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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To expect fat nurses to have some insight?.

755 replies

Vikingess · 07/05/2024 21:26

Just had a routine health check today at my GP surgery. Two nurses - both considerably overweight - dispensing advice on diet. I
am not overweight -AIBU to expect health professionals to demonstrate the the standards they recommended or at least admit to falling short.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
7
Lavenderflower · 08/05/2024 11:25

I have not read all the comment. However, I find your post very judgemental. I would personally expect all healthcare profession to provide all correct medical information to keep me healthy - its their job. They are paid to disseminate medical information and knowledge. They could be overweight for various reason including stress, shift work etc

PatsyStonesBeehive · 08/05/2024 11:21

SmileyClare · 08/05/2024 10:23

It’s lovely to hear positive praise for a gp - so rare these days!

However let’s not demonise “skinny” people. I don’t think personality or compassion is at all connected to body fat ratio.

Oh, I wasn't meaning to do at all. Clumsily worded but I just wanted to show that weight has no reflection on how a person does their job and we shouldn't be making snap judgements based on appearance.

PithyLeader · 08/05/2024 11:16

Janiie · 08/05/2024 11:08

'Depends on why that overweight person is overweight though and you won't know the difference just by looking at them, so it's easier for all the people who demonise fat people to just believe they are stupid and or lazy'

I don't demonise overweight people, as I've said I feel sorry for those struggling but we have to stop the excuses that's it's all because of things out of someone's control, stop the minimising and enabling. It is hard but people just have to eat less and do physical activity to balance the input with the energy used.

It isn't easy, no one is suggesting it is but all hyperbole that pointing out facts is calling people 'lazy fat and stupid' is not helpful.

I agree to a point.

The point being that it really isn't as simple as eat less, move more for many, many people to achieve long-term weight loss. Menopausal and post- menopausal women particularly.

There are many studies to support this.

IsTheOffDutyDoneYet · 08/05/2024 11:12

AlcoholSwab · 08/05/2024 06:46

I've worked with enough nurses to know that most of them are of average intellect.

Very few nurses could study medicine and that is the barometer.

Edited

I know you’re being goady, but what are your qualifications? You sound like an absolute delight to be around. My distinction at Masters level says hi.

CactusMactus · 08/05/2024 11:12

I'm with you OP. I had a health visitor, who could hardly fit up our stairs, tell me to eat more chicken after I had given birth and was loosing weight due to breastfeeding and eating healthily!

MaryMack · 08/05/2024 11:11

Yet another thread bashing the overweight for their existence - WTF is going on @MNHQ? This is getting ridiculous. People on benefits and people who are fat are getting regularly ridiculed on here. I thought it was supposed to be a supportive site?

Janiie · 08/05/2024 11:08

'Depends on why that overweight person is overweight though and you won't know the difference just by looking at them, so it's easier for all the people who demonise fat people to just believe they are stupid and or lazy'

I don't demonise overweight people, as I've said I feel sorry for those struggling but we have to stop the excuses that's it's all because of things out of someone's control, stop the minimising and enabling. It is hard but people just have to eat less and do physical activity to balance the input with the energy used.

It isn't easy, no one is suggesting it is but all hyperbole that pointing out facts is calling people 'lazy fat and stupid' is not helpful.

ShamedBySiri · 08/05/2024 11:06

@HeraSyndulla 😅😂

fungipie · 08/05/2024 11:01

crumbpet · 07/05/2024 21:44

They just have to dispense the theory not follow it. Same as you can ignore it too.

Not read the whole thread I will admit. But oh this is so hard. I did notice last time I took a friend to an OP appointment quite a few obese + nurses, smoking outside. And yes, it did make me jump and wonder.

They live very stressful lives, long hours, etc, I get it. And yet. To 'dispense theory' - is it not fair to expect to lead and encourage by exemple, to some extent? It is hard to listen to advice and take it seriously- if clearly not followed by advisor. Can you imagine someone at Alcoholics Anonymous to be drinking at the advice-support session? Or a gym instructor unable to show you exercises because of their lack of fitness and extra weight? Or a teacher who does not have a good grasp of the subject they teach?

Hugosmaid · 08/05/2024 11:01

Devonbabs · 08/05/2024 10:46

Clearly you have no clue about the well explained (here and elsewhere) multifaceted causes of the obesity crisis.

well someone was criticising someone’s ability to not run if they were overweight- so unless you are with the “all fat people are greedy and lazy” brigade then you have failed to explain the difference

The vast vast majority who are over weight are because their calorie intake is more than what they are burning off.

I don’t believe all ‘fat people are lazy and greedy’ a lot of it is down to wrong food choices, busy life style, mental health, very low income.

But I wish people would stop pretending that everyone that is over weight is suffering from a medical condition. They are not

HeraSyndulla · 08/05/2024 10:58

Delatron · 07/05/2024 21:41

Are we missing the part where the OP herself is not overweight so why on earth does she need dietary advice?

Oh you'd be surprised.

I finally got to see an NHS GP the other day and she gave me a lecture on contraception, concluding with " your husband can of have a vasectomy, of course - tell him to come and see me if he's being a baby about it".

I was sterilized 14 years ago.

ChishiyaBat · 08/05/2024 10:58

Janiie · 08/05/2024 10:50

'well someone was criticising someone’s ability to not run if they were overweight- so unless you are with the “all fat people are greedy and lazy” brigade then you have failed to explain the difference'

Disabled people cannot change their disability. Overweight can lose weight. I'm sorry of it's an inconvenient truth but that is the 'difference'. I feel sorry for overweight people but blaming everything else other than the amount they consume is not helpful.

Please don't group disabled people and overweight people together, it's not ok.

Depends on why that overweight person is overweight though and you won't know the difference just by looking at them, so it's easier for all the people who demonise fat people to just believe they are stupid and or lazy and just shovel junk food in their traps 24/7. All the people on here who think fat people can't do their jobs because they are fat is judgemental and vile! I'm suck of all the posts about fat lately it's so sickening! Fat=less than skinny we got it!

Janiie · 08/05/2024 10:50

'well someone was criticising someone’s ability to not run if they were overweight- so unless you are with the “all fat people are greedy and lazy” brigade then you have failed to explain the difference'

Disabled people cannot change their disability. Overweight can lose weight. I'm sorry of it's an inconvenient truth but that is the 'difference'. I feel sorry for overweight people but blaming everything else other than the amount they consume is not helpful.

Please don't group disabled people and overweight people together, it's not ok.

Devonbabs · 08/05/2024 10:46

Janiie · 08/05/2024 10:41

One is in the person's control, the other isn't. Nothing 'stupid' about stating facts. Or is everyone who overeats addicted with mh problems? Not just you know, an over eater?

I'm surprised anyone would think disabled people wouldn't have support in the workplace? Why do you think that anyone would criticise someone's inability to run if they were disabled Confused.

Clearly you have no clue about the well explained (here and elsewhere) multifaceted causes of the obesity crisis.

well someone was criticising someone’s ability to not run if they were overweight- so unless you are with the “all fat people are greedy and lazy” brigade then you have failed to explain the difference

Janiie · 08/05/2024 10:41

Devonbabs · 08/05/2024 10:34

Why can’t you compare the two? Both can limit a persons ability to perform day to day activities.

Or are you still clinging to the very outdated, for stupid people only obesity is down to greed and laziness only. Surely no one is that stupid anymore?

One is in the person's control, the other isn't. Nothing 'stupid' about stating facts. Or is everyone who overeats addicted with mh problems? Not just you know, an over eater?

I'm surprised anyone would think disabled people wouldn't have support in the workplace? Why do you think that anyone would criticise someone's inability to run if they were disabled Confused.

PithyLeader · 08/05/2024 10:41

ClareBlue · 08/05/2024 10:05

And tbh, most health services don't exactly support their staff in making healthy lifestyle choices, do they. Shift patterns, crap canteens, not enough break time to exercise and eat properly, stress resulting in comfort eating or quick alcohol wind downs, bullying, patient abuse, management abuse, the list goes on so maybe it's no surprise some result in poor diet or over eating. Maybe we should consider how they are supported first.

In the early weeks of the 1st covid lockdown, my local super-hospital was virtually empty with the staff having very little to do.

But because of all the information in the news and the government's assertions that the NHS was near-collapse and it seemed, all NHS workers doing double/triple shifts and not able to get to the shops. And the few Drs/nurses that went viral on Tiktok or similar, saying that was happening to them because they lived in a hot-spot, then the public jumped on the bandwagon.

And the hospital received almost daily donations of Easter eggs and takeaways from well-meaning individuals or local restaurants.

Staff were going home with carrier bags full of chocolate and takeaways after gorging themselves all shift because there wasn't much else to do. And the donors were seen as supporting the NHS..

Justnavigating · 08/05/2024 10:41

They are just people . They would have had this same advice themselves . How many doctors do you think smoke and drink ? They still have to advise patients not to .

Im a teacher and I tell my pupils to put their hand up to ask a question , to not shout at each other etc . Do you think I put my hand up to talk at home ? Do you think I never shout at my husband ? 🤣

The NHS is struggling as it is , do you expect them to stop employing people over a certain weight ?

YABVU

RafaFan · 08/05/2024 10:39

Delatron · 07/05/2024 21:41

Are we missing the part where the OP herself is not overweight so why on earth does she need dietary advice?

Not being overweight does not necessarily equal a healthy diet.

Devonbabs · 08/05/2024 10:34

Janiie · 08/05/2024 10:31

'Do you also have issues with disabled doctors not being able to run 100m in 15 seconds?'

You really cannot compare disability to being fat. Grossly unfair. Of course anyone disabled in the workplace would have support in place so they weren't bizarrely expected to run 100m in 15secs.

Why can’t you compare the two? Both can limit a persons ability to perform day to day activities.

Or are you still clinging to the very outdated, for stupid people only obesity is down to greed and laziness only. Surely no one is that stupid anymore?

jolota · 08/05/2024 10:32

Similar thing has happened to my colleague, her BMI lists her as obese (she's only a size 12 but quite short). She went in for a check up due to asthma issues and they gave her the whole spiel about how she should lose weight. She said the nurse was at least 2-3 sizes bigger than her.
But she also understands that the advice they are trained to give doesn't change depending on their personal physical attributes. It just feels a bit uncomfortable for everyone involved I imagine.

Janiie · 08/05/2024 10:31

'Do you also have issues with disabled doctors not being able to run 100m in 15 seconds?'

You really cannot compare disability to being fat. Grossly unfair. Of course anyone disabled in the workplace would have support in place so they weren't bizarrely expected to run 100m in 15secs.

DaftFlerken · 08/05/2024 10:30

What a judgemental post OP. How do you know that the nurse/nurses don't have a health condition or take medication causing it?

Hugosmaid · 08/05/2024 10:29

I get it OP, it’s patronising but may depend on the delivery of the advice.

We have a GP who is always round the back of the clinic fagging it 😂😂

CammyChameleon · 08/05/2024 10:29

If the advice is given kindly and not in a "anyone who's not an idiot is already doing this" way, just nod along.

People are imperfect and I should think nurses and doctors are far from immune to vices and bad habits that many others turn to when coping with long hours, stress, etc.

Sucks to be them, I should think, being very overweight to obese and in a job where you're on your feet a lot is an uncomfortable or even painful experience. I've been a size 10-12 for over a decade, and my right knee still flares up occasionally from the damage I did when I was a size 18 and on my feet all day.

Devonbabs · 08/05/2024 10:27

VestibuleVirgin · 08/05/2024 08:47

Back to the 'good old days..'
There is a real need for clinical staff to be able to move quickly - cardiac arrest, haemorrhage, etc. Not as easy if you are bulky.
This applies to all emergency services - how some police, given they are v large, plus the excess of accouterments, run after a crim, is beyond me.

You do realise there are fitness (bleep tests) for police don’t you?

Do you also have issues with disabled doctors not being able to run 100m in 15 seconds?

I despair at the stupidity here sometimes- I really do!

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