor.
A corresponding survey of Slimming World members in the UK and Ireland found that 60 per cent of them feel no nerves ahead of visiting the doctor since losing weight, with more than a third (35 per cent) now actually feeling confident when visiting their doctor. More than three-quarters (77 per cent) say that since joining Slimming World their health has improved.
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