Doctors skimp on diet, exercise advice

I found this article today and it cracked me up. I mean, how many of us Cushing's patients can say our doctors never told us we were eating too much and not exercising enough? I wish they'd do a study on Cushing's patients and see how many got an endocrine work-up right away when they told their doctors they couldn't lose weight. But instead, we get this!

Doctors skimp on diet, exercise advice
By Melissa Evans, Staff Writer
Article Launched: 09/06/2008 09:56:59 PM PDT


New findings from one of the most comprehensive health surveys in the nation may shed light on one of the reasons obesity and diabetes are tough problems to solve - primary care physicians, the main gatekeepers of health information, aren't talking enough about the need for good nutrition and exercise.

Data from the California Health Interview Survey, an analysis of phone interviews from about 46,000 residents in the state, showed just 34 percent of adults said their doctors discussed exercise with them and 28 percent discussed nutrition.

The research "suggests that physician involvement may be a piece of the puzzle in obesity," said Sue Holtby, senior research scientist at the Public Health Institute, which conducted the survey along with the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research.

Physicians and nutritionists in the South Bay said they aren't surprised by the findings. Though knowledge about the dangers of obesity and its connection to poor diet and lack of exercise is improving, there is still not enough discussion taking place, said Dr. Lisa Santora, chief medical officer for the Beach Cities Health District.

"Physicians have so many competing demands in the office," she said. "They have more adults coming in with chronic illnesses, and their focus is on addressing patients' immediate needs. Preventative needs tend to get relegated to the back burner, especially when the patient is in and out in 15 minutes."

Most hospitals, including Torrance Memorial Medical Center, Kaiser Harbor City and Little Company of Mary, have nutrition programs and dieticians on staff, but can't control what is discussed in the privacy of patient rooms.
Little Company of Mary holds nutrition classes for the community, organized a series of community television segments on nutrition and hosts a community meeting once a month with an endocrinologist for people to learn about diabetes prevention, including nutrition and exercise.

Beach Cities Health District also holds numerous community programs and works closely with schools in Hermosa Beach, Redondo Beach and Manhattan Beach. One of the focuses of education has been improving healthful eating at home, with the hope that children will be the impetus for change.

Santora said one of the bright spots of the survey was the finding that, despite the dearth of discussion among adults, nearly three-quarters of adolescents said they discussed nutrition and exercise with their doctors.

"That is great to see," she said. "There has been so much education going into childhood obesity and the dangers of being overweight. It may be starting to have an impact."

The statewide findings, based on survey results from 2003 and 2005, also showed that:

Half of adults age 18 and older, and 14percent of teenagers age 12 to 17, are either overweight or obese.

One-third of adults said they got no moderate or vigorous exercise in the past week.

43 percent of teenagers and 28 percent of children age 2 to 11 ate at least one fast-food meal the previous day.

Smoking continued to decrease among adults, but increased among white male teenagers.

Findings from the most recent survey taken in 2007 will be released later this year or early 2009, UCLA officials said. The newest survey will include a wide range of health statistics broken down by county on obesity, nutrition, diabetes and lifestyle habits.

melissa.evans@dailybreeze.com

All I can say is Oh puleeze.