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?
But I'm more and more convinced that is isn't "as simple as that." I know too many thin people who eat more than I do, and worse things than I usually do.
I am neither lazy nor a glutton, I'm just fat. (I'm not accusing anyone on this thread of being judgemental or self-righteous, but there are those in this world who are.)
No judgments here because Jules has a big enough job worrying about herself. :wink2:
I don't eat as much as my heavier friends on a daily basis and if I do pig out one day the next day I'll hardly eat at all. I think it adds up. However truth be told, after the age of 40 unless you work out like a fiend (which I don't) , no matter how kicking your butt looks in a pair of Levi's, the clothes need to stay on! Food just isn't my bag and I know that makes it easier also. I guess the moral of the story is that if you are over 35, in decent shape and enjoy eating "have at it" because skipping desert probably won't make you look like Cindy Crawford or Brad Pitt anyway, lol.
On my unit, there are not many overweight nurses. I think it has to do with many of us being young and the years of stress and poor eating not catching up to us yet. In my nursing school class, I can only think of 1 person total that was overweight.
My mother in law went to nursing school in the 60's and during that time, you could not pass the semester if you were overweight. The nursing students were actually weighed on a regular basis. She said that the overweight ones were kicked out of the program if they could not get within a healthy weight range. That was also during the time were not as many people were obese. The reason was that you couldn't be a good example to the pts if you were overweight.
Obesity has gotten out of hand and I recognize that there are many causes for it. I do however feel that nurses as health care professionals should try and live healthy lifestyles to be good examples for the pts. If you are overweight, a smoker, eat a crap diet, or doing other unhealthy things, you should take steps to remedy this. Of course a few people do have medical problems that affect their weight but, they are the minority in the number of persons that are obese. Getting medical help, exercising, getting therapy, eating healthfully etc are positive steps to take. I am sure that I will get the online equivalent of rotten tomatoes thrown at me but I feel that health care professionals should be more aggressive at tackling their own obesity. We all know how it negatively affects health and aren't we in the business of promoting health and changing unhealthy behaviors?
All due respect to people that disagree with me, just my 2 cents.
I'm an RN & I'm not fat but neither am I skinny as a rake!
We have RN's on our floor that are skinny, fat & everything in-between. At the end of the day what difference does it make?? If you can do your job & do it well kudos to you whatever your shape!
From a purely personal point of view, as someone who has just hit the big 4....0 I have tried to improve both my diet & exercise regime with reasonably good effect but has that made a difference to my nursing??? NO!! I always have & always will try to be the best nurse I can be each shift!
No judgments here because Jules has a big enough job worrying about herself. :wink2:
I don't eat as much as my heavier friends on a daily basis and if I do pig out one day the next day I'll hardly eat at all. I think it adds up. However truth be told, after the age of 40 unless you work out like a fiend (which I don't) , no matter how kicking your butt looks in a pair of Levi's, the clothes need to stay on! Food just isn't my bag and I know that makes it easier also. I guess the moral of the story is that if you are over 35, in decent shape and enjoy eating "have at it" because skipping desert probably won't make you look like Cindy Crawford or Brad Pitt anyway, lol.
Up to a point, I do think it probably is a simple matter of I vs O, but for those beyond a couple-or-ten extra pounds, I think metabolism becomes a big factor. Being fat slows ones metabolism, and just cutting calories can slow it even further. So, for me, skipping desert is pretty much a done deal. One piece of pie every month or two isn't nearly the problem as the occassional donut at work or egg mcmuffin on the way home, but the real key is probably going to be more walks without the cats, putting some miles on the new bike I bought last summer, and increasing my metabolism.
A former co-worker my age (46, at the time) worked out for an hour a day on her bowflex, and she looked good. I think of her every time I see that ad
about the 50 y.o. grandmother in a bikini. Never saw Shirley in a bikini, but I'd like to, and as soon as I get a place with enough room, a bowflex will be next on my list. (I figure dusting the damned thing off will be some exercise.)
Meanwhile, to paraphrase Muffie, my body is like a temple. An ancient temple, mostly in ruins, with vines and moss growing all over it.
Specializes in Nursing Ed, Ob/GYN, AD, LTC, Rehab.
I think any observation of nurses being obese is not from the profession its self but the whole societies ongoing problem with this recently, i dont think the nursing profession has a higher rate then the general public
It is because they are lazy and that does not hold true for RN's but all people. Everyone is quick to come up with an excuse: i work odd hours, long hours, don't get a break, have kids, need junk food, like junk food, i am trying, i don't like the gym, well i am not fat but not skinny either, i don't have time etc.... Unless you have a problem with your thyroid you can blame noone but your self.
It is because they are lazy and that does not hold true for RN's but all people. Everyone is quick to come up with an excuse: i work odd hours, long hours, don't get a break, have kids, need junk food, like junk food, i am trying, i don't like the gym, well i am not fat but not skinny either, i don't have time etc.... Unless you have a problem with your thyroid you can blame noone but your self.
Nor can you assume that some is 'fat' because they are lazy.
For example, there are some medications out there where weight gain is a side effect.
Jules A, MSN
8,864 Posts
No judgments here because Jules has a big enough job worrying about herself. :wink2:
I don't eat as much as my heavier friends on a daily basis and if I do pig out one day the next day I'll hardly eat at all. I think it adds up. However truth be told, after the age of 40 unless you work out like a fiend (which I don't) , no matter how kicking your butt looks in a pair of Levi's, the clothes need to stay on! Food just isn't my bag and I know that makes it easier also. I guess the moral of the story is that if you are over 35, in decent shape and enjoy eating "have at it" because skipping desert probably won't make you look like Cindy Crawford or Brad Pitt anyway, lol.