According to a study conducted by researchers at Johns Hopkins, overweight doctors are significantly less likely to identify patients’ weight problems in their diagnoses. Lifestyle factors considerably increase the risk of developing cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, as well as the majority of major diseases.

One would imagine that a person’s weight is of significant importance and should be a consideration when treating patients. However, the study entitled “Impact of Physician BMI on Obesity Care and Beliefs,” indicates that doctors’ own weight problems may obscure how they view – and counsel – patients.

In order to determine whether medical professionals’ weight status (as reflected in their body mass index [BMI]) affected interaction with obese patients, the researchers examined a cross-sectional survey of 500 primary care physicians.

They found that doctors who were overweight were 20% less likely to advise patients on weight management than doctors of normal weight. Furthermore, they found that only 7% of overweight doctors acknowledged that patients were overweight, compared with 93% of normal-weight doctors.

Results from this study are comparable to prior findings in which physicians who smoked were considerably less likely to recognize patients’ smoking habits as a health concern.

When it comes to recognizing such serious risk factors, we would expect that physicians are more objective and informed. According to the researchers a large proportion of the general public is “overweight and in denial,” dismissing the theory that consuming a healthy diet might decrease disease risk.

Even though studies have demonstrated that active, overweight women are 54% more likely to develop cardiovascular disease compared to those of normal weight, many people still believe the “fit but fat” lie.

Written by Grace Rattue