Our practice has been spending a lot of time lately discussing our approach to weight management - we've addded some new Veterinarians to our team who are diligent about the Body Condition Score, we've taken a closer look at our diet line, and we keep coming back to weight in our analysis of the best approach to treatment of degenerative joint disease.  I had lunch today with our diet rep, which included a lengthy talk about their weight loss and joint products, our practice went to dinner recently to hear a pain management guru give us his thoughts which included in no small part weight management, and we've been trying hard to get a "biggest loser" style program going with our patients.

Although there are things I think our practice has always done well, focusing on weight is not one of them....until now.  Despite this, I am very familiar with Doctors pushing for weight loss........mine.  As excited as I am that we are thinking forward about something so vital to pets' health, I can't help but feel like a total hypocrite.  For years I've heard about better food choices, portion control, exercise, moderation..........all life choices.  For years I've ignored it all, slowly cruising toward the point in my life when all the bad choices and habits start really adding up.  Chronic back pain, joint pain, fatigue, frustration, irritability.......the list goes on.  I totally know how I got here, I know why it's a threat to my health, and I know more than anything that I want to fix it.  But still.......I had a pizza for dinner - after all, it can always start tomorrow.

How in the world can I walk around our practice frustrated that in 3 months we identified 200 patients that were at least a 6.5 out of 9 on the BCS, took the time to educate the families, used great supporting materials, and direct mailed a letter explaining the importance of weight management, but could only get 2 patients signed up for a fun, free program to help drop the pounds?  Granted, managing a pet's weight isn't the same as managing mine.....many pets require only portion control to fix the problem (relax, I know the right diet, restricting human food, and exercise are factors too).  On the other hand, we are their only advocates and at least they can say that their weight problems are no fault of their own.  No matter how willfull I could ever be, if you only gave me a big, fat bowl of Snickers bars each day, I would fail.

The big question is.....what part of our pets' obesity problems are just an extension of our own?  Does obesity love company, or are we just afraid that confronting our pets' weight will make us face our own?  The truth is, we should be able to solve our pets' weight issues a great deal easier than our own.  Fido is used to eating what we put in his bowl - simple enough to change to a more effective product.....cutting back his portions should be easier than cutting back our own.....and while a short walk around the block may not be enough for us, it is for him. 

As for me....I spent the first half of my life boasting about how I didn't believe in pharmaceutical treament of anything, that I would never be "old" and that I would always stay a step ahead of my kids.  Instead, some of my best friends are named Celebrex, MSM, Glucosemine, and Flexaril; I lost over 50 pounds once, but proceeded to find them again, plus 20 of their friends; I'm careful not to lift a dog over 30lbs without "team lifting"; and I've discovered that a book has to be at least two feet away for me to focus on the words, but at that distance I need a magnifying glass to see them.

The bottom line is - I can't expect our clients to commit to weight management when I haven't.  When our "Weight Loss Challenge" program starts again in January (we'll run one each quarter), I'm going to put myself into the competition.  Since it's based on percentage of body weight lost, the competition will be fair.  Publicly putting myself "on notice" will make it harder to keep putting it off until "tomorrow," and I'll put my money where my mouth is (better than shoving more food there).  There's no question that my co-workers will love the idea of putting my little picture up on our waiting area weight loss board, along with my goal and progress, but maybe it will be just what our clients need to really look hard at this vital form of prevention that will save them a great deal of future expenses and extend the life of their important family members.