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Original poster

Would you hire a morbidly obese Nanny?

606 replies

whompingwillo · 01/02/2025 11:50

I would like to hire someone we’ve met for my 9 month old baby. She’s fab, great with kids, lovely, I have no concerns.

I would estimate her BMI is 50-60 and my husband noticed that it is a struggle for her to get up and down off the floor and he is worried that if baby was in danger she may struggle.

So what would you do? Do you think that weight could impact a job like this? I’m sure people of this weight have their own children and are safe to look after them?

YABU - morbid obesity could impact her ability to do this job

YANBU - she’ll be fine

OP posts:
biscuitsandbooks · 01/02/2025 12:49

Gone12 · 01/02/2025 12:48

My thoughts exactly. All the fat haters are out in force on this post.

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At least they don't disguise their blatant disgust and prejudice, lol.

ArghhWhatNext · 01/02/2025 12:48

17 stone IS abnormally large for a woman. It is also an unhealthy weight for many men. We are really confused nowadays about what constitutes healthy.
It may sound fat-phobic, unkind, judgemental- whatever, but really, if I was appointing someone to look after my child full-time, I’d want them to be fit and healthy. I’d want them to be taking my child for walks, swimming, to the park etc. To do that, they need enough energy.

YellowRoom · 01/02/2025 12:48

DD's childminder was large. She was great at her job.

Gone12 · 01/02/2025 12:48

BusyCaz · 01/02/2025 12:39

This thread has just been a hate thread about obese people, have a word with yourselfs.

My thoughts exactly. All the fat haters are out in force on this post.

Motnight · 01/02/2025 12:47

Bubblegumtatoos · 01/02/2025 12:41

BMI of 50 to 60 is 17 stone plus a few more stones unless you are exceptionally short!

Big difference between 50 and 60 BMI too.

Edited
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Agree. If the nanny is 5 ft 3 she could easily weigh 22 stone plus to have a BMI of around 55.

MrsSkylerWhite · 01/02/2025 12:47

No I wouldn’t. My concern would be her ability to keep up as the baby became a running toddler.

julia08 · 01/02/2025 12:47

It's easy to dismiss her purely based on size but assuming she has plenty of previous experience, I would potentially hire her (especially if she was the best of the available candidates). I would want to very carefully check her experience and references, including a frank telephone call to previous employers to tactfully sus out if there were any issues. She will know her limitations and will likely be even more mindful than usual to ensure the baby never gets into a situation where athleticism is required to rescue them from danger! Agree with a previous poster that a trial morning is a great idea.

Flossflower · 01/02/2025 12:46

BusyCaz · 01/02/2025 12:39

This thread has just been a hate thread about obese people, have a word with yourselfs.

They are just saying why the nanny could be unsuitable. Most people wouldn’t employ a nanny that smokes either.

Poale · 01/02/2025 12:46

I wouldn’t, I’d hope that the activities would be active as dc gets older and if she’s struggling to get on and off the floor I would worry about that.

biscuitsandbooks · 01/02/2025 12:45

Bubblegumtatoos · 01/02/2025 12:41

BMI of 50 to 60 is 17 stone plus a few more stones unless you are exceptionally short!

Big difference between 50 and 60 BMI too.

Edited
Show quote history

I know, but 17 stone is hardly at the size where you can't walk or bend, which is what everyone on here seems to be suggesting. I know lots of people of that kind of size, they all work full-time (many in physical roles eg. carers) and don't seem to collapse every time they tie their shoes.

The majority of the hyperbole on here is just disgust for obesity disguised as compassion.

Serenandnova · 01/02/2025 12:43

Nope

Devilgate · 01/02/2025 12:42

I would hire her

whippy1981 · 01/02/2025 12:42

Yourfootisinmysirachamayo · 01/02/2025 12:39

Not limited but it's factual that the chance of those issues will be massively increased.

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Not massively but diabetes doesn't impact on the ability to care for a child nor does back or knee problems. I have a back problem from a nerve injury I work with kids all day and I still do my job. Should I not do my job?

user1492757084 · 01/02/2025 12:41

Ask her questions about whether she feels that she is able to chase the children.
Whether she could make healthy food choices for your children and how she feels about outdoor playgrounds and walks to the park.

If you did hire her, you would be wise to give exact recipes for snacks and light meals for your children and request that she eats similarly healthy meals when eating with them. No soft drinks etc.
You would also be sensible to request that Nanny takes at least an hours walk in the park with the children every morning.

Presumably your prospective Nanny comes with a qualification and good references. If you trust that information and if your questioning goes well, I would give her a three month trial.

Bubblegumtatoos · 01/02/2025 12:41

biscuitsandbooks · 01/02/2025 12:37

The way some posters are acting, you'd think this woman was a cast member on My 600lb life Confused

17 stone is large but it's not so abnormally large that she shouldn't be able to walk and move and keep up with a child, ffs.

BMI of 50 to 60 is 17 stone plus a few more stones unless you are exceptionally short!

Big difference between 50 and 60 BMI too.

biscuitsandbooks · 01/02/2025 12:40

BusyCaz · 01/02/2025 12:39

This thread has just been a hate thread about obese people, have a word with yourselfs.

100%, disguised as "concern for the child". I put on a fair bit of weight due to medication and it's really depressing to see how badly people viewed me back then.

whippy1981 · 01/02/2025 12:40

PennyApril54 · 01/02/2025 12:37

Absolutely. But it would be more difficult for them I think.

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And when a thin person suffers with these it doesn't?

TheWorminLabyrinth · 01/02/2025 12:40

BusyCaz · 01/02/2025 12:39

This thread has just been a hate thread about obese people, have a word with yourselfs.

That's the main purpose of MN.

BusyCaz · 01/02/2025 12:39

This thread has just been a hate thread about obese people, have a word with yourselfs.

Yourfootisinmysirachamayo · 01/02/2025 12:39

whippy1981 · 01/02/2025 12:33

Type 2 diabetes is not limited to fat people! Also neither are back or knee problems. Someone reliable is needed and fat people are reliable. In fact the fat people I work with are the most reliable and the thin people are less so.

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Not limited but it's factual that the chance of those issues will be massively increased.

PennyApril54 · 01/02/2025 12:39

PennyApril54 · 01/02/2025 12:26

No I think this person probably means there is extra pressure on her joints, organs etc that could cause issues

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I wasn't being funny I was being scientifically correct

biscuitsandbooks · 01/02/2025 12:37

The way some posters are acting, you'd think this woman was a cast member on My 600lb life Confused

17 stone is large but it's not so abnormally large that she shouldn't be able to walk and move and keep up with a child, ffs.

PennyApril54 · 01/02/2025 12:37

whippy1981 · 01/02/2025 12:34

Could - which means they work with those issues just as thin people work with those issues.

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Absolutely. But it would be more difficult for them I think.

Moveoverdarlin · 01/02/2025 12:36

I wouldn’t. With a BMI that high she must have other health issues. That could then lead to time off, sick pay.

Anonymouseposter · 01/02/2025 12:36

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

What does this mean?
I wouldn't employ anyone for a job that they weren't physically able to do properly but I don't understand what you mean by sending a message.

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