Anonymous Doctor

"I see you've lost 15 pounds since your last visit-- that's great. You're sticking to the diet we talked about?"

"Yep. But, doctor, I don't think this is healthy for me."

"What do you mean? Your blood pressure is lower, eating healthier and losing weight is going to be good for your heart failure and diabetes, it'll help your back pain, you're really doing great, I'm very proud of you."

"But my foot's been hurting."

"I can take a look at it--"

"No, my foot's been hurting because of the weight loss."

"I don't understand."

"It used to be cushioned with all of this fat. Now that I'm losing weight, there's less cushioning, and when I walk, it's really the foot that's feeling the weight, without that cushion. I feel it all over. The fat made things soft. Now everything hurts."

"What you're saying doesn't make good medical sense. Maybe there's a problem with your foot."

"No, I don't think there is. I think it's the weight, and I need to put it back on, to be healthy."

"No, the weight is not healthy. It's great that you're down 15 pounds. You have a ways more to go, but this is a great start. You will feel better, I promise."

"I don't think so. I told my wife to get me two steaks tonight."

"That's not good-- not for your weight, and not for your heart."

"I like the soft fat feeling in my feet, I'm sorry."

"I need to take a look at your foot. I think you may be feeling something different from what is actually going on. I think there may be a solution that doesn't involve the weight."

"I know my body."

"Take off your socks."

[He takes off his socks.]

"I think you might have broken your ankle."

"Because the fat cushion wasn't there."

"No, because you hurt your ankle. I'm going to get you an x-ray."

"I'm worried about the radiation."

"You've had tons of x-rays."

"But now there's less fat to absorb it."