A Doctor's View

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Ready to debunk the myths, lies, and half-truths about obesity and healthy living? Listening to this episode will challenge the 'health at any size' idea that obesity and health can coexist. I dive into a dissection of the 'obesity paradox' and 'fat but fit' - a term that has been doing rounds on social media and even within medical circles. The episode looks at the World Health Organisation's definition of health and discusses a study that proves that metabolically healthy obese people are at a higher risk of coronary heart disease than their normal weight, metabolically healthy counterparts. 

I don't stop at challenging the 'obesity paradox'; we also take a hard look at the controversies around obesity and health, explaining why being 'metabolically healthy' doesn't necessarily mean you're healthy if you're obese. I bring to light the risks of obesity, including complications during pregnancy and other health issues, often ignored in popular discussions, including the impact of obesity on fertility. 

This episode also talks about the dangers of taking everything you see online at face value and dispel some of the myths about caloric intake and the role the laws of thermodynamics has in weight gain and loss.

Thank you for listening! For more information please visit adoctorsview.uk
email: [email protected]
instagram: @adoctorsview
twitter: @DrPolyvios

If you have any comments or suggestions, send us a text message!

Ever felt the weight of perfectionism bearing down on you, be it personal or professional? Join me, Dr. Polyvios, as I engage in a profound discussion with Dr. Samantha Anthony about perfectionism and the corresponding burnout it can provoke, particularly in the healthcare field. With a personal touch, Dr. Anthony uncovers her own struggles with perfectionism, highlighting the often-overlooked traits such as persistent guilt, fear of criticism, and a compulsive need for excessive preparation. From this enlightening exchange, you'll discover how accepting our limitations and recognizing the elusive nature of perfect outcomes can moderate perfectionism and kindle productivity.

Steering the conversation towards the darker side of perfectionism, we expose the specter of unrealistic expectations and the storm of guilt and fear it can stir. Unpacking the importance of downtime, we spotlight how career interruptions are not just breaks but opportunities for personal growth and development. Drawing inspiration from nations like Australia that have mandated time off, we dig into how such strategies can ward off burnout. Listen and gather valuable insights on the significance of reliable support for those who step back from work to reclaim their wellbeing.

Wrapping up our discussion, we consider the broad-ranging impact of perfectionism across various professions, acknowledging its role in fuelling creativity yet also recognizing its potential to lead to burnout. Our dialogue circles around the stress perfectionism can engender in the workplace and the strategies to support those wrestling with its weight. We stress the importance of open communication in recognizing burnout signs and promoting a safe space for these crucial conversations. Listen in to gain actionable ideas on balancing perfectionism with creativity, navigating career decisions in medicine, and supporting mental health in the workplace.

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Permitted to Pause:
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Instagram: @permittedtopause

Doctors in Distress:
Website: www.doctors-in-distress.org.uk
Instagram: @docs_in_distress

Thank you for listening! For more information please visit adoctorsview.uk
email: [email protected]
instagram: @adoctorsview
twitter: @DrPolyvios

If you have any comments or suggestions, send us a text message!

In this episode I revisit the topic of acne and relive the experience of taking Roaccutane (Isotretinoin). I discuss some myths around acne and the various treatment options.

Video Podcast:
https://youtu.be/1Xe20F_fK14

Thank you for listening! For more information please visit adoctorsview.uk
email: [email protected]
instagram: @adoctorsview
twitter: @DrPolyvios

If you have any comments or suggestions, send us a text message!

This episode focuses on an important topic that is becoming more and more prevalent.

An eating disorder such as anorexia nervosa and bulimia is a severe psychological eating disorder where an individual restricts their food intake to lose weight or avoid weight gain.

Recorded at The London Centre for Eating Disorders and Body Image, I’m joined by Dr Bryony Bamford, Founder and Director and Consultant Clinical Psychologist and Christina de Beukelaar, The London Centre’s Lead Dietitian.

We discuss a number of questions that surround eating disorders and the role of a clinical psychologist and dietician when treating such a difficult and debilitating illness. These include:

•  Why eating disorders are so hard to treat.
• The common personality traits seen in eating disorders.
• Other specified feeding or eating disorder (OSFED).
• The role a dietitian plays in treating eating disorders, a psychological illness.
• What is refeeding syndrome and why is this such an important risk in eating disorder patients?
• What an initial consultation and process with a patient looks like.
• How treatment plans vary for different eating disorders and different ways of controlling weight such as laxatives, purging and over-exercises.
• Treating eating disorders with patients who have strict vegan diets.
• Thoughts on showing calories on restaurant menus.
• How the pandemic impacted the number suffering with eating disorders.
• How social media is contributing to the rise in eating disorders.
• Advice for parents or people coming to terms with an eating disorder.
• How to seek help.

Bios:

Dr Bryony Bamford

Dr Bryony Bamford is a specialist eating disorder psychologist treating children adolescents and adults with eating disorders, eating problems and low body esteem. She has been treating eating disorders throughout her 20-year career. She has worked with individuals with eating disorders across a number of different treatment settings, inpatient and outpatient, and within the NHS and privately.

Early on in her career Dr Bamford worked in international research, developing psychological treatments for severe and enduring anorexia. In 2013 Dr Bamford founded The London Centre for Eating Disorders and Body Image. 

Christina de Beukelaar

Christina de Beukelaar is a specialist dietitian and has over 15 years clinical experience, her expertise spans all areas of Dietetics and Nutrition, specialising specifically in eating disorders. 

Christina’s practical and person-centred approach allows individuals to establish long term lifestyle changes. 

She works directly with clients and additionally provides education and training for their family members around food and meal times.

Useful Links:

• The London Centre
• NHS 
• BEAT Eating Disorders
• Other specified feeding or eating disorder (OSFED) information

Thank you for listening! For more information please visit adoctorsview.uk
email: [email protected]
instagram: @adoctorsview
twitter: @DrPolyvios

If you have any comments or suggestions, send us a text message!

A look at how perfectionism can be a destructive personality trait and why it can leave me feeling superficial and  guilty when working as a doctor. I discuss the difficult scenarios medics are often exposed to and how as healthcare professionals we become 'numb' to the emotion that should follow the horrific scenes we see everyday.

I also discuss the recent NHS nurses strike in England and provide an insight into the reasons why they have made the decision to go on strike.

Article referenced: “The Downsides of Perfection” BBC article by Amanda Ruggeri

Thank you for listening! For more information please visit adoctorsview.uk
email: [email protected]
instagram: @adoctorsview
twitter: @DrPolyvios

If you have any comments or suggestions, send us a text message!

**CONTAINS SPOILERS** In this episode I give my thoughts on the recent TV series based on the book "This is Going to Hurt" by Dr Adam Kay. In my opinion it was a masterpiece and will change the public perception of what a doctor does and has to go through.

Thank you for listening! For more information please visit adoctorsview.uk
email: [email protected]
instagram: @adoctorsview
twitter: @DrPolyvios

If you have any comments or suggestions, send us a text message!

In this episode we look at studying medicine at an international university vs a traditional medical school. I'm joined by Dr Josh Ramjist a graduate from St. George's University School of Medicine in Grenada  to talk about these differences as well as offer advice to those looking to study or practice medicine abroad.   

We discuss: 

• Entry criteria. 
• Length of course. 
• Tuition fees. 
• Qualification at the end.   

Working in the US 

• Career path. 
• Specialising. 
• Patient journey in US. 
• Cost of treatment?. 
• What happens if you don’t have insurance?   

As well as comparing and contrasting Josh's experience training and working in different countries and the advice he has for prospective medical students.

Thank you for listening! For more information please visit adoctorsview.uk
email: [email protected]
instagram: @adoctorsview
twitter: @DrPolyvios

If you have any comments or suggestions, send us a text message!

For this episode we are joined by a medical colleague in the USA. Dr Philip Ovadia is a board-certified Cardiac Surgeon and founder of Ovadia Heart Health. Once a morbidly obese heart surgeon, struggling to lose weight Dr Ovadia learnt about the importance of metabolic health. This helped him lose over 100 pounds.

Dr Ovadia has since been determined to help patients improve their metabolic health and ultimately teach them new habits which could save their lives.
He has written a book about my metabolic health methods called Stay off My Operating Table: A Heart Surgeon’s Metabolic Health Guide to Lose Weight, Prevent Disease, and Feel Your Best Every Day. Stay Off My Operating Table shares the truth about metabolic health so people struggling with chronic disease, heart problems, and obesity can finally discover what’s been holding them back and keeping them sick.

Together we discuss:

• What is metabolic health and why it is so important.
• Markers for metabolic health.
• Cholesterol (LDL/HDL) and its relevance to diet.
• The principles of metabolic health outside of diet.
• How improving your metabolic health can help you not only lose weight but improve your health.
• And much more...

Dr Ovadia's website: ovadiahearthealth.com

Stay Off My Operating Table (Book by Dr Ovadia):
USA
UK

Stay Off My Operating Table (Apple Podcasts):
Click Here

Thank you for listening! For more information please visit adoctorsview.uk
email: [email protected]
instagram: @adoctorsview
twitter: @DrPolyvios

If you have any comments or suggestions, send us a text message!

We are joined once again with our friend Dr Haidar Al-Hakim for a candid discuss. We discuss the evolution of physician psychology within medicine, hierarchies, the importance of change within ourselves to help us become more balanced and content.

Listen to Dr Haidar Al-Hakim's podcast:
Surgical Spirit podcast click here

Thank you for listening! For more information please visit adoctorsview.uk
email: [email protected]
instagram: @adoctorsview
twitter: @DrPolyvios

If you have any comments or suggestions, send us a text message!

A discussion with our friends at Doctor’s in Distress; a charity which is dedicated to supporting healthcare workers suffering within the NHS and prevents suicide within the profession. With 3 guest speakers we discuss:

• The consequences of not looking after the mental health of our healthcare workers
  • Increased burnout
  • Healthcare workers leaving the profession 
  • Poor mental health and in some cases suicide amongst all healthcare professionals
  • The current GP crisis
    
    
• The damage of the healthcare workers as heroes narrative
  • Increased pressure on an already burned out and perfectionist workforce
  • Healthcare workers are already reluctant to ask for help – if they’re called heroes/heroines this inhibits this further.

Links:
Doctors in Distress
Permitted to Pause

Bios:

Dr Gavin McColl

Gavin is a trustee of 'Doctors in Distress' a charity that supports healthcare workers and prevents suicide within the profession. He helped establish the 'Primary Care Gambling Service', an integrated counselling service for problem gamblers that also helps to improve recognition and competence in primary care of this emerging public health issue. He is the Clinical Lead for New Cross Health Centre and Sternhall Lane Surgery and is passionate about transforming the patient journey through health services in order to better address the complexity now seen in modern primary care. In 2010 he established the charity 'On Call Africa' with three colleagues and has developed a replicable model that addresses remote health care delivery in Zambia which works to strengthen and augment, rather than replace, the capacity of the existing health services.
 

Miss Samantha Anthony

Samantha is an Associate Specialist in Dermatology at West Herts NHS Trust, principally working as a skin cancer surgeon for the past 14 years and previously as a GP too.  After being diagnosed with cancer in 2006 and when reaching burnout in 2017, she created Permitted To Pause (www.permittedtopause.co.uk and instagram @permittedtopause), to reach out to doctors and healthcare professionals to encourage positive changes to their well-being, and share understanding of why self-care is so often a low priority in the profession, and to help us all to overcome our barriers to this. Samantha has met and collaborated with DiD since 2020, sharing ideas and fund raising, and continues to support all the excellent work that they do.

Brenda Donnelly

Brenda is a CD for South Southwark PCN serving a 145K population. She qualified as an RGN in Belfast in 1983 and has practiced in the UK, The Netherlands and Australia. She landed in primary care in 1994 as a GPN and happily found her niche, she completed a MSc in Primary Care development 2003 and a PGCE in Primary care in 2015. An ex-Nurse partner in South East London she currently enjoys a portfolio career she is particularly interested in community and practice development and working with families and children in deprived areas.   She is passionate about growing and supporting multi professional primary care teams fit for providing future population health. 

Thank you for listening! For more information please visit adoctorsview.uk
email: [email protected]
instagram: @adoctorsview
twitter: @DrPolyvios