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.

It's a tricky one because we are less trusting of professionals that don't adhere to their own advice... Eg a dentist with bad teeth... I do marketing if I had a terrible website people wouldn't trust me as much. But then I don't know what the answer is as you couldn't say in order to be a nurse you must be able to run 5k, be under 25 bmi, eat 5 fruit and veg a day etc.... Knowing something is right doesn't always make you do it!

That is what I did. I thanked them for their time and sound advice but it was only afterwards I thought it was a bit incongruous. Sorry I have upset people. This was a standard over 65 assessment so I was not seeking information about weight.

Yabu. I work in health care, and quite closely with a number of consultant level Dr's. One is a very overweight cardiologist. He's a fucking phenomenal Dr, and knows full well the risks of his obesity in relation to heart health. He has to advise his overweight patients to try and loose weight because it is part of his job. He doesn't have to explain to them why he is overweight himself.

Edit: he is overweight because he had thyroid cancer so has no thyroid, and the levels that the NHS deem acceptable are laughabley low compared to international standards. So his dose of thyroxine is high enough to keep him alive but low enough that he is always cold his hair and nails are thin and brittle and he struggles with his weight

Many years ago I had a tiny Austrian GP - about 4"6' and very rotund
I was overweight - probably a size 14, and heavy because I did a lot of weight training.
Every time I saw her she'd insist on weighing me, and shriek "it's not fair, if I was as heavy as you I would be very very fat"
Nearly 40 years ago, but I can still hear her voice ringing in my head :)

Yeah sure and you can't be a good social worker if you don't have kids, you can't be a doctor or nurse if you ever drink more than the recommended amount or ever smoke anything ever. You can't be a driving instructor if you've ever had points on your licence....

What was their advice? Did they ask you any questions or just dole out the advice?

I have actually experienced the situation of a nurse feeling they had to 'at least admit to falling short' when advising me to do a little more exercise and it was not as good as the OP thinks. Thank goodness she didn't go as far as apologise for herself, although you can see why the fat-hating patients she must meet while doing the job she is qualified to do probably make her feel she should apologise and/or hand back her qualifications until she is thin enough. What's the alternative?: resign until she's thin, fail to give any healthy living advice that is part of her job until she's thin, or preface any healthy living advice that is part of her job with a self-flagellating disclaimer (OP's suggestion) and/or apologise.

YANBU

Yes, yabu and I can't believe the number of people that have agreed with your ridiculous post. Dispensing health advice is part of their job. Being slim is not part of their job.

They are meant to give you information. If you want Inspiration go to the pope.

They're nurses, not high priestesses.

And its very clear that just knowing to eat more of this and less of that doesn't solve overweight and obesity. It's not like fat people don't know cake and crisps are bad for them.

How do you know they are not overweight for medical reasons? Maybe on chemo? or on steroids for asthma?

I’ll suggest to the NMC they start making its a requirement that we need to be a certain weight now shall I?

I’m a fat nurse - thanks for the label by the way. Never mind that I slogged my guts out through training while battling crippling mental health due to losing a family member to suicide. Or that myself and my colleagues continuously put ourselves at risk through a Covid pandemic with non-existent PPE. Or that I’ve worked 90 hours in the last 9 days, with a further 12 to go tomorrow before I have one day off on Thursday, because if I didn’t pick the hours up that I’m not contracted to our patients would suffer because staffing is on its arse. Or I care for patients at home who are dying, being a support for them and their family, and feeling each death like it’s one of your own. Going an extra mile, constantly working over my hours. Sacrificing family time to look after others. Or that I’m trained to provide advice as part of my role, which is provided as such to be informative and in a friendly way, nothing else. Nevermind all that because I’m just a fat nurse.

You have no idea. No idea why they may be fat. You’ve no idea why I’m fat. I lost 4 stone. Exercised and ate better than many of my slimmer colleagues and indeed patients. But I’ve put it back on. For a variety of reasons I won’t even dignify with an answer. I hate that I’ve put it back on, and it’s something I’ll work on as soon as I’m able. But for now, people like you and others who are replying in the “what a travesty” fashion will simply label me and others as fat nurses. Comments like “obviously don’t take their own advice” etc etc, are just so bitchy and judgemental. Give your heads a wobble.

I haven't heard of anything specifically about margarine vs butter.

We are meant to give the same advice to everyone. There are lots of people who are very clued up on nutrition, especially with all the access to information online now. Unfortunately I still have to parrot on about 30g of fibre a day, sorry 🤣.

I'm a fat doctor. I comfort eat to cope with the stress of the job. And, honestly, the OP can do one.

Not being bothered about being patronised or the harmless instances of hypocrisy of others is absolutely blissful.

Like you said, you are not overweight ‐the long straw is clearly yours. The chubby nurses are conscientiously doing their jobs. Good for them.

🍿 This'll go well...

You can’t do popcorn at 4 pages in. It’s too late. Popcorn needs to be within the first 10 posts.

Great dietary advice there

So if I go to the doctors or see a nurse with an ingrown toenail, hur my leg, have a haemorrhoid issue, have a baby whatever I have to check they have had personally the same issue?

Does the same work for plumbers, wait staff, mechanics or just medical staff?

The state the NHS is in, I'd just be fucking glad I'd seen a nurse irrespective of their weight. Personally, I think YABU.

I mean my hairdresser is bald... does a cracking job on my hair though

Popcorn is a wholegrain 👍🏻

I’m a mental health nurse with a (few) diagnosis of mental illnesses. Surely I should be able to take my own advice and not become unwell?

But you can have a good diet and be fat. Or skinny with bad diet.

Op, you'll be shocked to discover that some doctors are very unhealthy, some dentists don't brush their teeth, some opticians don't look after their eyes and on and on. That doesn't mean that their years of training and experience is suddenly invalid. It just means they struggle with the same stuff as the rest of us.