Is it normal that my mother doesn't believe in doctors?

Recently, I measured my younger sister's BMI and discovered that it was 32. That's obese. I told my mother that she should take my sis to a nutritionist. She gave me a face and replied "What would a nutritionist do? Nothing!" she even seemed insulted that I brought it up.

My mother never believed in psychologists. She thought chiropractors were a joke until my father began to get constant aches. Growing up I rarely had any check ups with the doctor, I pretty much just went for the shots.

She does care about our health. She just seems to trust magazine articles and the daily news more than a doctor. There's a lot of "You know they say..." in my house.

My little sister is obese and she has done nothing about it! I'm the one telling my sis that she can't have anymore icecream. And I'm the one that takes her to the pool for exercise. These aren't my responsibilities.

I don't understand why my mother disregards doctors. Their profession is to help you. Is my mother normal?

Is It Normal?
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Comments ( 8 ) Sort: best | oldest
  • Chiropractors ARE a joke. A hundred pounds for that? You'd need your back seeing to, to even consider visiting one of them!

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  • the coolest thing about being a doctor which im not, is the fact they go to a special school to learn how to be doctors, even more then that they dedicate their lives to becoming a doctor for people to criticize them and call the doctor stupid is hilarious. I hear it all the time " the doctors stupid he said blah blah blah" they obviously graduated from that special school which proves they know what their talkin about

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  • my sister is obese too :(. I know how it feels like to have so much weight on your shoulders. it feels like you're held responsible for everything. I think you need to find an article on obesity and show it to your mom, one that can help you. I would find one for you, but I don't know your mom as well so It probably won't help too much. best of luck! I help your sister gets better <3 xoxo

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  • I don't think that it is important to go to doctors all of the time. But I do think that it is important to recognize when there is a problem and research on how to lead a more healthier life.

    If your mother also believes that your sister is overweight, then maybe you can get her to do a problem solving situation. Sit with her and see if she can help identify the reasons she is becoming overweight. Then list healthy life changes for the family to make. therefore the family is being both supportive and role modeling healthy life. (exercise, colorful meals, hygiene, positive hobbies)

    I have been around several people who stay healthy and don't visit the doctor unless it's an emergency.

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  • Well she better believe them because they do exist lol.

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  • My mum's kind of the same, as am I.
    For the most part, doctors are over- and mis-used. People run to them for cuts and scrapes as if splinters result in amputation, headaches are a sign you're surely dying, newborns hooked up to machines instead of battling their first hours naturally, chiropractors when all you need is stretching and back strength, diets when all you need is to get out more and cut back on the Oreos..
    We've forgotten how to live and are scared by everything. Our kids run and play 'too much', so we drug them, out kids don't get out and play anymore so they must be depressed.

    People are overly sensitive an protective now.
    I've no traces of disease in my family, I was born at home with no doctor present ( only mum and dad) and I've been fine my whole life: I've never used an aspirin and the only pill I'm on is birth control.

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    • But you've been fine your entire life. And you seem healthier than most. What if something went wrong? You'd go to a doctor wouldn't you?

      My little sister isn't fine. She is obese. This can give her future health problems which would make her... well even less fine.

      Maybe at this point she should have her blood analyzed.

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  • I don't know, I feel that caring for my sister is my responsibility to some degree. Your mother may have had a bad experience with them, or has read too much misinformation on the subject. And there is a lot out there. You could try to put better reading material in her hands.

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