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?

About overweight nurses making comments about even more overweight nurses, I've noticed that myself and I wondered about that. We have a not very well liked gal who is definately extremely morbidly obese. She's not well liked because of some personality traits unrelated to her excessive weight. But, I've heard some otherwise really cool co-workers, who are more than just chunky themselves, comment pretty scathingly regarding her weight. These are people who are quite overweight.

I know they do it because the gal is obnoxious and mean sometimes, but still here I am a normal weight person, and I wouldn't focus on that myself, even though I don't like that gal.

Specializes in OB, M/S, HH, Medical Imaging RN.

I would have asked why it makes any difference? Did she receive good care from skinny nurses? Bad care from fat nurses? Why make such an ignorant statement? There are skinny and fat people in virtually all professions, why single out nurses?

Specializes in CCRN, TNCC SRNA.

I think the weight issue could pertain to anyone. I have seen some overweigt doctors, attorneys, dentists..etc.. . I dont think that one job class alone can answer the weight question. My weight never went over 135. I think that is an OK weight for me since I am five foot seven, but another thing to consider is that I dont have to cook for anyone else but myself. When someone has a family, the children mainly take priority over themselves. If someone is slightly overweight and are able to function as an RN, then the care they provide should be important, not their weight.

Specializes in OB, M/S, HH, Medical Imaging RN.
If someone is slightly overweight and are able to function as an RN, then the care they provide should be important, not their weight.

Some of the best nurses I know, myself included, are 100+ pounds overweight. Slightly overweight would = skinny to me.

Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.
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.

I agree that its not about laziness but I really don't see where these things should lead to overeating. Depression possibly but dealing with car upkeep? So eat a greasy fast food lunch? I don't get it.

How/when does food become a

Reward?

Friend?

Companion?

Comfort?

Stress reducer?

I wonder if it is something some people reach for as others choose alcohol or smoking? I'm sure there is more to it and I don't mean to be simplistic but unless it is a true addiction I think a big part of conquering it is totally changing your outlook and attitude about food. It isn't your friend, lover, Mom or soother...its fuel for your body. Thats about all.

Specializes in Med-Surg, Trauma, Ortho, Neuro, Cardiac.
I agree that its not about laziness but I really don't see where these things should lead to overeating. Depression possibly but dealing with car upkeep? So eat a greasy fast food lunch? I don't get it.

How/when does food become a

Reward?

Friend?

Companion?

Comfort?

Stress reducer?

I wonder if it is something some people reach for as others choose alcohol or smoking? I'm sure there is more to it and I don't mean to be simplistic but unless it is a true addiction I think a big part of conquering it is totally changing your outlook and attitude about food. It isn't your friend, lover, Mom or soother...its fuel for your body. Thats about all.

There are a lot of things I don't get. I don't get why my spouse choose booze over me. I don't understand why the COPD patient still smokes. There's a lot of things I don't get in this world.

I just have to live my life the best I personally can, help wherever I can (when it's warranted and appropriate) and not judge to harshly people I just don't get.

Unfortunately, or fortunately, I do "get it" and understand that for some people food is more than fuel. Yes, you're absolutely right, some of us use food the same way some alcholics and smokers do.

Specializes in Long-term care.

Reminds me of a thread I read at the SDN...a doctor had posted asking how to get the nurses to like him...another doctor replied "give 'em donuts" this was followed by even more degrading posts from doctor's/med-students about overweight nurses and their lifestyles...sad.

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?

Yes, food is an addiction for some people. But also our car culture plays a big role, plus junkfood culture. The thing about overeating is that it's results are very visible, unlike other addictions or personality deficiencies. Bottom line, we all have something about us that is lacking. Look at all the skinny movie stars in the news and their dysfunctional lives!

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?

No it does not offend me. I take it as a statement of fact. I also realize it is a generalization. A generalization that unfortunately does tend to fit more and more nurses. It also tens to fit more and more americans. American nurses are american PEOPLE first. Nurses second. We are subject to all the things that make other people fat. In addition to those things mentioned in your response. I believe you gave a good answer.

We are not very good at taking care of ourselves though we are very good at takeing care of everyone else.

As far as her question goes I feel it is a legitimate question. And deserves an answer. If I were not a nurse I would wonder the same thing.

Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.
Yes, food is an addiction for some people. But also our car culture plays a big role, plus junkfood culture. The thing about overeating is that it's results are very visible, unlike other addictions or personality deficiencies. Bottom line, we all have something about us that is lacking. Look at all the skinny movie stars in the news and their dysfunctional lives!

Thats close to what a friend of mine says: "My issues just show on the outside and yours don't." If the person is happy I couldn't care less how fat they are, how much they smoke or drink but in many cases it does affect their happiness and then I think its important to find the root of the issue and work on it without making a ton of excuses. But then again this is coming from someone who "put the plug in the jug" years ago and quit smoking also. Loved smoking, would have rather smoked than eat for sure. :wink2:

Specializes in ICU;CCU;Telemetry;L&D;Hospice;ER/Trauma;.

hoooooboy!

Did this bring back an interesting memory!

I was an ICU nurse on the west coast....it was the clique-iest (is that really a WORD?) place to work. The manager was one of the previous staff nurses, who felt she had 'arrived' when she took the manager position.

In the course of two years, I worked under this manager, I was given the following evals:

"needs improvement....blah blah blah"

"gives just excellent care to her patients." blah blah blah

The only thing that had changed was that I dropped 50 pounds...

(interestingly, this manager weighed well over 300 pounds!)

She actually said this to me,"I must say, you look wonderful.....the weight that has come off makes you look just wonderful....and it shows in your patient care."

Now, I may have been over weight, but my patient care was not altered in any way shape or form by my 50 pound weight gain or loss!!

I was appalled someone would even make such a statement....

It was one of my first lessons in superficiality that is rampant in nurse management.....and has nothing to do with my abilities, skills, knowledge, or potential.

Maybe you should have offered this shallow brained employer a large bag of OREOS: RX: eat whole bag with large glass of milk and don't call me in the morning!

Ya know....my grandmother was a nurse midwife....from Ireland....4ft. tall and 4ft. wide! She raised thirteen biological children, and adopted 4 children who didn't have a home. She taught DOCTORS the art and science of midwifery and the University of Florida Medical School during the depression years....when no one white would deliver a black woman's child.....she did!

I don't think anyone was particularly concerned with her size or her weight, or the size of her hips.....they were more concerned with her skill at delivering them when it was time to push!

Apparently the doctors there were not focused on her size either....they honored her skills enough to listen to her teaching....

NOW PASS ME ANOTHER PIECE OF THAT PIZZA....DANG IT!!

Age: Most of of are perimenopausal or post-menopausal, not to mention health problems and meds that come w/ this age which can also impede weight loss

Stress: High cortisol levels= Fat

Lack of sleep: Shift work is associated w/ a whole host of disorders, including, I just read--but don't remember where, obesity

Lack of time: We are so busy taking care of everyone else, we often don't have time for ourselves.Once you have worked 12 hours and you go home to care for kids, aging parents, clean your house, etc. the gym is often closed. This is not to mention the fact that we eat on the run. if at all during our shifts. BTW, maybe the forty pounds I have gained in the past 20 years is all in my brain. I am a much better nurse at size 12 than I was at size 6. I guess maybe that's experience and maturity. I sure wish it didn't weigh so much

I do think this woman was being snooty. If I had a nanny, I might have some free time for exercise too and who knows maybe the $ for a personal chef! I don't think a lot of us nurses are overweight because we are loafing around dining on chips and dip. We have a lot of the same pressure, and many times, even more than many others in our society who also tend to be overweight.

My friend in FL works at a hospital where they encouraged the staff to have a healthy appearance and wear make-up, etc. The problem is when you spend a large proportion of time every week at a place that causes you stress and doesn't allow time for you to eat or use the restroom, it is hard to look movie star glamorous! Nursemike is right, I find people constantly want to find fault w/ others.

+ Add a Comment