Disconnect Seen Between PCPs, Obese Patients

This was the headline of an article I just read this morning in Family Practice News, the April 1, 2010 edition Vol. 40, No. 6. The article itself was on page 5. Basically the article goes on to say that 'Patients want information on weight control, but physicians say they don't have enough training.'

It was very encouraging reading that statement because it is true. We physicians receive very little instruction in the treatment of obesity and what we do learn in medical school, internship, residency and at our conferences is just plain wrong. I received 2 weeks of 'formal'instruction in nutrition in medical school taught to me by an overweight dietitian. I didn't learn the correct way to eat until many years later.

I would go on to add that not only do physicians need more information on the treatment of obesity, but heart disease and type 2 diabetes as well. You see, the common denominator in the treatment of these diseases is the understanding that it is sugar molecules (glucose, fructose, galactose) that the body converts into plaque forming deadly cholesterol and makes us fat. Until physicians are taught this, we will not solve any of the medical problems as delineated above.

I gave a lecture to a small group last night and one of the participants stated her doctor told her flat out that carbohydrate consumption does not increase inflammation in the body. This is false, it does. I bet this same doctor does not understand that cholesterol and fat production starts with sugar molecules, yet, it does.

My point is that when doctor's believe certain things, like what they are taught in medical school, they hold on tenaciously to that belief despite overwhelming contradictory evidence proving otherwise. Beliefs are hard to crack.

We need to start educating our health care providers on the correct way to eat so they can properly educate the millions of patients they collectively see throughout our nation.

dr jim 'the shock doc'