A new study has confirmed the rate of eating disorders and obesity among doctors to be 15%, which is at least three times the rate in the general population. How can this be? We physicians put ourselves out as the experts on health and often have poor self care.
Medical training and practice are extremely stressful. This is by necessity and design, as the world of being a doctor is demanding and relentless. I worked on 36-off-12 as an intern, often working 120 hours a week in the hospital. A normal stress reaction is to overeat. I weighed 170 in college and now am about 250. Most of my colleagues had similar experiences. Chemical dependency, depression and other mental health issues are also higher in physicians due to chronic stress. Of course, the field is exciting and tremendously gratifying, which keeps all of us on the playing field way to long and not focused on ourselves. I ran a doctors only unit for four years and this was the universal story.
Stigma also plays a large role in doctors not seeking treatment. There is the fear of being seen as weak by colleagues, in a field that weeds out weak players. Ironically, I’ve found doctors the most amenable and responsive in therapy, when they can have the courage to come.
One of the most satisfying parts of my life has been my medical training and practice over the last four decades. I do hope the trend to accept doctors as people prevails and preventable illnesses can be treated without stigma. By the way, I plan to focus on my weight this year!