Proactive healthcare / health optimization as a physician?

[tri99]

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Hello all,

Something that has always sparked my curiosity is the idea of implementing proactive healthcare / health optimization as a physician. Working as a personal trainer in undergrad, I found that many people are willing to try/buy almost anything (most with no proven results) in an attempt to enhance their health and/or abilities. With continued research on medications that not only treat illnesses but enhance one's health, I feel as if this is a niche that will inevitably be filled by physicians.

I know currently physicians struggle just to keep up with the amount of sick patients, but do you think this is a role us future physicians will/should fill?

 

[gyngyn]

Sadly, it is a niche already filled (with quacks).

 

[Dave1980]

Will? No.
Should? No.

Dieticians and personal trainers already fill these roles and are much cheaper than a physician.

 

[tri99]

Sadly, it is a niche already filled (with quacks).

Quacks have the market cornered, which I guess is why the idea intrigues me as much as it does. I feel as if this is an area of health people should be able to pursue with a trained health professional and with proven medications (whether current or future). I know research is still limited but all financial / regulatory factors aside, if someone wanted an aid in weight control would metformin or a super juice detox cleanse be more beneficial?

 

[tri99]

Will? No.
Should? No.

Dieticians and personal trainers already fill these roles and are much cheaper than a physician.

And most do a great job of this. Adequate food / exercise / sleep will always be the major staples of this, but I can only imagine research for medications that enhance the healthy human rather than treat ailments will only progress and be beyond their scope.

 

[AnatomyGrey12]

Proactive healthcare isn't hard and primary care docs do it all the time. It's just that no one wants to hit the gym and stop eating all their meals at McDonalds.. so they go to the quacks that promise quick results without any personal effort.