Why are so many of us over weight?

Jolie, BSN · Nov 14, 2005

If we are supposed to be good role models when it comes to health, why is it that so many of us are overweight? I'm just a student, so I don't know much, but I want to know what everyone else thinks about this!! Is it because there is no time to exercise with 12 hours shifts, and no time to find healthy food because there are such short lunch breaks? These are what I am guessing, but I want to know from real nurses why all of y'all think so many of your co-workers are overweight. (I don't mean to offend anyone with this post!!) Just curious!! Thanks for any opinions you have.

Because nurses are imperfect human beings, just like everyone else!

I'm sure you've also noticed that there are ministers who sin, cops who speed, physical therapists who don't exercise, teachers who can't spell, substance abuse counselors who smoke, etc. We are not (and are not expected to be) perfect.

acgemt · Nov 14, 2005

Hmmm...interesting post. All I really have to say is that becoming as you say "fat" does not happen overnight. It is not something that happens once you become an RN. It happens over time. Nurses are human just like everyone else...there are people who are overweight in any profession. I don't think it is a matter of overweight nurses not taking care of themselves. Because I am sure there are many skinny nurses that don't take care of themselves as well. By the tone of your post, I was not sure if you were putting overweight nurses down or not. My only suggestion is that you be non-judgemental to your fellow peers...just as you would be to your patients.

**RosesrReder, BSN, MSN, RN** · Nov 14, 2005

My hypothesis would be that nurses are humans as well. They are not a breed of its own where being this is the norm. There are many reasons why people are fat/overweight/obese etc. People don't chose to be overweight. Granted we can ALL do better to improve our lifestyles, but it is not easy.

There are many MD's who are fat too. Heck, I know a Respiratory Therapist who smokes like a train. Anyhow, I don't care/mind what ppl do with their lives. This thread has the potential to go many ways so I will just keep it at that. :)

CoffeeRTC, BSN, RN · Nov 14, 2005

This has been discussed sooo many times before. If you do a search you will find tons of posts on this.

As far as why my coworkers are overwieght..MYOB. Now I have my own excuses:uhoh21:

SeekingNur · Nov 14, 2005

Fat does not = unhealthy anymore than thin = healthy, especially in America where even average weight women are considered fat and unhealthy by the ridiculous standards of pop media.

Since you can't tell from looking at someone just what's muscle, what's fat, their cholesterol levels, strength, endurance etc. I think we should just each mind our own business and do our jobs.

txspadequeenRN, BSN, RN · Nov 14, 2005

How about the lunch break issue..... WHAT LUNCH BREAK???? Most of the time you cant go sit and eat a good ,low cal meal somewhere but if you want to eat you grab a bag of chips and a coke and keep on truckin.. Most everyone is a role model in someway to someone ,we make mistakes and may not be the ideal picture because we are imperfect people. Everyone has their own story as to why they carry the extra weight and it may not be because of overeating. I have been very overweight in the past and recently lost 50 lbs and counting. In my nursing experience weight has not been a factor, my patients dont commit or make reference (at least in front of me). The only difference is that I can make it down the hall now without the need for oxygen!!!:rotfl: :rotfl:

babynurselsa, RN · Nov 14, 2005

We are human just like the people that we take care of.

I do not look at a large piece of cake and say "As a nurse I guess I shouldn't eat this."

Nursing is a profession., not a genetic predisposition to a particular body type. Though we possess knowledge about good nutrition etc, we are still of free will to make our own dietary choices good or bad.

I personally don't have time or energy to expend on judging my coworkers lifesyle choices if they do not affect the care that they are able to deliver to the patients.

fergus51 · Nov 14, 2005

The same reason why some nurses are short and some are tall and some smoke and some don't and some have long hair and some have short hair.... cause nurses are just people too.

Indy, LPN, LVN · Nov 14, 2005

Heh. For one, if you're a nursing student, watch out, the scale may not be so friendly to you once you graduate. I spent so much time sitting down reading that I gained 16 pounds in two years. Nursing textbooks do NOT fit on the cute little plastic book holder on most exercise machines.

Second, I remember this from "Nursing Against the Odds"- Too much work stress with not enough down time causes additional deposition of abdominal fat. I'm not going to quote here but it's in there somewhere. If you haven't read it, read it, it's good.

So there - besides lack of time to eat healthy while at work- are at least two good reasons why some nurses are fluffier than others.

jnette, ASN, EMT-I · Nov 14, 2005

We are human just like the people that we take care of.
I do not look at a large piece of cake and say "As a nurse I guess I shouldn't eat this."
Nursing is a profession., not a genetic predisposition to a particular body type. Though we possess knowledge about good nutrition etc, we are still of free will to make our own dietary choices good or bad.
I personally don't have time or energy to expend on judging my coworkers lifesyle choices if they do not affect the care that they are able to deliver to the patients.

:yeahthat: Good post, Lisa !

night owl · Nov 14, 2005

:yeah: :yelclap: :yeah:

Because nurses are imperfect human beings, just like everyone else!
I'm sure you've also noticed that there are ministers who sin, cops who speed, physical therapists who don't exercise, teachers who can't spell, substance abuse counselors who smoke, etc. We are not (and are not expected to be) perfect.

:yeah: :yelclap: :yeah: