This morning, I had a conversation with a friend regarding a member of her family and the health challenges they are facing, and eventually, the conversation turned to obesity. The person we were discussing has multiple medical conditions, as well as a BMI (body mass index) that puts her well into the obese category (note: if your BMI is 30.0 or higher, it falls within the obesity range according to the CDC). Currently, I am right on the border of obese and overweight (note: A BMI of 18.5 to <25 falls within the healthy weight range and a BMI of 25.0 to <30 it falls within the overweight range according to the CDC).

Obesity is a sensitive subject for most of us, yet it isn’t always met with the degree of sensitivity that I feel it warrants. For those of us that fall into or have fallen into this category, it can be embarrassing to discuss and may trigger feelings of shame, depression, and anxiety. Unfortunately, not everyone will approach conversations around this topic with the sensitivity that we wish they would.

This conversation sparked a thought for me and made me think about how thankful I am for my provider, Appalachian Regional Healthcare (ARH) Internal Medicine Physician, Dr. Christopher Yost. Dr. Yost has always treated me with respect and has made me feel seen as a whole person, not just a BMI, which is something I’ve felt like with other providers in the past.

For those of us who have experienced obesity, it can feel like our problems are being ignored or written off because of our weight and our weight only. In fact, that is how I would describe my experiences until I found Dr. Yost with ARH.

At my first appointment, we didn’t focus just on my weight and how it may be contributing to health problems, we also focused on how I was feeling, what I felt was important in my wellness journey, and what steps we could take together to reach my goals. It felt like he saw me as a full person, and not just a BMI or number on the scale, and this is one of the reasons I believe my journey has been so successful.

It is important to note, however, that while we are not just our BMI or a number on the scale, we still must be aware of the importance of a healthy BMI. Obesity is associated with an increased risk of mortality, with cardiovascular disease and malignancy being the most common causes of death (Ansari et al., 2020).

While we did address my medical issues from day one, we also focused on my mental health. When I first started seeing Dr. Yost, I was still struggling with grief, and it was affecting my mental health, which we discussed can also impact my physical health. In fact, my first appointment with Dr. Yost was during the week of my late husband Michael’s

birthday. That week, I had rented a cabin and was going to release ½ of his ashes there, but I couldn’t, I wasn’t ready. At my next appointment, Dr. Yost gave me time to share that, and so many other things. Unfortunately, I haven’t always had that type of experience with providers, and I believe that is why I am just now able to fully commit myself to my wellness journey. It’s important to find a provider that makes us feel that we are not just our weight or BMI, but that also helps to educate us and empower us to get healthy and avoid the health issues that often accompany unhealthy weights.

Obesity can affect our mental health as well, and a study by Ansari et al. (2020) showed that obesity can be associated with psychiatric conditions and a BMI greater than 30 was associated with 25% increased chance of mood and anxiety disorders.

I genuinely hope that each of you can find providers that make you feel as heard, seen, and supported as I do with my ARH providers. Education has been a powerful tool during my journey and my providers have been a key source for learning.

If you are struggling with BMI and weight loss as I am, then I hope you will talk to your primary care physician. Come in with a list of written questions if you need to and feel free to write down the answers or bring a trusted person with you to help. Know that your relationship with your primary care physician should be just that, a relationship. Aren’t all relationships better when we have effective communication? Help them understand what is important to you, ask your questions, and communicate clearly what you want from this relationship.

Today, I feel better, have more energy, sleep better, and am recovering from the trauma of not just losing Michael, but also from the last 10 years of one medical emergency after another. I believe that my patient/physician relationship with Dr. Yost has been key to my journey and will continue to be.