Mentioning weight loss on application

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If you were obese for most of your life, and lost 120 lbs in the 2 years prior to applying, would you mention it somewhere in your app? Do you think it would help or hinder? What about other major positive lifestyle changes, like kicking a pack/day smoking habit? Would you mention that?

I would put it. Seems like it could only help you.

It depends on how you look right now. If someone saw you for the first time, would they consider your body type, normal, fat, or obese? If you still look like you're on the heavy side, then I wouldn't mention it.

Basically, if you're obese and weigh 400lbs and then lose 120lbs, you still weigh 280lbs (yay math)

Depending on your height @ 280lbs, you'd probably still look extremely overweight, while nullifying the idea of any kind of "weight loss" to someone that hasn't seen you before.

And personally, I wouldn't mention the smoking habit, but that's just me.

I wouldn't mention quitting smoking, either. Why draw unnecessary attention to yourself?

Originally Posted by Myro

It depends on how you look right now. If someone saw you for the first time, would they consider your body type, normal, fat, or obese? If you still look like you're on the heavy side, then I wouldn't mention it.

Basically, if you're obese and weigh 400lbs and then lose 120lbs, you still weigh 280lbs (yay math)

Depending on your height @ 280lbs, you'd probably still look extremely overweight, while nullifying the idea of any kind of "weight loss" to someone that hasn't seen you before.

And personally, I wouldn't mention the smoking habit, but that's just me.

I agree. Smoking is a huge red flag and calls an applicant's character and morals into question.

Originally Posted by NeuroLAX

I wouldn't mention quitting smoking, either. Why draw unnecessary attention to yourself?

Don't you want people to pay attention to your application?

Originally Posted by typicalindian

Don't you want people to pay attention to your application?

Attention in a good way, not in a way that can be thought of a "Wow he was a heavy smoker, I wonder if the stressors of medical school will give his previous habit a jump start?"

Yeah there might be adcoms that will commend him for overcoming his addiction, but I'd bet there a lot more that would think the opposite.

If you list it, you have the possibility of being looked down upon. If you don't list it, you have nothing to worry about. It's not as if you'll get rejected and say "Only if I had listed the kicking of my smoking habit, I might have gotten an acceptance." Not happening.

Originally Posted by typicalindian

Don't you want people to pay attention to your application?

Not all attention is good attention

I could see someone writing a great personal statement about making healthy life changes before applying to medical school, including weight loss and quitting smoking. It's all in how you frame it.

Does it have to do with your interest in medicine? Are you specifically interested in working with overweight and obese patients? If so, I'd imagine it could be incorporated into your personal statement. I definitely wouldn't list it as an EC though. Also, some secondaries ask about your proudest accomplishment/a challenge you have overcome/etc., which could be an excellent place to discuss your weight loss if you choose to leave it out of your primary application. Congrats by the way, that's a really impressive feat.

Hmm, instead of listing it as losing weight, why don't you write fitness training (or something along a similar vein) and brag about your weight loss in that way?

Congrats for the accomplishments though - 120 pounds is awesome!

Iirc nicknaylor wrote about how he went from fatty to not fatty in his PS. Look at his mdapps he used it in a good way

Originally Posted by typicalindian

Don't you want people to pay attention to your application?

Originally Posted by Myro

If you list it, you have the possibility of being looked down upon. If you don't list it, you have nothing to worry about. It's not as if you'll get rejected and say "Only if I had listed the kicking of my smoking habit, I might have gotten an acceptance." Not happening.

Exactly.

Originally Posted by kexy

Does it have to do with your interest in medicine? Are you specifically interested in working with overweight and obese patients? If so, I'd imagine it could be incorporated into your personal statement. I definitely wouldn't list it as an EC though. Also, some secondaries ask about your proudest accomplishment/a challenge you have overcome/etc., which could be an excellent place to discuss your weight loss if you choose to leave it out of your primary application. Congrats by the way, that's a really impressive feat.

This is some good advice.

OP, congratulations are certainly in order!

Originally Posted by technocrat626

If you were obese for most of your life, and lost 120 lbs in the 2 years prior to applying, would you mention it somewhere in your app? Do you think it would help or hinder? What about other major positive lifestyle changes, like kicking a pack/day smoking habit? Would you mention that?

Weight loss = maybe okay to discuss if properly framed.....i.e. "The experience gave me a greater sense of empathy for others facing significant challenges" ??

Discussing smoking = avoided at all costs.

As for the weight loss, I think go ahead and mention it but make sure it is about an increase in attention to personal health, etc. It shows commitment and real change. If you're still pretty fat during the time of the interview you may want to explain that you're still losing weight steadily.

I have different opinions about the smoking. I think if you quit you should mention it if it flows with your story. Again, it shows that when you took an interest in medicine, it reflects on your health.

While it may look bad by some committees, others might like it and identify it as character and unique. But if you want to be safe and cookie-cutter, then take the advice from those above and don't mention it.

I lost about 105 pounds over a couple years. I was going to mention it but I couldn't figure out how to say it without being like "oh by the way I lost weight." That, and it really wasn't that difficult to lose the weight.

Originally Posted by typicalindian

Iirc nicknaylor wrote about how he went from fatty to not fatty in his PS. Look at his mdapps he used it in a good way

this^

go check out his mdapps and see how he did it
http://mdapplicants.com/profile.php?id=19291

Originally Posted by kexy

Does it have to do with your interest in medicine? Are you specifically interested in working with overweight and obese patients? If so, I'd imagine it could be incorporated into your personal statement. I definitely wouldn't list it as an EC though. Also, some secondaries ask about your proudest accomplishment/a challenge you have overcome/etc., which could be an excellent place to discuss your weight loss if you choose to leave it out of your primary application. Congrats by the way, that's a really impressive feat.

I'd like to echo this. Not an EC, but something that could definitely play a positive part in your application.

Same with quitting smoking.

Originally Posted by circulus vitios

I lost about 105 pounds over a couple years. I was going to mention it but I couldn't figure out how to say it without being like "oh by the way I lost weight." That, and it really wasn't that difficult to lose the weight.

Really? Hmm. Makes me think I should pack on a bunch of weight just so I can shed it and be another inspiring story.

As already mentioned, NickNaylor used it pretty well. I get this feeling that in our society, a fat person losing a lot of weight is really commendable while a skinny guy putting on a lot of muscle, isn't really, even though I think the latter is harder (yes, I'm biased)

Originally Posted by Sephiroth

Really? Hmm. Makes me think I should pack on a bunch of weight just so I can shed it and be another inspiring story.

As already mentioned, NickNaylor used it pretty well. I get this feeling that in our society, a fat person losing a lot of weight is really commendable while a skinny guy putting on a lot of muscle, isn't really, even though I think the latter is harder (yes, I'm biased)

Well, I'm certain putting on muscle is commendable to chicks you want to bang, whereas recovering from obesity is commendable because it actually helps society by bringing health care costs down.

And let's just throw in there that obese people are at least marginally unpleasant to look at.

Originally Posted by tantacles

Well, I'm certain putting on muscle is commendable to chicks you want to bang, whereas recovering from obesity is commendable because it actually helps society by bringing health care costs down.

And let's just throw in there that obese people are at least marginally unpleasant to look at.

LOL. x2

As others have mentioned (and linked to), I included similar info in my app because it was important to me and fit in with my new hobbies of running and weightlifting (which I included in a "hobbies" entry on AMCAS). I don't think it's worth including just for the sake of including it, but if it's an important accomplishment to you and something you think will help adcoms understand your as a person, do it.

I am sure some will find it inspirational. Others will think "good for you, but I am more impressed by people that were never obese at all".

I doubt many will hold it against you unless you make your whole personal statement about losing weight since that would be silly.

IMO. This just seems more like a thing that is good for you(yes, congratulations on the weight loss) rather than a gimmick to get into medical school.

I think it'd be a pretty good topic for those "describe an obstacle/challenge you overcame"-type secondary questions. IMO, losing that much weight is a pretty big accomplishment. Kudos.

Originally Posted by diamethuel

I think it'd be a pretty good topic for those "describe an obstacle/challenge you overcame"-type secondary questions. IMO, losing that much weight is a pretty big accomplishment. Kudos.

It depends on how big you are. If you're 500lbs, losing 120lbs is not that big of an accomplishment, because you're still almost 400lbs.

Now if OP was, say, 260lbs and lost 120lbs, then that would be a good story.

OP what was your starting and ending weight and how do you look right now? Serious question.

Originally Posted by technocrat626

If you were obese for most of your life, and lost 120 lbs in the 2 years prior to applying, would you mention it somewhere in your app? Do you think it would help or hinder? What about other major positive lifestyle changes, like kicking a pack/day smoking habit? Would you mention that?

Maybe as part of your PS, if it fits the theme and message you are going for. Otherwise, I think it kinda just makes you sound desperate... =X

Originally Posted by tantacles

Well, I'm certain putting on muscle is commendable to chicks you want to bang

Totally, brah. (no, srsly)

whereas recovering from obesity is commendable because it actually helps society by bringing health care costs down.

I remember reading somewhere that obese people actually cost less because they die earlier and don't incur the heavy costs of extended near-end-of-life treatment that much of the elderly do

And let's just throw in there that obese people are at least marginally unpleasant to look at.

fo' realz, no1 wants to see that. But shouldn't you of all people be equally appreciative of another jacked dude walkin down the street?

Originally Posted by Sephiroth

fo' realz, no1 wants to see that. But shouldn't you of all people be equally appreciative of another jacked dude walkin down the street?

It depends if he's on a bicycle or not, nomsayin? I'd probably walk by him, bert stare him, and then say to him in a nice deep voice, "Do you even lift?"

You humans.