the number of over-weight and obese nurses continues to increase

Nurses Relations

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Hi guys, I just would like to know your ideas about this - the number of over-weighed and obese nurses continues to increase. I've read articles about this and I just would like to know your views about this. thanks!

Specializes in Cardiac Care.

Being overweight is often NOT due to a lack of information or education!!! Education is only one small piece of the puzzle that may or may not be relevant to a specific situation.

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Specializes in Oncology; medical specialty website.
I wonder if there is an association between lower class workers, and obesity?

Most certainly one can see that nursing is a big contributor- no meal breaks, over eating after shift from you- know where ends,stress-- cortisol release, lack of sleep d/t stress, shift changing , etc.

need I go on?

​Lower class workers? Gee, you're a friend to nursing.

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It took me less than 1 minute to find an article suggesting the "obesity epidemic" is way over blown. I get so tired of hearing "the sky is falling" alarmist about everything.

Off the to of my head I can think of six people who I would say are morbidly obese, twelve who are overweight, the rest within an acceptable range. I'm am including neighbors, clerks, family, co-workers, patients, waiters, casual encounters, etc. anyone I can think of, this is going as far back as my memory is reliable (I am 62 years old.)

Only four of these overweight/obese people are nurses.

Luckily for me I come from a genetically thinish family, yet my nutrition leaves much to be desired. I am sure many overweight people have better nutrition than I.

According to BMI charts Brad Pitt and Arnold Schwarzenegger are obese!

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I wonder if there is an association between lower class workers, and obesity?

I assumed jrwest was referring to income level, not saying that nursing was low class.

If income is low, poorer food choices are often made to stretch a dollar and feed the family.

One nurse can be struggling alone to make ends meet for four kids, while another nurse can make the exact same money, have a spouse who works and have no struggle at all.

Who can better afford higher quality food without tons of preservatives and crap?

Who do you think will have more time to exercise?

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Specializes in Cardiac Care.
It took me less than 1 minute to find an article suggesting the "obesity epidemic" is way over blown. I get so tired of hearing "the sky is falling" alarmist about everything.

Off the to of my head I can think of six people who I would say are morbidly obese, twelve who are overweight, the rest within an acceptable range. I'm am including neighbors, clerks, family, co-workers, patients, waiters, casual encounters, etc. anyone I can think of, this is going as far back as my memory is reliable (I am 62 years old.)

Only four of these overweight/obese people are nurses.

According to BMI charts Brad Pitt and Arnold Schwarzenegger are obese!

I highly doubt that you know so few overweight and obese people. At 5' 7", I would be overweight at 160 and obese around 190 or so. "Obese" isn't necessarily the huge roly-poly type.

Have you been in a school lately? There are overweight and obese kids everywhere, it's very sad.

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Yeah, I see school kids regularly, my 8 year old grandson lives next door and I am very involved in the taking, picking up, award assemblies, etc., of his school.

I guess per height and weight a few kids may be overweight. I worry way more about good nutrition for elementary school kids. Getting their daily fruits and vegetables, etc., than what their BMI is. Being "overweight" per some chart does not mean you are ill, sick, unhealthy, diseased, etc.

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Specializes in Critical Care.

It just parallels the general obesity epidemic in America and the world; and the truth is all the knowledge in the world and most people can't lose weight! So many factors involved, some changeable, others not, and new research showing the plastics, chemicals and pesticides etc are contributing to the problem. Estrogen contaminated waters from all the women on birth control, and now microplastic that fish are ingesting from "exfoliating" skin cleanser that drains into the water system; and they don't plan to stop using this known contaminant till 2015! Do your part and avoid these "exfoliating" cleansers made out of microplastic. Choose natural such as plant based exfoliators! This world is crazy! How did they think this wouldn't be harmful to the environment!

Don't gain weight if you have a choice because once you do it is almost impossible to lose, save for drastic measures like the extreme loser or gastric bypass. Even then you are in a constant struggle not to regain the weight.

So why do you care so much about the weight of others? Why do you feel the need to judge others? It is a disease and no one in their right mind chooses to become obese! Aside from the increased medical risks, a person faces a lifetime of social stigma and discrimination. Count yourself lucky if you are one of the thin ones because it could always change! You never know what the future holds!

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Specializes in NICU, OB/GYN.
It just parallels the general obesity epidemic in America and the world; and the truth is all the knowledge in the world and most people can't lose weight! So many factors involved, some changeable, others not, and new research showing the plastics, chemicals and pesticides etc are contributing to the problem. Estrogen contaminated waters from all the women on birth control, and now microplastic that fish are ingesting from "exfoliating" skin cleanser that drains into the water system; and they don't plan to stop using this known contaminant till 2015! Do your part and avoid these "exfoliating" cleansers made out of microplastic. Choose natural such as plant based exfoliators! This world is crazy! How did they think this wouldn't be harmful to the environment!

Don't gain weight if you have a choice because once you do it is almost impossible to lose, save for drastic measures like the extreme loser or gastric bypass. Even then you are in a constant struggle not to regain the weight.

So why do you care so much about the weight of others? Why do you feel the need to judge others? It is a disease and no one in their right mind chooses to become obese! Aside from the increased medical risks, a person faces a lifetime of social stigma and discrimination. Count yourself lucky if you are one of the thin ones because it could always change! You never know what the future holds!

I care when it, like any other medical condition, affects my coworkers' abilities to function and perform as an effective member of our nursing team. If you can't train to be the charge nurse, and I have to do more often, because of a medical condition, perhaps it's time to go to a doctor and evaluate options for treatment. Or perhaps it's time to evaluate your lifestyle choice and your career.

I would do the same for myself and any medical condition I have if it were impacting my job and my coworkers.

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here we go...... many people have poor control( yes i said that). food is so cheap in america ( compared to many parts of the world) and there is a huge yummy variety. compare us to other countries were there is so mich food that people can afford and you see a similar population. also being overweight is alot more accepted here than in other cultures. less manual labor etc. nurses are just like everyone else. I have to stop myself from eating cookies and candy and ice cream amd chips. the cost is peanuts to me and many americans . the incentive to not eat it is health and vanity which some domt care about.

at least i don't have to reposition my obese coworkers or lift up their legs or pannuses which weigh more than i do. ( most of the nurses on my unit are a normal weight, a few underweight and a few overweight) none of them require accomadations because of their weight.

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I care when it, like any other medical condition, affects my coworkers' abilities to function and perform as an effective member of our nursing team. If you can't train to be the charge nurse, and I have to do more often, because of a medical condition, perhaps it's time to go to a doctor and evaluate options for treatment. Or perhaps it's time to evaluate your lifestyle choice and your career.

I would do the same for myself and any medical condition I have if it were impacting my job and my coworkers.

I work with obese nurses and CNAs. It's never affected their ability to perform their job or added to my work load.

I'm curious why you think this nurse being overweight is why she isn't trained to be charge.

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Specializes in PCCN.
JR, who are you referring to as "lower class workers"? :no:

no no no- i wasnt referring to nursing as lower class- maybe lower middle or middle middle class :nailbiting:

i was referring to the general population. seems to be the only jobs available are retail, food and service industries- all notorious for low pay, therefore cheap food choices. especially when one has to work two or more of these types of jobs and still cant make ends meet, or seek medical care. Correct foods are last on the list, and when you work like that, exercise is last on the list too.

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With all due respect...you ask our ideas about overweight nurses. Why? There are overweight doctors, lawyers, singers, football players, teachers, moms, dad, cops.....yea, so, and.....????????????????????? Are you implying they don't carry their weight? A nurse is a nurse.

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