Weight Loss and Credibility

During my internal medicine residency at Portsmouth Naval Hospital in the early 80s I remember that 4 of the 6 attending cardiologists and 3 of the 4 oncologists (cancer specialists) smoked cigarettes. I found this very bizarre, How could physicians who see and treat the suffering of heart disease and cancer have a habit that can cause the very same horrendous problems that their patients present with? What kind of "role model" were they to the patients and young, training physicians?

Let's fast forward to 2003. Linda and I go to the American Society of Bariatrics Convention annual meeting in Las Vegas. I was shocked to see two things: the first was Linda taking out some money to play a little blackjack, but that is not the point of this entry. The second was that over 3/4 of the physicians attending this conference were overweight! What type of credibility could these physicians have with their patients as they are telling these patients how to lose weight?

I have to admit that aside from my personal goal to stay in decent shape in the event that The Giants call looking for a 52 year old backup quarterback to Eli Manning, one of my motivations of exercising daily and not eating some of the stuff I used to eat is trying to maintain credibility with my patients. If I was to let myself become overweight, would my patients "trust" me as much concerning my recommendations?

Similarly, in your role as a parent, community leader, manager at work, etc., is it wrong to feel some sort of "obligation" to be a role model for your children, employees, friends etc. as this relates to projecting a healthy look/lifestyle? I am just throwing this out there as yet another possible motivation to keep those pounds coming off. You are not just helping yourself...you may be helping others!