Buff Doctors

[Newbie1234]

This might be a stupid question, but do you folks think that the more relatively fit/muscular a male doctor is, the more respect he gets from his patients? Should probably hit the gym more often....

[Sparkles]

Interesting question. I know when I see a police officer who is overweight the first thought that crosses my mind is..."That's who is protecting me!!!!" Yes.....it seems shallow and stereotypical, but I think that the people who have professions that society tends to look to help/advice for, have a certain image they need to maintain. I certainly wouldn't want my elementary teachers to look like prostitutes, and I want my doctors to look reasonably fit. When I think of doctor I think of "health". This is just my opinion though. It's very possible a doctor could be in fantastic shape but be overweight due to other unknown factors.

 

I definately don't want to be a person who judges a book by it's cover, but it is human nature, and instinctively I probably wouldn't trust an unfit looking doctor as much as I would trust a fit looking doctor.

[TimmyMax]

Hey,

 

I think that it would be advantageous to be in good physical condition as opposed to morbidly obese, but within reason. I wouldn't want to listen to dietary advice from a guy who looks he just got back from competing in Mr. Olympia or a girl who is rail-thin like the girls on America's Next Top Model, because I'd feel more comfortable with someone that I can better relate to physically. There was a guy in my class who was a former bodybuilder and incredibly pumped up, but he has had to struggle throughout medical school and residency to earn respect from his consultants, peers and patients because it is easy for people to just dismiss him as some musclehead on steroids as opposed to someone with an excellent analytical mind and a lot to offer.

I think that while physical appearance may play some role in the respect that a physician earns from (some of) his or her patients, I think that the bottom line is how effective that person is as a clinician in terms of communicator and diagnostician. While others (on this forum?) may only want their medical advice from beautiful people who should be on the set of TV's "The O.C.", I'm more of a realist in that respect. So long as that person can do a good job of managing my health, I don't really care whether they look like Adonis or Quasimodo.

[The Law]

Totally agree with you Timmy.

[Jochi1543]

I think we've had quite a few discussions in the past, mostly regarding how a doctor's being overweight may influence his or her patients opinion of the advice they'd get - you could do a search, there sure were some juicy fights re: this issue. I read one of those "hardcore" fitness mags regularly, and in one of their most recent issues they had a success story of a doctor....she mentioned how at 215 lbs and 5'5" she often encountered a good deal of skepticism when she attempted to tell her obese patients that they need to slim down.

[The Law]

I think we've had quite a few discussions in the past, mostly regarding how a doctor's being overweight may influence his or her patients opinion of the advice they'd get - you could do a search, there sure were some juicy fight re: this issue.

 

Haha, I remember those.

 

I read one of those "hardcore" fitness mags regularly, and in one of their most recent issues they had a success story of a doctor....she mentioned how at 215 lbs and 5'5" she often encountered a good deal of skepticism when she attempted to tell her obese patients that they need to slim down.

 

Yeah, I can see that happening.

[ThePupil]

What about other "vices" that may effect how a doctor is viewed by colleagues and patients such as - smoking.

 

Do you think they are viewed differently, especially when they're discussing the benefits of not smoking with patients, and yet are seen an hour later lighting up?

 

In my opinion, I'd say yes. Too many times have I had discussions with doctors outside about smoking and how I should stop only then to be asked if they could borrow my lighter. It, in a way, makes their advice moot; they're not willing to follow it so what incentive is there for me to take them seriously? Of course, I -know- I shouldn't be smoking but you get the drift of what I'm saying - I hope. lol