To expect fat nurses to have some insight?.

@Donewithallthis I know how to eat healthy, exercise etc and just because I havent been able to follow it because of some medical issues, mental health, work stress etc that doesn't mean I should withhold the info from my patients. Actually I empathise with my patients who struggle with lifestyle changes because I know how hard it can be.

With all due respect - you could follow it if you really wanted to, you’ve chosen not to, and that’s completely fine but just own it. I have medical issues, work and life stress + caring for elderly parents - but I still eat healthily and maintain a healthy weight. In fact I’d say the greater your health issues and more stress issues in your life - the more important eating healthily is.

I do appreciate that you can be more empathic to your patients due to your own experience, but if you can’t do what you’re advising them to do, it doesn’t really inspire them to believe they can do it? It’s a do as I say but not as I do scenario.

I suppose the conclusion is that the NHS needs to think beyond healthy eating info - to actually addressing the general and widespread tendency to say “I can’t because xyz” as well as the emotional roots of overeating.

Oh stop being nasty. When nurses routinely work lots of overtime, have no time to get something healthy for lunch/only have access to vending machines or fast food while they eat at their desks, have not got home on time for weeks or get calls on time time off because of staff shortages - if someone cant see how that affects someones behaviour, they are either not smart enough to tie their own shoes, or willfully goady.

'I know how to eat healthy, exercise etc and just because I havent been able to follow it because of some medical issues, mental health, work stress etc that doesn't mean I should withhold the info from my patients.'

'Haven't been able to'. Why though, what work stress would mean you would eat crap rather than something healthy? You're a prime example of exactly what I've been referring to, people blaming everything else rather than admit 'I eat too much of the wrong stuff and I really need to change'. I guarantee you'll be able to do more cpr for longer if you lost weight.

Of course you do a brilliant job and nurses shouldn't be judged on their size but it's a fact if you advise others on healthy eating you really should practise what you preach.

These comments make me want to leave nursing. No respect or kindness shown to us. We are verbal and physical punch bags in real life. We get the brunt of the worst parts of NHS. This shows what people really think of us

Then talk to the ICB/NHS authorities who had down the dictats about what you have to cover in a session or not. A few years ago it was all about smoking. Now it is weight. In a few years it will be something else.

Is it their job though to dish out basic dietary advice when a person has come in for something else, did not ask for any dietary advice and appears to be a healthy weight.

No questions asked, not targeted advice…I don’t see that as doing ‘a good job’.

OP decided you can't be good at your job because she ate blooming lentils when she was younger and so should you.

I'm a fat nurse. I'm very good at my job according to feedback from colleagues and patients. Would you prefer I didn't do my job because of my weight? A skinny nurse with less knowledge is preferable?

I don't get to eat properly at work because I am often busy looking after people, I work extra hours for free because I am supporting patients so rarely have the time or energy to exercise as much as I would like.

I know how to eat healthy, exercise etc and just because I havent been able to follow it because of some medical issues, mental health, work stress etc that doesn't mean I should withhold the info from my patients. Actually I empathise with my patients who struggle with lifestyle changes because I know how hard it can be.

I'll always remember hearing a patient who I had given CPR telling his daughter that all the nurses on this ward are fat. That's what mattered, my weight, not that I'd spent my lunch break keeping him breathing.

How lovely that those of us in caring professions who want to help people get judged on our looks rather than our skills and knowledge.

Never mind my years of caring experience, 2 degrees, masters and multiple CPD qualifications. My next employer should ignore all that and instead check my BMI to make sure I'm suitable for the job.

I told you I don't eat a lot and I don't and I exercise and i'm still fat, i'm not making excuses, saying it's medication, or anything else, i'm just saying i'm fat&i've tried to control it&it doesn't work. I ha e bloods regularly due to conditions I have and my blood sugar is always normal because even though i'm fat i'm still healthy, but you continue to spout the bullshit that it's overeating and lack of exercise when it isn't and i'm pretty sure i'm not the only fat person in the same boat, so I will continue eating my 2 healthy meals a day and my exercise and hating my body because I never have been and never will be thin, but for a lot of people I will always be lesser and I will always be looked down on for the way I look by people like you who think that i'm not doing enough.

It's their job they have to tell you.

You can make your own choices about your diet as they have.

This. They're following standard procedure. Why the need to bitch about 'fat nurses'?

Most people who want to lose weight need to change their mindset as well as what they eat .
For many (including myself) we eat because we are bored. Go somewhere (work meeting, canteen) and there’s free food to graze over? Yep you eat because food is there, even though you are not hungry.

if bored, and if you can change what you are doing, do something different.

Yes, @Spirallingdownwards has already explained this upthread.

The OP went to a health check. You get advice on all sorts and asked about diet, exercise, smoking and alcohol. There was no shaming at all, OP voluntarily attended a medical check and was given basic standard advice. She then came online to complain 2 people doing their jobs are fat.

God we can’t win can we?

A health check can involve a cholesterol check, blood sugar check, BP, BMI etc. So advising on diet - as in the food you eat, not dieting I.e. weight loss - is fundamental. If BP, or cholesterol, or sugar or BMI is elevated then of course we should be offering dietary advice.

If we’re fatties and do that we’re hypocrites.

If we’re slim we’re also hypocrites as we don’t understand what it’s like to struggle with our weight.

I’m so fucking tired of being a nurse. When I see comments here on MN and see what people really think of us I just wonder why I bother.

'People with attitudes like yours are a big part of the obesity crisis by creating a culture of self blame and shame. You need to stop and think about the problems you could cause.'

As I say, always everyone else's fault. I don't cause any problems just point out inconvenient truths.

I agree that food addiction is the same as any addiction be it drink, drugs or smoking. Very very hard to kick but not impossible.

What I don’t agree With however is the constant excuses of medication, genetics, hormones, big bones, weight runs in the family, bad metabolism etc etc. Of course there are a small number of people who have medical reasons for being fat but the vast majority are fat because they eat too much. The VAST majority. That is a mental health issue. Food addiction. Very few people want to admit that. They prefer to blame it on every other excuse under the sun rather than the fact they overeat the wrong foods. I can’t lose weight.. well technically you can, same as a drug addict can stop, a smoker can stop or an alcoholic can stop. If you were in a room and fed 3 nourishing meals a day and some healthy snacks, you would 100% lose weight.

The problem is that an addiction is an addiction and although yes, you can absolutely lose weight by changing your diet, your mental health is stopping you. It’s a vicious circle.

I do think that a lot of people do not address their addiction as being just that… an addiction but will instead use every excuse in the book rather than admit to themselves let alone others that they are fat because they overeat. And in saying that a lot of people who are not overweight will never understand a food addiction and will see it as greedy. It’s not.

But when they do seek help they are usually met with attitudes like yours - usually full of blame and misinformation.

Attitudes like this need to changes to end the obesity crisis. These attitudes are a major part of the issue. Your attitude is akin to telling someone with depression to pull themselves together- can you, in all honesty, not see that?

Ah there it’s is “blame”!

I have multiple professional and academic qualifications - I have worked hard to achieve these things. I still consider myself lucky.

If I had been born to drug addicted parents, living in a council flat, forced to join a gang would you think I should blame myself if I wasn’t able to achieve a PhD? But I don’t have drug addled parent, I joined a gang with my friends who put on dance shows because I was lucky not to have such a terrible childhood.

Or may be the kid who is acting as the sole carer for their chronically ill mother should just have tried harder at school and got in to university She could have just done an extra 2 hours homework per night, after all I did extra work and made it - no luck involved in not having a chronically I’ll parent.

These are some of the issues facing children when trying to get a good education. Yes top academic qualifications are down to hard work but not achieving them is rarely due to laziness.

People with attitudes like yours are a big part of the obesity crisis by creating a culture of self blame and shame. You need to stop and think about the problems you could cause.

'Do you think people with depression should just look on the bright side?'

No, i think they should see a hcp and seek treatment? Not just accept they are how they are and nothing can be done to help and change things.

'but boy could some of you pious skinny folk do with a random period of stress that triggers a food addiction/binge eating disorder as a coping mechanism to stop you being so ignorant/judgemental and gain a bit of empathy!'

I'm not skinny thanks, though I note how you use it in an insulting tone.

I've had far more than 'random periods of stress' thanks and if I ever do binge eat I'll know I have absolutely no one but myself to blame and ask for help not just carry on eating.

Your repeated use of “think they can’t” is quite frankly disgusting. You are suggesting that serious trauma, mental health conditions. Neurodivergent diversity etc are things which can be “overcome” by thought. Is this what you think of things like metal health conditions generally? Do you think people with depression should just look on the bright side?

I see obese people often walking their dogs across the moors.

Anyway I’ll leave you to your fantasy world of misplaced superiority because every post you’re writing is becoming increasingly derogatory and discriminatory as well as hateful. I doubt you recognise the catastrophic impact that your words will be having on people here. This kind of attitude prevents many people getting the help they need a deserve - they fear being judged by people like you, people who don’t realise just how lucky (yes it is luck even if you can’t or won’t comprehend that) you are.

I wouldn't wish alcoholism or drug/gambling addiction on anyone but boy could some of you pious skinny folk do with a random period of stress that triggers a food addiction/binge eating disorder as a coping mechanism to stop you being so ignorant/judgemental and gain a bit of empathy!

You're overweight but you don't think they should be able to LITERALLY DO THEIR JOBS because they're overweight too?

Because it's easier for them to lose weight than it is for you?!

Nope.

£9.4 billion is total cost to the U.K., the total healthcare cost (NHS & private) for EDs is £1.5-1.7 billion.