Sadly, its true that some obese people go to their GP with a bad cold and are told to lose weight - as if that's relevant. And of course there are doctors who so helpfully tell their patients that they "just have to stop eating so much". DUH! If the obese person could do that, OF COURSE they would. Its an indication of the complexity of obesity and overweight and how the "one size fits all" way of treating it does not work.
On the other hand, GP's shouldn't avoid the subject entirely, especially considering the potential for lifestyle diseases and joint problems, not to mention guilt and shame at being a shape that society finds unacceptable - nay - downright disgusting.
The method is, of course, the middle way. Ask rather than tell. Listen rather than pontificate. Understand that all "fatties" are not that way for the same reason. Believe that the weight is the symptom and find out what the problem is instead, so that can be addressed. I'm sure that most doctors have a few unhealthy coping strategies tucked under their white coats as well - they just might not be as physically obvious as emotional eating.
Check out this article:
http://www.dailylife.com.au/health-and-fitness/dl-wellbeing/a-weighty-issue-20120613-20952.html
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