Size 10 woman claims her doctor told her she’s overweight without asking her to step on the scales or measuring her BMI – and says she’s taken a ‘body confidence knock’ as a result
- Corrie Elizabeth, from Nottingham, said that she had a ‘confidence knock’
- Doctor told her she may need to shed some pounds, despite not weighing her
- Went viral on Twitter with hundreds replying to say they’d been in similar situations and branded BMI outdated
A size 10 woman has revealed she was told to lose weight by her doctors despite the medic not ever asking her to step on the scales.
Corrie Elizabeth, from Nottingham, said that she had a ‘confidence knock’ after her GP told her to shed some pounds, due to the results of a blood test.
Writing on Twitter, Corrie said: ‘What the f***, I have just been told by my the doctors I could be “overweight”. I am a size 10 PUSHING size 12.
‘Is it me or is that so so wrong?! Talk about body confidence knock.’
Corrie Elizabeth, from Nottingham, said that she had a ‘huge confidence knock’ after her GP told her to shed some pounds, due to the results of a blood test.
Writing on Twitter , Corrie said: ‘What the f**k, I have just been told by my the doctors I could be ‘overweight’ I am a size 10 PUSHING size 12.
She later added that she was never tested for her BMI (body mass index), which is used by the NHS to class if you’re a healthy weight relative to height.
‘The doctor just automatically assumed I was overweight after a blood test. Even though I know BMI is a big issue also,’ she wrote.
The tweet quickly racked up thousands of retweets and more than 43,000 likes, with many replying to say they were shocked at the medic’s actions, and others saying they’d faced similar situations.
‘Had the exact same happen to me. Went to collect my pill and they tested my BMI and blood pressure. I am 5’2 and was size 8/10 at the time. I was also at a full time dance school so was muscular. They denied me my pill and told me I was obese,’ one wrote.
‘I was told the day after having my baby I was on higher dose of something because I’m obese. Size 12/14. JUST had a baby. Sometimes the words they use and how they say it really shows no empathy for a job role that really requires it,’ said another.
‘I’ve been in this position, it’s savage! I never really thought about it too much after it happened but I’m constantly dieting and self critical – it could have played a part,’ a third added.
Corrie later added that she was never tested for her BMI (body mass index), which is used by the NHS to class weight relative to height
Many others said they were fit, healthy and did a lot of exercise, but had been told by doctors they were overweight or obese.
BMI is used by many medics to show if people are a healthy weight for their height, but it’s controversial becuase it doesn’t account for weight which is held in muscle.
‘According to my doctor I’m obese’ one wrote. ‘BMI is bulls*** and honestly doctors haven’t a clue when it comes to that type of thing,’ one said.
‘My BMI says I am overweight. Anthony Joshua is classed as obese. Usain Bolt, believe it or not, is classed as overweight. It doesn’t take into account muscle mass when calculating BMI so I wouldn’t take it to heart,’ another added.
The tweet quickly racked up thousands of retweets and more than 43 thousand likes, with many replying to say they were shocked at the medic’s actions, and others saying they’d faced similar situations
While a third penned: ‘I had a job that required me to take people’s BMI, almost all of them were supposedly overweight or obese when most of them didn’t look it at all. They all looked heartbroken. I told all of them that BMI was stupid and outdated.’
‘I feel ya! I was a 6-8 on top and 10-12 on bottom and because of BMI doctors wanted me to lose weight. I work out and pack a fair bit of muscle, but they couldn’t look past the BMI,’ said another.
‘Same. 5’6, 10.5 stone, size 10/12 and told I was heading towards overweight’. Pre- lockdown enforced idleness, I regularly went to gym. Huge irony as told this by community nurse bursting out of her uniform,’ added one.