Why are RN's so fat!

Nurses General Nursing

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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?

Obesity doesn't come from laziness, but from physical inactivity combined with poor eating habits.

Exactly, it all comes to being lazy. People are too lazy to exercise and they are too lazy to eat healthy. They would rather watch sports on tv than actually going out and play basketball. They would rather eat at McDonalds because it is quick than cook a nice healthy meal at home. Lazy, not just nurses but 2 out of 3 americans.

Specializes in Medical Telemetry, LTC,AlF, Skilled care.

Some people in here need to get off their high horse, we all have problems before you judge others take a good long look at yourself, you might just see that you're not as perfect as you think you are.

No, it doesn't offend me. I agree with it. Lots of RN's are overweight, I am one of them. I have recently lost a few pounds and feel and look better.

Exactly, it all comes to being lazy. People are too lazy to exercise and they are too lazy to eat healthy. They would rather watch sports on tv than actually going out and play basketball. They would rather eat at McDonalds because it is quick than cook a nice healthy meal at home. Lazy, not just nurses but 2 out of 3 americans.

It is more than laziness. It's working full-time and more than full-time, it's having a family to care for in addition to the job, it's having to be homemakers in addition to working and childrearing, it's depression, it's hormone fluctuations, rotating shifts, dealing with car uipkeep, tax returns, summer plans for the kids, and many things. . Etc.

Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.
Exactly, it all comes to being lazy. People are too lazy to exercise and they are too lazy to eat healthy. They would rather watch sports on tv than actually going out and play basketball. They would rather eat at McDonalds because it is quick than cook a nice healthy meal at home. Lazy, not just nurses but 2 out of 3 americans.

Physical inactivity does not always equal lazy!

Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.
Some people in here need to get off their high horse, we all have problems before you judge others take a good long look at yourself, you might just see that you're not as perfect as you think you are.

Exactly.

Specializes in cardiac med-surg.

it's all about accepting yourself and the body you have and to heck with what other people think

Specializes in Rodeo Nursing (Neuro).

As others have noticed, threads on nurses and obesity inevitably turn ugly, and I suppose I'm not helping, but I have to say I notice a strong Puritanical tendency in our society, and a rather neurotic fascination with the shortcomings of others. It can get truly ridiculous, at times. I've heard 300lb. co-workers speak of 500lb patients and say, "If I ever get that fat, somebody just shoot me." I've seen weekly binge drinkers criticize smokers--and vice versa.

I have never had a patient comment that I was hypocritical when I teach them about diet, exercise, or smoking cessation. I don't preach at them--I explain the facts, ask about their goals, and discuss strategies toward achieving those goals. The thing is, I think my patients can see that I'm not just talking to make myself feel better about myself. With all my obvious flaws, I'm happy and I do feel good about myself. I would never consider telling a patient he or she was just too lazy to lose weight. I tell them it's better not to get overwhelmed by the need to lose a hundred pounds, but rather to focus on eating right today and losing 1-2 pounds this week. I tell them not to even consider trying to run five miles a day, but to try to work up to walking a mile a day. And I don't for one single moment imagine that my teaching is going to turn their life around. I just think hearing a positive message from time to time may gradually encourage them to try some ideas on their own.

I'm a fairly new nurse, but I'm not such a new person, and my nursing experience and life experience both persuade me that a good nurse has to be a realist.

Specializes in Rodeo Nursing (Neuro).
it's all about accepting yourself and the body you have and to heck with what other people think

Well, sure, if you want to be succinct about it.

It is more than laziness. It's working full-time and more than full-time, it's having a family to care for in addition to the job, it's having to be homemakers in addition to working and childrearing, it's depression, it's hormone fluctuations, rotating shifts, dealing with car uipkeep, tax returns, summer plans for the kids, and many things. . Etc.

Exactly, many friends of mine who are overweight are that way because of these reasons, and are not in any way lazy people. They live in a 24/7 car dependent nation where you have to drive to everything, and junk food is the cultural norm.

My husband is quite overweight, and he went to the VA clinic for a physical and a nutrition consult. The nutritionist went over some ways my husband could improve his diet, portion control, better food selection, exercise etc. My husband came back from that appt. commenting on how the nutritionist was over weight himself and had a box of fried chicken and biscuits sitting over on the counter waiting for him until he could have it for lunch. :rolleyes: We all make mental judgements about everything we see, do and hear whether we're concious of it or not. Did my husband throw all of that advice out the window? No, because he knew for his own personal health and benefit he needed to do something about his weight and high BP.

While in nursing school one other student commented that I look like a nurse. I was flattered (I didn't know any better). Later I found out that she thought I fit the nursey profile because she felt so many nurses are overweight (fat). I didn't lose weight right away, but I never forgot that, and when someone makes comments like that, it only challenges me to make some changes.

Really, who in their right mind wants to be over weight. Losing weight has the biggest challenge of my life, much harder than anything I've ever done and that includes going to nursing school with four kids.

Specializes in NP / USAFR Flight Nurse.

I guess I just have to accept it then :) Ive been in nursing school for 8 mo and Ive gained about 20lbs...I thought I would loose it once I graduated and was working full-time.

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