What Your GP Isn't Telling You About Women's Health | Dr. Reem Al-Shaikh | The Health Review

takeaways

1. Dr Reem Alsheikh discusses her mantra 'get strong, don't get skinny', encouraging women to focus on daily healthy actions rather than weight loss goals, especially at midlife as muscle mass and estrogen decline.

2. She shares her own health routines, including waking at 5:40am for CrossFit, using a standing desk, a walking treadmill and a weighted vest at work to lead by example with her patients.

3. The conversation explores how medical training focuses on disease rather than health, and how lifestyle, functional and holistic medicine can sit alongside drugs and surgery.

4. They discuss barriers to healthy living, including busy 'life syndrome', an obesogenic environment, ultra-processed foods, screens disrupting sleep, and the cost of healthy eating.

5. Dr Reem highlights the gender health gap, referencing an NHS Confederation review, women living in poorer health, delayed gynaecological surgery, and conditions like endometriosis and PCOS being under-diagnosed.

6. She offers guidance on self-advocacy, suggesting patients focus less on a single diagnosis, ask reception teams who has a special interest, and be cautious about spending money in the private 'Wild West' sector.

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