Why are RN's so fat!

Nurses General Nursing

Published

I was told by a nanny last night that her employer just had a baby, and she commented on how fat the RN's are at the hospital (Her employer is thin).

Her employer stated that "being RN's shouldn't they know how to control their weight"? I told the nanny that yes, but RN's have a very stressful job. They are over worked, have odd hours, and tend to eat bad food to comfort themselves because the amount of stress they are under. Usually we are understaffed and don't get breaks, and when we do leave work normally we as RN's tend to reach for junk, because high sugary foods bring up the blood sugar the quickest. I was quite offended at her comments, not because I am fat (I am not exactly slim either), but because it is a generalization of the profession. I don't know what her point was to even repeat what her employer said. However, I'm determined not to fall in that category, because I once was fat (I lost approx 61 lbs & still want to lose about 30lbs). Does that comment offend you?

Nor can you assume that some is 'fat' because they are lazy.

For example, there are some medications out there where weight gain is a side effect.

I do agree with what you say, however most fat people are not fat due to medication side effects. They are fat from sedentary lifestyle and eating crap food.

Specializes in Rodeo Nursing (Neuro).
It is because they are lazy and that does not hold true for RN's but all people. Everyone is quick to come up with an excuse: i work odd hours, long hours, don't get a break, have kids, need junk food, like junk food, i am trying, i don't like the gym, well i am not fat but not skinny either, i don't have time etc.... Unless you have a problem with your thyroid you can blame noone but your self.

I think there's a distinction to be made between "making excuses" and trying to critically analyze reasons. I don't need to make excuses for my weight. Neither do I need to apologize for it. It's my problem--no one else's.

I don't think I, or anyone else who is obese, needs to waste any more time blaming himself or herself. Some readers may find obesity offensive. They are entitled to their opinions. That isn't to say their opinions are useful, or interesting.

I'm not sure where I stand on the whole metabolism/diet/exercise issue, except that I think it probably needs a balanced approach. I believe I once read it takes 11 miles of jogging to burn one pound of fat. Clearly, reduced intake must play a role. But I also recall from diet therapy that starvation encourages the body to store calories. So, for me, I expect to achieve the best results by adopting a common-sense approach, and also by setting goals I can attain. If it works out, I'll let everyone know in a year or two.

In the meantime, people are free to think what they like of me, and I'm free to ignore them.

.... the "Super Nanny" isn't exactly svelte....

OK, I'll shut up.

Do you follow BFL? If you do it is a great program, although I admit it is a hard food program for me to follow 100% of the time.

No, i dont follow BFL - I dont know what that is...

I just work out 3-4 times a week about 45-60 minutes each time. I lift heavy weights and I would say I am in great shape for my age.

I drink a whey protein shake in the morning and have some rice and vegetables, i go to work, before lunch If I get hungry I will down another protein shake, then have a light lunch, a small snack after and then a good dinner, I eat alot of spanish food - Rice, chicken, beef, vegetables.

I dont have any dairy products, worse thing you can do for your body. I am not addicted to coffee or soda, however on the weekends I will go splurge on some mexican food because I love it..

The key is to eat light you dont need all these carbohydrates - and if you feel tired its probably for a good reason, instead of drinking coffee and soda to give yourself an artificial high question your lifestyle and health and do steps to improve it.....

ANYONE CAN DO IT - its all about Knowledge and self discipline -

I think there's a distinction to be made between "making excuses" and trying to critically analyze reasons. I don't need to make excuses for my weight. Neither do I need to apologize for it. It's my problem--no one else's.

I don't think I, or anyone else who is obese, needs to waste any more time blaming himself or herself. Some readers may find obesity offensive. They are entitled to their opinions. That isn't to say their opinions are useful, or interesting.

I'm not sure where I stand on the whole metabolism/diet/exercise issue, except that I think it probably needs a balanced approach. I believe I once read it takes 11 miles of jogging to burn one pound of fat. Clearly, reduced intake must play a role. But I also recall from diet therapy that starvation encourages the body to store calories. So, for me, I expect to achieve the best results by adopting a common-sense approach, and also by setting goals I can attain. If it works out, I'll let everyone know in a year or two.

In the meantime, people are free to think what they like of me, and I'm free to ignore them.

fair enough, the last thing I would ever do is trash someone who is overweight, it is true that we have differrent metabolic rates and we store fat differently, HOWEVER - you must --- you HAVE TO recognize obesity as a disease process that will shorten your lifespan and make the life that you lead harder. I dont know, for me..its like, if I am unwell I would do whatever it takes to become well, to become healthier to feel better etc....I guess its easy for me to say that looking from my own eyes...I think if people just had the knowledge i had regarding exercise and nutrition they could really help themselves to lead better and healthier lives..just my opinion......

No, i dont follow BFL - I dont know what that is...

I just work out 3-4 times a week about 45-60 minutes each time. I lift heavy weights and I would say I am in great shape for my age.

I drink a whey protein shake in the morning and have some rice and vegetables, i go to work, before lunch If I get hungry I will down another protein shake, then have a light lunch, a small snack after and then a good dinner, I eat alot of spanish food - Rice, chicken, beef, vegetables.

I dont have any dairy products, worse thing you can do for your body. I am not addicted to coffee or soda, however on the weekends I will go splurge on some mexican food because I love it..

The key is to eat light you dont need all these carbohydrates - and if you feel tired its probably for a good reason, instead of drinking coffee and soda to give yourself an artificial high question your lifestyle and health and do steps to improve it.....

ANYONE CAN DO IT - its all about Knowledge and self discipline -

BFL (body for life) it sounds a lot like what you are doing. You are so right about all of the refined carbohydrates. Staying away from those would definitely add to my quality of life. As for the dairy, I'm not sure why they are so bad. I've heard something in the past about the molecules in cow's milk being too large for humans to metabolize correctly, other than that's all I know. Personally I love dairy products.

Specializes in RN, BSN, CHDN.

Sometimes I dont understand why I am overweight because I am one of the least lazy people you will meet but I know it is because I eat at very strange times. I tend to have such little time to eat during the day when I am working because I am so busy but when I get home I am starving so I eat standing up in the kitchen then go to bed with a full stomach. What choice do I have. Oh I know there will be some who can give me wonderful advice but I guess I am my own worse enemy and I am not going to change now

Specializes in Tele m/s, new to ED.

Being over 200 #'s is good for grapplin' with detoxers in the ED, also for cpr. So there slim Nanny! Not to be rude, but as has been repeated so often: Look at the care.

I've always been relatively thin. When I turned 20 my metabolism slowed and it slowed again when I turned 30. Both times I had to make adjustments in my activity level and eating habits to lose the weight I had gained. With nursing school I've also gained weight.

So...now I go to the gym 4-5 days a week and am doing my best to eat well. I haven't had a soda since my 20's, I don't eat anything that's been fried, I water down all juice that I drink (I just can't stand how sweet it is) and veggie sausage and turkey bacon taste better to me at this point than the real stuff does.

I try to bring healthy snacks with me when I go places b/c if I don't then I make bad food choices out of hunger. Eating better makes me feel better but working out is easier in my opinion.

I've stayed relatively slender throughout my life b/c if that scale creeps up more than a few pounds I do what it takes to make it go back down. It's a priority. Directly related to my vanity.

I also feel that b/c of my weight I can talk to pts about losing weight and I don't seem like a hypocrite. I can tell them what they need to do and they may listen a bit more b/c I look the part and live the part (for the most part).

That is the main drawback of having overweight RN's..........I wouldn't listen to a double amputee giving out running advice and I wouldn't listen to a 300lb 5'4" RN telling me that I need to lose weight for my health. I think that's human nature.

Specializes in All ICU, TBI, trauma, etc..

When in critical care and a nurse has to gasp for breath during a code, fat ain't no fun. I came to work one day and when going through orthopedics there were 4 nurses in the hall. I had to excuse myself as I couldn't get by them until they moved. We can all make excuses but obesity is a real problem in this country and is becoming a problem in most all countries of the world. We all know the many problems associated with being overweight. I have seen codes interfered with due to weight and that is not right. Sorry if this offends anyone but that is how I see it.

Specializes in Diabetes ED, (CDE), CCU, Pulmonary/HIV.

Slender nurses outnumber the overweight nurses where I work. My theory is that people who are overweight don't listen to or notice the body's signals as closely as those who maintain a normal weight.

In my department, I am the only nurse who is overweight. If I'm busy working, I can work right through lunch and not even notice. I may have skipped breakfast as well. My boss is 5'4" and weighs 110. She would no more leave her house without breakfast than she would come to work dressed only in her underwear. If it's 10 or 15 minutes past her customary lunch time, she says she starts to feel ill. When she eats, she eats a very large lunch, but does not snack. The other people in my department have similar habits, and are also uncomfortable if they don't eat on time.

So I will go all day without eating, and not even notice feeling hungry. But when I get home, I want to eat everything in sight. I hear the same thing from other people in by diabetes education classes.

I thought my metabolism was shot to hell as well from so much yoyo dieting. But my endocrinologist ran a BMR test and found that my resting metabolic rate is about 1780 calories/24 hours. So I should be able to lose wt without a problem. I'll let you know how it goes.

Watch the glycemic index though--rice generally has a moderate to high GI and moderate to high glycemic load as well. (depends on type of rice and how it is cooked)

excuse me? just because we are nurses, we have to be thin, and we have to give a body massage to you patients? first of all, we save your life, and second of all, we save your life so you better not say anything nasty about nurses

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