Disturbing Conversation on Overweight Healthcare Workers

[FutureDNP2021]

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?

[video=youtube_share;4W9insJ8ko0]

[heron, ASN, RN]

Ergo, no solution?

Possibly. Certainly no universally applicable stereotype or overgeneralized definitions of "the problem".

[Pythinia]

Perhaps we could all be less discriminatory.

[brandy1017, ASN, RN]

Their comments are just the reality that fat-shaming is the last socially acceptable form of discrimination in our country. There is intense pressure to be thin, yet 2/3 of the country is overweight and 1/3 is obese. Just as the rest of the country struggles with weight some nurses do too. Obviously you can still get hired if you are fat, but it might be harder and I guess it would depend on the hiring manager. You may have to pay more for health insurance as some hospitals are penalizing workers who are overweight. The role model theory has been beat to death to browbeat the less than perfect. I personally believe the prettier and younger and more charismatic you are the better edge you have at getting good jobs, not to say if you are obese you can't get a job, but it might be harder. There are plenty of overweight and obese nurses in healthcare which reflects the reality of our country.

[rhellner57]

I feel that some of these nurses need to get an understanding of what it may be like to be overweight and not be shaming. If you haven't walked in their shoes then be respectful of them. I am considered overweight and yet , I often see myself working circles around some younger nurses who are "tired" " got no sleep because baby" " this is my 6th shift in a row, I am tired" and I can go on. All of us have different metabolisms, habits, and challenges and unless you are a direct clone, you would not know which it is. It has been studied that night nurses tend to have more difficulty losing weight related to day sleep, mindless eating to stay awake and activity that goes with their shifts may be more low key ( of course depending on staffing and type of unit). Please any co-workers who want to shame another, think back to why you are a nurse.

[AnnieOaklyRN, BSN, RN, EMT-P]

I got news for him, all of his "healthy snacks" are processed and are not actually healthy!

Annie

[Horseshoe, BSN, RN]

And my comment will likely be removed by administrators given we are permitted to post about alcohol, drugs, sex you name it but weight, don't even think about bringing up the topic.

Well now, that's clearly not true, is it? This is a thread about "weight," and it is 19 pages long.

[Horseshoe, BSN, RN]

I got news for him, all of his "healthy snacks" are processed and are not actually healthy!

Annie

This thread is 19 pages long and almost a year and a half old. Who is "him" and which snacks are you talking about?

ETA: maybe you are referring to the video linked in the OP. It's almost 30 minutes long, so I didn't bother to watch it.

[Pythinia]

I'm reminded of the character from King of the Queens, Kevin James, he is rather rotund but can jump, do somersaults and generally mind boggling gymnastics. Nurses know their capabilities, just because they are overweight doesn't mean their minds are not attune to the moment of whether they can lift someone or not, or get down on the floor as another correspondent wrote.