There's nothing worse than a FAT nurse!

[Darkstar1485]

Ok, I'm sure that title made you want to throw up in your mouth. I don't blame you. I felt the same way when my physician said it to ME.

In January, I decided to take control my life and lose weight. I have lost about 30lbs so far. So, when I went to my doctor last week, he noticed that I was 30lbs lighter. He asked if I was on a diet and I told him yes. I told him I was going to nursing school and want to be a good example if I'm going to lecture on proper diet and exercise.

I guess my statement gave him a green light to be an a-hole.Doctor: that is so refreshing to hear! Nurses are notorious for ignoring their health. Keep up the good work. Remember, THERE'S NOTHING WORSE THAN A FAT NURSE! ::::doctor laughs::::

I was in shock. I could not believe it. I went numb. I did not find what he said funny or supportive. Yeah... I'm actively searching for a NP to be my primary care provider.... I happen to like NP's better. I find them to be less socially retarded.

What's the general consensus on obese nurses? Are obese nurses not taken seriously? Is what my doctor said a common thought?

[vera4130]

You know what I would prefer to see?

A work environment that supports health. A gym for employees, and reasonably priced, GOOD tasting food in the cafeteria. Anyone seen the Safeway model?

It would be much more powerful to have nurses who have made life changes than nurses who have always been thin - some of which are really only skinny fat, and just as much, if not more, at risk for disease than their overweight counter parts. The reality is, that the cost burden of overweight employees is huge and growing, and some severely overweight nurses may have difficulty doing their jobs. I don't want to see them punished, I want to see them get better.

My mom was an overweight nurse. She was a WONDERFUL nurse. She lost 60 pounds and is so much healthier for it. She is still overweight, but she eats pretty well and works out three days a week. If she never loses another pound, I'm so, so proud of her. She's now at lower risk for heart attack, stroke, Alzheimer's, etc. THIS is want I want to see.

And as side note, the two VERY best nurses I have ever worked with were smokers. When I think about such broad policies, I think of them. They wouldn't be hired now, and we would be the worse off for it.

[1hopefulChik]

Physical cause of obesity is energy input exceeds energy output, poor nutrition choices. (Without any underlying medical condition).

I am one who went from 235-195 in 3 months and then 195-185 in 2 months. I was not going to enter nursing school while I cannot take care of my own health(I have back problems), so I had to lose weight to alleviate the pain.

The reason of obesity is satiation of foods that we currently consume.

Obesity does have to do with a poor diet. People have used foods for comfort especially as stress eaters, that is true. However some people dont lack the proper discipline to know what is good for them.

The cause of it is highly individualized, but food choices is one of the biggest factors.

Butter, cream, lard, oil, sugar, gravy, sauces are all extremely caloric dense products that people add to their food for "flavor" that has extremely low satiation. I come from Texas so I see what people eat and what they request on their plate.

You seem to agree the reasons are highly individual yet you still assert food choices is the biggest factor.

If a person has an underlying psychological or physiological condition that fuels overeating, does it really matter if they get their excess calories from eating too much fruit or too much chocolate? Excess calories are excessive, regardless of the food source.

So food choice is not the biggest factor. You can't have it both ways. If each situation can be different, then factors for overeating will probably different.

Therefore, this obsession with obesity as a mere matter of one-diet-fits-all diet plan is misguided because it ignores the fact that obesity is usually (though not always) a symptom of underlying issues that must be addressed first.

We've got over 40 years of personal and medical evidence that clearly demonstrates over and over that until you make important life and/or attitude changes, changes in diet won't matter for very long.

[DatMurse]

You seem to agree the reasons are highly individual yet you still assert food choices is the biggest factor.

If a person has an underlying psychological or physiological condition that fuels overeating, does it really matter if they get their excess calories from eating too much fruit or too much chocolate? Excess calories are excessive, regardless of the food source.

So food choice is not the biggest factor. You can't have it both ways. If each situation can be different, then factors for overeating will probably different.

Therefore, this obsession with obesity as a mere matter of one-diet-fits-all diet plan is misguided because it ignores the fact that obesity is usually (though not always) a symptom of underlying issues that must be addressed first.

We've got over 40 years of personal and medical evidence that clearly demonstrates over and over that until you make important life and/or attitude changes, changes in diet won't matter for very long.

but how many people overeat fruits?

I didnt say that it is completely individualized.

Regardless even if someone had no mental problem with food consumption.

It is easier for someone to get filled off of 200 calories of oranges rather than 200 calories of chocolate.

Not all people that overeat calories is related to binge eating due to a trigger. it can simply be food choices.

What evidence is there that you speak of?

[nursel56]

I totally disagree that we are supposed to be models for our patients. Nursing is stressful enough without the burden of that to contend with.

The reason we may or may not be fat is not the patient's business and thus there is a huge array of misinterpretations that can be made unless we divulge personal details such as medical diagnoses and medications.

Additionally, an overweight nurse would be singled out based on the fact that obesity is the "unhealthy lifestyle" we can see. A thin nurse could have worse habits and in reality be a terrible model for patients. If a patient decides not to follow professional advice because the person giving it to them appears not to be following it themselves it's unlikely they are very motivated in the first place.

[DatMurse]

I totally disagree that we are supposed to be models for our patients. Nursing is stressful enough without the burden of that to contend with.

The reason we may or may not be fat is not the patient's business and thus there is a huge array of misinterpretations that can be made unless we divulge personal details such as medical diagnoses and medications.

Additionally, an overweight nurse would be singled out based on the fact that obesity is the "unhealthy lifestyle" we can see. A thin nurse could have worse habits and in reality be a terrible model for patients. If a patient decides not to follow professional advice because the person giving it to them appears not to be following it themselves it's unlikely they are very motivated in the first place.

there is a difference between overweight and obese. a thin frail nurse is just as bad as an obese nurse considering there are no underlying medical conditions.

[RedHeaded2bNurse16]

Are the doctors put under this much scrutiny? I always find this dilemma in female dominated fields, it always comes down to our bodies. Of course we "should" be an example to our patients but we are only human too. I'd take an overweight nurse, doctor, medic whoever as long as they know what they are doing. No one is perfect. Intellectually we all know how we are supposed to eat, exercise, not smoke, eat meals and take breaks (yeah right), oh and get plenty of rest. I don't know one nurse who can manage all of the above never mind of you have other stressors such as being a single mom etc. People need to get off their high horse and stop being so judgmental.

[Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN]

If we all did the right thing no one would work nights.

[nursel56]

there is a difference between overweight and obese. a thin frail nurse is just as bad as an obese nurse considering there are no underlying medical conditions.

Right and when you throw in each person (ie the patient's) subjective analysis of what is fat or thin it becomes too complicated and I just don't want to feel guilty if a patient sees a piece of pie on my "darn" tray.

I don't totally discount the role model thing as I showed up to my job in a Dermatology clinic some years ago with a nasty sunburn. I got quite a bit of good-natured scolding from docs and patients...hopefully nobody was prompted to throw out their sunscreen because of my lapse in awareness......:-\

[caughtbuckinoff]

I wouldn't have a problem with an overweight doctor or nurse telling me to eat better. Or a skinny one. Either way is fine with me.

The only thing that gets me is how someone sees the results of poor lifestyle choices nearly every day and will still make those same poor choices concerning their own life. I understand that your life is yours to live however you choose, but I can't help but want to hit the gym and add a few extra veggies into my next meal after spending the day at the hospital.

[nursel56]

I wouldn't have a problem with an overweight doctor or nurse telling me to eat better. Or a skinny one. Either way is fine with me.

The only thing that gets me is how someone sees the results of poor lifestyle choices nearly every day and will still make those same poor choices concerning their own life. I understand that your life is yours to live however you choose, but I can't help but want to hit the gym and add a few extra veggies into my next meal after spending the day at the hospital.

I credit my decision to quit smoking in my mid-twenties to my observation of the quality of life of COPDers, especially those who were still smoking while pushing their portable oxygen tanks, barely able to make it down the hall, so the concept worked with me and that unhealthy habit anyway.

[KelRN215, BSN, RN]

I wouldn't have a problem with an overweight doctor or nurse telling me to eat better. Or a skinny one. Either way is fine with me.

The only thing that gets me is how someone sees the results of poor lifestyle choices nearly every day and will still make those same poor choices concerning their own life. I understand that your life is yours to live however you choose, but I can't help but want to hit the gym and add a few extra veggies into my next meal after spending the day at the hospital.

Who says that what nurses see on a daily basis is necessarily the result of "poor lifestyle choices"? Pediatric cancer has nothing to do with lifestyle and that's what I see every day....

[Conqueror+, BSN, RN]

OK so let's pretend that every overweight nurse is that way because of something beyond their control and that it doesn't matter to patients coworkers or family because a fat nurse giving health advice will be taken just as seriously as a fit one and the opposite sex only cares about whats inside anyway. Furthermore all of the overweight nurses will live a longer healthier fuller life than the fit ones so they will ultimately win this one. Ta Da ! It never ceases to amaze me how hard people will work to get offended. If people spent as much time on their personal well being as they did trying to police what other people can say or think they would be better off. The PC pricklies are a real drag (meaning downer not cross dresser so please no flames).