I overheard a disturbing conversation of nurses who were saying that overweight people should not be working in healthcare. They were basically saying that patients do not respect health advice or treatment from a worker who is unhealthy themselves. I am posting this topic because I wonder if this is a shared sentiment among the medical field? Or from patients? Or has anyone experienced anything related to this? Like getting fired, or discriminated by either pateints or a facility and such? Are there ever clauses in facility contracts that employees must maintain optimal heath to represent the industry's interest? (I am in Vegas & yes casinos do enforce waitresses/dealers with a +/- 5 lbs. original hiring weight monitoring weekly). I hope this is not what nursing school meant by "take care of ourselves before we can take care of others." Honestly, I dont think like this but wonder if others in healthcare do? Is this really a "thing?"
BTW, they were referencing a theme of nurses who gained weight from emotional overeating. They were not referencing a physiological underlying condition. ~ Thank You ~
Why Are So Many Nurses and Healthcare Workers Overweight and Unhealthy?
Unfortunately, society including nurses are influenced by the media. Yes, people get fired, mocked, cussed at, and generally disrespected b/c they are overweight. Many are not going to like my comments but I've obtained four more years of education that you have given me the opportunity to share. I'm grateful for the opportunity. I will keep it as succinct as possible.
The BMI is an inaccurate out dated tool and should not be used for accessing weight. There is no such thing as being overweight and healthy even though some experts tout that bit of misinformation. Over weight cannot be accurately measured by society, b/c according to the media one cannot be thin enough. We've lost touch with normal weight. The average height in the US is only 5'6" and that person should be in the neighborhood of 130lbs and depending on bone structure they may require more weight to be healthy--maybe as much as 159ish, but that too can vary depending on each individual.
When one is overweight it signifies that they are dealing with inflammation. It means that there are a multiple underlying metabolic conditions that point to ill health. Inflammation manifests as weigh and depression.
Yes, you must take care of yourself that includes taking care of yourself at work. How fast do you eat? If it takes less than 20 minutes to eat your meal, then the body measures it as being in stress. How stressed are you at work and in your life? Are you in a stress response when you are eating? If you are you cannot digest food adequately and you are losing nutrients because the body sloughs them off as a result of stress and producing cortisol. Are you angry, are you ill at ease in any situation? If you are then you are in a stress response as far as the body is concerned. What kind of food do you eat? That too can cause inflammation because you are stressing the system.
Imbalanced nutrition can cause a stress response as well.
Monsanto really doesn't care what you eat and they have tremendous influence over what the system says is healthy nutrition. There is a reason we hear the nutritional habits in the US are referred to as the standard American diet as SAD. There's much more to it than this; I've only hit the heights.
@3ringnursing, BSN Early in my career when I was a PCT... heard similar comments made during difficult Central Line Placements and Intubations. More shocked no one called the individual on it, disappointedI didn't have the guts to be that person. Yet it was an early Career/ Life lesson as there were other opportunities to speak up to bullying.
Specializes in ward nursing - cardiac, medical, neuro.
Our system has failed us. For most of us, following the American or Canadian food guide will cause us to gain weight. Look up what Peter Attia, a surgeon now working in the field of nutrition, has to say on his TED talk:
For most of us, the conversion of simple carbs (including too many natural sugars) will cause a spike in insulin, which causes our bodies to stop using fat as fuel, and instead to start storing it. Add to that the fact the we work night shifts, which disrupts our circadian rhythm, causing our bodies to produce cortisol instead of melatonin at night when we should be sleeping. Our serum glucose levels become elevated from the cortisol, and our body produces insulin. Nurses struggle against the odds to stay slim. My solution has been to eat low carb, use coconut oil (it is metabolized differently from other fats, is burned for energy immediately, and does not cause dyslipidemia), and engage in moderate activity. I won't give the references to the studies that support the use of coconut oil, as they are readily available on pubmed, ebsco, ovid, etc.
Part of our problem is that we believe what we have been taught since the 70s, that fat is bad, and sugar is necessary in our diets. We convert all the sugar we need from a wholesome diet. Sugar, corn and wheat growers want us to eat what they produce, and ensure that almost all packaged foods contain some of their products. So another part of my solution has been to eat almost zero packaged food. Yes, this does mean extra work, but I prioritize, and despite having a family that depends on me, working full time (nights and days) as well as occasional overtime shifts, I manage to put healthy food on the table. I have been challenged to maintain my weight since I was a plump child, have dealt with gestational diabetes for each of my three pregnancies, but so far have maintained a healthy weight. It is not easy to resist the packaged foods, the high carb snacks brought to work by my colleagues, the tempting array of foods available to us at every turn. I am in my forties now, and I know I will be challenged to maintain my weight until the day I die. It has been worth it though, as I have more energy than most of my colleagues, even those who are a decade or two younger than I am, and I am mentally as sharp as I have ever been. I am not skinny, but I am strong and average weight, at 140 pounds (I am 5'3"). I haven't suffered from carb induced food comas since I started low carb about three years ago. I have gained about 12 pounds since my late thirties, possibly as a result of a lower metabolism as I age, more likely because I moved to the city in that time, and spend more time commuting, less time walking/running/cycling.
Also, I try to keep food in perspective. Food is meant to nourish my body, and mealtimes are family times, not time in front of the TV or computer. Many of us are addicted to food, and need to make lifestyle changes to focus on things other than food.
Since I've started low carb I do not crave sugar anymore, and only crave junk food when I am sleep deprived. One cup of bullet proof coffee (or a variation thereof e.g. decaf, green tea, herbal tea) cures that and refuels me for 4-6 hrs, which gets me through the worst part of a night shift. You have to be prepared in advance though, unless you have access to a blender at work. Here is the recipe I use:
Blend at high speed. It makes a lovely, frothy, cappuccino-like coffee. If you want it sweet, add a little bit or xylitol, erythritol or stevia (I don't use any sweeteners because I don't really trust them). But sugar is worse.
I have become a nurse to help people, save ppl and educate. I'm not worried about me at all. That's why I became a nurse. The one thing I find extremely hypocritical is when an obese nurse is the health coach. I feel there should be limits on that side if nursing. I hope that when a patient is dying they don't speak up and day "hey I don't want her to be my nurse, she's to fat." That patient could be in trouble ad many nurses are overweight. My 2 cents.
Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
It's funny that you bring this topic up because I actually did a speech on this I was stating that overweight people shouldn't be allowed to work in healthcare. But my reasoning was because they didn't allow smoking. I was like being overweight is just as bad or worse than smoking
I'm not entirely sure what you mean by this post. Are you saying that your position is that overweight people should not be allowed to work in healthcare because it's as bad as or worse that smoking?
Unfortunately, this is true for many. The perception is if you (the healthcare worker) is not healthy, how can you teach or advise others about taking care of their health. In short, you don't practice what you preach.
Many times, ironically, it is the lifestyle of the healthcare worker (long hours, short staffing) that lead to unhealthy habits. I know an obese cardiologist who is a good doctor but when patients look at him, many see a fat guy telling them about heart health and it doesn't sit well with them.
Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
They can either be satisfied with my fat ass helping them or they can wait until tomorrow when somebody skinny might be assigned to them. Everybody else is busy.
Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
I know this was sarcasm, but I believe our society has become so fat-phobic that any of these things might be viewed as more acceptable than being overweight. Shame.
Please use the Quote function so we can tell what you're talking about. Thanks.
Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
Well, is ObamaCare and the push towards preventative health partially to blame?
Yes, let's blame the Affordable Care Act for nurses being overweight. No, wait! Are we blaming the ACA for patients being reluctant to take health care advice from a qualified professional because they don't like the way said professional LOOKS? Or are we blaming the ACA for fat shaming, judgemental folks or fat shaming, bullying colleagues? Your post wasn't real clear on all of that.
Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
Unfortunately, this is true for many. The perception is if you (the healthcare worker) is not healthy, how can you teach or advise others about taking care of their health. In short, you don't practice what you preach.
Many times, ironically, it is the lifestyle of the healthcare worker (long hours, short staffing) that lead to unhealthy habits. I know an obese cardiologist who is a good doctor but when patients look at him, many see a fat guy telling them about heart health and it doesn't sit well with them.
When patients look at the healthcare worker, they either see an educated, competent health care professional. Or they don't. If they don't, they are free to take their business elsewhere (assuming, of course, that their health insurance allows them this choice). They can change professionals for any reason at all including being judgemental, fat shaming, ignorant and stupid. But in many cases, the choice would be judgemental, ignorant and stupid. It's still their choice.
What I find so difficult to stomach is how many of my colleagues have jumped on the judgemental, fat shaming band wagon. And they do it with such earnest self righteousness. Most are young and don't know any better. Hopefully you'll grow and learn.
the4ofus
44 Posts
Unfortunately, society including nurses are influenced by the media. Yes, people get fired, mocked, cussed at, and generally disrespected b/c they are overweight. Many are not going to like my comments but I've obtained four more years of education that you have given me the opportunity to share. I'm grateful for the opportunity. I will keep it as succinct as possible.
The BMI is an inaccurate out dated tool and should not be used for accessing weight. There is no such thing as being overweight and healthy even though some experts tout that bit of misinformation. Over weight cannot be accurately measured by society, b/c according to the media one cannot be thin enough. We've lost touch with normal weight. The average height in the US is only 5'6" and that person should be in the neighborhood of 130lbs and depending on bone structure they may require more weight to be healthy--maybe as much as 159ish, but that too can vary depending on each individual.
When one is overweight it signifies that they are dealing with inflammation. It means that there are a multiple underlying metabolic conditions that point to ill health. Inflammation manifests as weigh and depression.
Yes, you must take care of yourself that includes taking care of yourself at work. How fast do you eat? If it takes less than 20 minutes to eat your meal, then the body measures it as being in stress. How stressed are you at work and in your life? Are you in a stress response when you are eating? If you are you cannot digest food adequately and you are losing nutrients because the body sloughs them off as a result of stress and producing cortisol. Are you angry, are you ill at ease in any situation? If you are then you are in a stress response as far as the body is concerned. What kind of food do you eat? That too can cause inflammation because you are stressing the system.
Imbalanced nutrition can cause a stress response as well.
Monsanto really doesn't care what you eat and they have tremendous influence over what the system says is healthy nutrition. There is a reason we hear the nutritional habits in the US are referred to as the standard American diet as SAD. There's much more to it than this; I've only hit the heights.