To expect fat nurses to have some insight?.

[Vikingess]

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.

People’s diets are not medical professional’s business in a routine appt.

I can’t be bothered with these daft goady comments.

It was a general health check offered to all women over 65? Of course diet, nutrition and exercise are going to be discussed.

65 is when most women reach menopause- suffer health conditions, put on weight, need to have their cholesterol and blood pressure checked, be advised on bone thinning and osteoporosis, joint issues and how your diet can impact those issues.

if you’re going to react by saying “It’s none of your business how dare you” I suggest you don’t attend yours.

Are you saying that if her blood pressure came back high during this routine appointment, the nurse shouldn't give her advice on how to lower it? She should just tell her that her blood pressure is high then send her away?

Yes and I don’t think the NHS are experts in nutrition either. The OP didn’t go for a nutrition appointment or for advice on her diet. She went for a blood pressure check. The nurse can ask a few questions to see whether further advice on diet is needed but could quite quickly establish that it wasn’t.

She went for a blood pressure check.

Now you’re just making things up to suit your agenda. She didn’t specify what the routine appt was.

It could’ve been anything routine. And the relevant advice could have included diet (as in don’t forget to get your 5 a day, reduce saturated fat etc) advice, not diet (as in here’s how to lose weight) advice. But we don’t know because the OP made the inflammatory thread and then left when the shit show started.

Talking about daft comments.

65 is not when women reach menopause. 😂 OP is not overweight.

Diet and nutrition are not discussed in routine health checks unless a patient has a condition for which dietary advice is required/relevant - eg diabetes, coeliac etc. Dietary advice is not given for osteoporosis or arthritis.

Diet and nutrition are not discussed in routine health checks unless a patient has a condition for which dietary advice is required/relevant - eg diabetes, coeliac etc. Dietary advice is not given for osteoporosis or arthritis.

I'm defending any of the goady shit but I had a routine health check at my GPs at the start of the year and diet and nutrition was actually brought up, it was brought up last year too I have arthritis and a lung disease and I was told eating well and healthy can improve and reduce flare ups and offered advice on how to eat well. My dh had his health check a few weeks ago and he has no long term health conditions and he was asked about his diet, we're both mid 40s and neither of us are overweight.

At my most recent rheumatology appointment a few weeks the rheumatologist even told me eating well is very important and can reduce flare ups and he asked if I'd like him to arrange some info for me to look up.

Yes, I took my son for a routine asthma check a couple of years ago, and was asked questions on, and given advice about diet, because being overweight can exacerbate asthma symptoms. The nurse took his height and weight at the beginning of the check, and it was apparent he was well within the remits of a normal weight; in fact, he actually veers more towards the lower end of normal. It’s just routine tickbox stuff.

Being overweight isn't the only reason diet may be discussed in a routine appointment, other conditions are affected by diet and even if those conditions aren't present then advice on keeping BP & cholesterol within a good range, general health and keeping healthy - from a health professional who you have booked an appointment with for either treatment or advice is relevant. It's not like a fat nurse walked past OP in the waiting room and shoved a load of healthy eating leaflets in her hand and stood there and gave her a lecture.

Not giving advice on diet & exercise because she's fat herself is unprofessional because she's refraining giving that advice based on something personal about her, if it falls under the scope of preventative advice, refraining from giving that advice because she appears to not follow it herself would be unprofessional.

I'd say there'd be more cause for concern if patients weren't getting that advice just because the nurse is fat.

If you are called for an over 40 or 50 health check, there are set questions asked:

‘Why should I have a NHS Health Check?

Everyone has a chance of developing heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, type 2 diabetes or certain types of dementia. The NHS Health Check will help you and your GP or health professional to identify your risk earlier.

You’ll then be given advice on what action you can take to lower your risk and improve your chances of a healthier life. This could include suggestions on small changes to your diet or how much exercise you take if your risk is low or moderate. If you are at higher risk, you might be offered things such as medicines to control your blood pressure, along with help to take action like losing weight or stopping smoking.’

Should a smoking nurse not ask about smoking? An overweight nurse not ask about diet? That would seem a little silly I think.

Do you really think you're enlightening anyone by what you're saying? Or do you just feel like bitching about people who you think lack self-discipline? It's a bit sad if it's the latter, poor you. You know you don't have to be so nasty? You can just step away from the computer/phone and try to find a more positive way to spend your time.

How can they talk about ‘small changes to your diet’ if they don’t know what your diet is like? My point is - clearly they are launching in with dietary advice that may not be needed. Potentially the OP has a better diet than the nurse. So a few questions can establish whether the OP needs to change her diet or it’s fine.

There are many clinical reasons why that's not correct, and without the OP's test results it's not possible to say that none of those reasons are relevant.

There are situations in which very slim people might benefit from or need advice about diet, so healthy eating information is not something that only needs to be considered for overweight people.

A suggestion for everyone who's rushing to judge healthcare professionals on their physical appearance: Next time you or your loved one needs healthcare, you can decline to see any clinician who doesn't meet your standards of physical aesthetics or weight.

As I have said several times, there are many clinical reasons for advice on diet, none of which are in the OP.

This was a routine health check carried out by nurses so it would only be very general - BP, heart-rate, weight etc.

If she had any tests results, particularly if they flagged anything serious, the appt would have been with a doctor or she would have been advised to make an appt with a doctor to discuss.

OP doesn’t say: I’ve just been diagnosed with diabetes, coeliac, life threatening food allergy and was thus given dietary advice for the condition - it was clearly just general advice as she complained she is not actually overweight.

The health professionals bending over backward to defend comments they were not party to, while being very defensive about being judged for their own weight, is entertaining.

OP doesn’t say: I’ve just been diagnosed with diabetes, coeliac, life threatening food allergy and was thus given dietary advice for the condition - it was clearly just general advice as she complained she is not actually overweight.

She doesn’t say much at all so no one, not even you, can say for sure.

It could have been how you say, but equally it could have been a routine appointment for something she’s already been diagnosed with that doesn’t warrant the doctor (my husband has T2 diabetes, for example, and doesn’t always see the doctor), and that dietary advice could be relevant. The fact that you choose to interpret it the way you do doesn’t make you right.

The health professionals bending over backward to defend comments they were not party to, while being very defensive about being judged for their own weight, is entertaining.

The fat bashers bending over backward to defend comments they were not party to, while being very aggresive towards people whose job it is to issue certain standard advice and whose body is of no (faux) concern of theirs is definitely not entertaining. It’s been done to death, it’s tiresome and it serves no actual purpose.

(fixed it for you).

OP says clearly in the OP: routine health check. She did not say: follow up appt to diabetes diagnosis etc. That is not my interpretation it’s in the OP.

I haven’t “bashed” anyone for being fat, nor have I been aggressive, that’s just a straight untruth.

I can see it from both sides: in certain circs medics are obliged to give out dietary advice that is crucial for health, which may not be well received. On the other, unsolicited general dietary advice as per the OP will simply irritate even alienate patients without achieving anything.

But the real issue of the thread is not arguing the toss over whether the advice is appropriate to the circs, but simply whether the patients are likely to take it seriously when dispensed by overweight staff.

25% of nurses are obese according to national figures & 14% of “other healthcare professionals”. When so many staff are overweight it is harder to convince the public to take weight loss advice seriously.

Where do I bitch about people with no self discipline? BED is not about lack of self discipline, it is an ADDICTION.
I am talking people with no self acceptance and make excuses as to why they cannot eat better. Excuses as to why they eat the things they do and make out they have literally no other choice because of reasons outside of themselves. The problem is with them and their mindset/disorder/addiction which of course they can’t help.

Know the difference.

OP says clearly in the OP: routine health check. She did not say: follow up appt to diabetes diagnosis etc. That is not my interpretation it’s in the OP.

My husband has routine health checks because of his diabetes. And his high BP. They include nutrition advice at times. That’s routine for him and he probably wouldn’t think to differentiate. He usually says ‘I’m off to the docs for a check up’. OP could have high something similar which is routine (not newly diagnosed) for her.

I didn’t say YOU specifically have been fat bashing but others have. The fact that you think it’s entertaining for HCPs to feel they have to defend themselves though suggests you’re a low level fat basher at least. Why shouldn’t people defend themselves when they’re being bashed for their appearance which, like I said, is no concern of anyone else?

When so many staff are overweight it is harder to convince the public to take weight loss advice seriously.

Op also didn’t clarify whether it was weight loss diet advice or “these foods are good for x, and it’s helpful if you get x portions of veg a day’ advice. Just because OP mentioned she isn’t overweight doesn’t necessarily mean anything. It could be that she doesn’t believe the nurses could possibly be eating veg herself, what with them being fat. Not an uncommon thought judging by the comments on these threads.

You’ll then be given advice on what action you can take to lower your risk and improve your chances of a healthier life. This could include suggestions on small changes to your diet or how much exercise you take if your risk is low or moderate. If you are at higher risk, you might be offered things such as medicines to control your blood pressure, along with help to take action like losing weight or stopping smoking.’

Like @HappyReunion pointed out above, it happens.

Other people being obese or overweight isn't the thing that should "convince the public to take weight loss advice seriously". Rather, it should be the desire to live a life with minimal disease and discomfort, disease and discomfort that can be minimised by looking after one's body. Somebody being overweight, even if they are a nurse or a doctor, doesn't mean I'm going to decide to stay overweight. If it suits me, fine; if it doesn't suit me, I make the necessary changes for my own satisfaction.

What are hoping to achieve by going on and on at me?

If OP had diabetes a. She would have said so and b. She would be used to dietary advice of direct relevance to her condition, so it would be unremarkable.

Secondly my point about NHS and “weight loss” was not related directly to the “dietary advice” in the OP which was not specified - but looking objectively to the broader issues raised by the thread topic.

It is problematic given the link between weight and ill health (specifically diabetes, cardiovascular disease and cancer) that the NHS is in the position of dispensing advice about weight and diet that its own staff are clearly not following, which unfortunately undermines the message. The obesity level amongst staff also raises concerns about the health and longevity of its workforce.

What are hoping to achieve by going on and on at me?

I could ask exactly the same of you.

Afiac our conversation ended yesterday. You initiated more this morning?

I responded to your further comments disagreeing with you. Discussion is the nature of the forum. Unless you think people should only post if they agree with you.

The NHS health check is designed to assess the 10 years risk of cardiovascular disease and pick up lots of preventable illnesses.
The nurse is supposed to assess risks of diabetes, heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, lung disease, liver disease using blood tests and patient discussion.
its reasonable to discuss diet in this circumstance:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nhs-health-check-programme-review/preventing-illness-and-improving-health-for-all-a-review-of-the-nhs-health-check-programme-and-recommendations

The weight of the nurse does not affect the assessment of the patient’s disease risk.

Quite - you started up a new conversation this morning - I just asked what you were hoping to achieve