Doctors: Cook for thyself!

April 12th, 2012

During my residency training, a diabetic patient asked me what he should eat to stay healthy.  I told him the usual “low fat, more vegetables, avoid concentrated sweets” mantra that doctors are taught to say in medical school, but I remember thinking to myself how difficult it must be for someone who does not cook.  Almost everything on a restaurant menu is a minefield of hidden saturated fat, cholesterol, sodium, and sugar.  For example, what is in the “brown” sauce in Chinese food?  I can tell you with certainty, it’s a mixture of all the above.

I was reminded about my epiphany while reading an article today in the New York Times titled “When the Chef is Also the Doctor“.  The article describes a culinary kitchen designed by Dr. David M. Eisenberg.  Unlike the usual housewives who attend cooking classes, this course is designed for physicians. The article also made me realize how little time is spent on diet and exercise in the medical school curriculum.  Dr. Eisenberg has the right idea for the future of medical education.  All too often, physicians are quick to prescribe the newest medications on the market but not as willing to spend time on counseling the patient on diet and exercise.  Perhaps, this is because doctors themselves don’t even know what they should be eating.

I would like to come up with a “bootcamp” someday, but instead of cooking it will be physical exercise.  In residency there is a motto that describes the learning process for medical procedures, “see one (procedure being done by another), do one (procedure yourself), teach one (to someone else)”.   Doctors should recognize that before they can teach their patients the concept of wellness, they should practice what they preach.