What Your Doctor Does Not Know

When most people hear advice from their doctor, it feels like gospel. If they tell you to cut carbs, avoid lifting heavy weights, or skip supplements, you probably take their word for it. After all…they’re the doctor. But here’s the problem: when it comes to nutrition, fitness, and lifestyle, many doctors are giving advice on something they were barely trained in.

The truth is, the average medical student gets less than 25 hours (yes, total) in nutrition education during all four years of medical school. That’s less time than most of us spend watching Netflix in a single weekend. And when it comes to exercise, sleep, or behavior change? Those topics usually get brushed over too.

Now think about that for a second. We live in a world where the majority of chronic diseases, obesity, diabetes, heart disease, are influenced more by how you eat, move, and recover than by any pill. Yet the people we trust the most to guide us through those issues often haven’t been taught how. That gap matters.

And yet, if you ask your doctor about diet or training, they’ll probably still give you an answer. Not because they’re trying to mislead you, but because patients expect it. It’s uncomfortable for a doctor to say, “I don’t know.” Add in the authority of the white coat, and suddenly that casual comment “Just do more cardio,” or “You don’t need much protein” becomes the rule you live by.

But here’s the kicker: sometimes that advice is outdated, generic, or flat-out wrong. I’ve seen people told to avoid strength training in their 60s (which is the best time to build muscle), to go on low-fat diets (despite what we now know about the importance of healthy fats), or to rely on medication before even trying basic lifestyle changes.

So what should you do instead? First, understand that your doctor is an expert in diagnosing and treating illness. That’s their lane, and they’re incredible at it. But when it comes to nutrition and wellness, don’t be afraid to seek out specialists who actually live and breathe this stuff, registered dietitians, nutrition coaches, performance trainers, or even just trusted resources backed by research. Ask better questions. Do your homework. And remember, just because someone wears a white coat doesn’t mean they’re the authority on everything.

At the end of the day, this isn’t about discrediting doctors. It’s about recognizing their limits and taking ownership of your health. Use your doctor as part of the team—but don’t let them be your only source of truth when it comes to fitness and nutrition.

If you want to go deeper into evidence-based strategies that doctors were never taught in school, check out The Fitness Blueprint and dive into more articles on PhnmLifestyle.com. You deserve better than cookie-cutter advice, you deserve the truth.