An obese nutritionist: would you be her patient?
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JeffseekingV wrote: »JeffseekingV wrote: »ThePhoenixIsRising wrote: »
If in doing research the obese person is the Beethoven of nutrition then by all means hire them! If on the other hand they are on par with others who are able to present themselves at a healthy weight, their weight become a valid judgment point.levitateme wrote: »You know Beethoven wasn't born deaf right? He also wasn't completely deaf until very late in his life, so he heard music and knew how notes sounded before he went deaf.
Are all obese people that way from birth or can circumstances change over time?
I know I am being a little glib here but people spend more time researching what TV to buy than something much more important in my opinion - someone who can assist them with health and nutrition.
Perhaps if we tried to eliminate our biases and spent a little more time looking at matters we would identify the best person for the job on actual merit, who could in fact be exceptional, be they slim or not.
Wishful thinking may be but it is better than sitting back and saying "oh well, that's just the way it is" in my view.
Undoubtedly and as a rational consumer you would opt for the healthy weight nutritionist in that scenario.
I would think the right move islevitateme wrote: »JeffseekingV wrote: »levitateme wrote: »levitateme wrote: »You know Beethoven wasn't born deaf right? He also wasn't completely deaf until very late in his life, so he heard music and knew how notes sounded before he went deaf.
Are all obese people that way from birth or can circumstances change over time?
I know I am being a little glib here but people spend more time researching what TV to buy than something much more important in my opinion - someone who can assist them with health and nutrition.
Perhaps if we tried to eliminate our biases and spent a little more time looking at matters we would identify the best person for the job on actual merit, who could in fact be exceptional, be they slim or not.
Wishful thinking may be but it is better than sitting back and saying "oh well, that's just the way it is" in my view.
People just want to argue. Beethoven was a musical genius. Is every single obese person the Michaelangelo of food and I'm just missing out because I am close-minded?
I could have easily ended up 400 lbs, but I didn't because I took control of myself. For this reason, I wouldn't trust someone who is 400 lbs to tell me what to eat no matter how much education they had. That's about all I have on the matter.
I wouldn't hire any nutritionist though. I even cut my own hair, if that helps.
Is every thin person a nutritional genius? Being thin doesn't qualify anyone any more than being obese disqualifies anyone. Going by looks is a rather shallow way of making the decesion in this case.
Where did I say that someone being thin would make them a genius about food? Where? Find it.
Obesity is costing the US healthcare industry literally BILLIONS of dollars a year. This has nothing to do with looks. Why would I go see a doctor that I deem unhealthy to get medical advice? I'm fairly certain that most people on this website are using it because they don't WANT to be obese. Does that have more to do with looks or health? Who knows, but being obese isn't a desirable trait, so I don't see why you need to argue this to the death. Do you want to be obese? Is that why you're on a calorie counting website?
Your argument makes no sense to me. I find an obese person who goes to school to learn about nutrition but who chooses not to follow what they know to be hypocritical. I am not talking about "technically" obese people, or slightly overweight people. I am talking about 100 lbs overweight +
ETA: And I know you're just going to come at me with "emotional, blah blah, losing weight is hard." Yes I know, I am a (mostly) recovered binge eater who was obese for many years. I know how hard it is.
You implied it. Your argument makes no sense to me either. Have you seen my post about what it technically qualified as medically obese? If you are rather muscular and shorter, you can be clinically obese and actually have a fairly low bodyfat.
Being thin (the opposite of obese and what you are implying here) doesn't make one healthier. Only your perception does. If you wouldn't want an obese person giving you nutritional advice, then one could disqualify a thin person because they could have an unhealthy eating disorder that keeps them thin.
So the answer is "maybe". Depends on their qualifications.
We wouldn't have access to a clinical BMI score for this person. The determination of obese would have to be made by what we see.
In real life, if you look at a person and think they're obese, they're going to be over-fat, and/or possibly retaining a ton of water. Not 'rather muscular and shorter'. I mean, seriously?.
Oh, and yes. Someone who appears unhealthy because they are too thin would also be passed over. The criteria is: if their appearance seems to indicate they would not be as fit to give good advice or to follow said advice for the client's needs. Assuming the needs are healthy weight loss. Not sure why that is not self-evident.
I could see a shorter muscular person and probably guess they could be clinically obese. Just like you could try to determine an overly fat/thin person as being unhealthy.
the criteria is "would you hire an obese person as a nutritionist?".
You do enjoy attempting to deflect by deliberately missing the point, don't you.
In the real world, people do not look at those with low %BF and classify them as obese. In fact, when they hear that some of those people are classified as obese by BMI (but not by %BF), the general response is that the BMI classification is ridiculous and without merit and that %BF should be used instead. So, you can safely presume that if you're going by sight alone, and not medical records, the only people being classified as obese will be those with higher %BF. How high that is will be a subjective thing, based on the client's perspective.
My reference to a criteria is obviously not to the OP, but to the rationale on choosing the nutritionist.
The last time I checked, I live in the real world. And by punching in my own info weight BF, I understand what it would take to be clinically obese and what that person might look like. The clinical definition of obese actually ASSUMES a BF. But if you enter the criterian for BMI it does NOT ask for BF%.
I can only state MY opinion if I would hire that person or comment on the logic of others. If you wouldn't, that's fine with me. I'll just debate the logic of your reasoning. In the end, you can decide not to and in the real world, you don't need any logical reason to make that decision. You can agree with my debate, disagree and discuss or disagree and not discuss.0 -
I would base my decision on that persons credentials and personality/enthusiasm rather than their own personal struggles. Like other people said, that person may have a medical problem and a skinny dietitian or nutritionist may not be 'practicing what they preach' - a lot of my naturally thin friends eat the most junk and know much less about health than people who have struggled with their weight.0
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I would base my decision on that persons credentials and personality/enthusiasm rather than their own personal struggles. Like other people said, that person may have a medical problem and a skinny dietitian or nutritionist may not be 'practicing what they preach' - a lot of my naturally thin friends eat the most junk and know much less about health than people who have struggled with their weight.
I wouldn't be more likely to work with her if she was thin.
I would be more likely to use her services if she was a super healthy, actively engaged, role model.
Just like I would for a trainer.
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goddessofawesome wrote: »Yep. It's much easier to preach than to practice. Doesn't mean she/he doesn't know what they're talking about.
No, but looking as though you take your own advice lends a bit of credibility. Would you go to a dentist who tells you how important oral hygiene is, that you have to brush and floss when they themselves have no teeth?
Having good oral hygiene can hardly be compared to being overweight. It's quite simple to maintain good oral hygiene- brush your teeth and floss every now and visit your dentist twice a year and then and you're good (genetics also contribute to oral health). So, if my dentist can't seem to brush his teeth a couple times a day or floss every now and then, I might question his credibility.
However, as we all know, maintaining a healthy weight and fitness level is a smidge more of a challenge. It's not as simple as "oh, just eat this many calories and exercise and you'll be healthy, ta da!". Emotions are involved in maintaining a healthy lifestyle and aid in the process of packing on pounds, as well as medical conditions, etc. Oral hygiene, not so much- you basically just brush your teeth. (I do understand some people are afraid of the dentist, etc., but that's not what I mean). If it were as simple to maintain a healthy weight/fitness level, this website would not exist.
I am an intelligent person with a decent amount of knowledge about health and fitness and weight loss, but I, myself, am 100 pounds overweight. Doesn't mean I don't know what I'm talking about. I understand that someone might question my credibility and that's their prerogative, but the OP's question was "would YOU" be her patient. And yes, I would, because I am aware that there are other factors involved.
You're over thinking this process. Because yes- it is that simple.
The steps are very simple.
eat less
move more.
It's quiet simple, outside of extreme medical conditions, to not be so excessively over weight.
the whole reason this website exists is people over complicate it and make it about their emotions. Once they realize they aren't eating their emotions- or they get over their bad guilt/whatever hang ups over food- the pieces fall in to place. But again- maintaining a reasonable weight range and getting an hour or so of activity weekly is completely manageable and reasonable.
Disagree. <snip snip snip>
Sorry, but it's not as simple in real life as it is on paper.
And that's why this is easier for me than it is for you- and as long as you maintain that mind set- it will continue to be that way. I wish you the best of luck in your journey.
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Is going to an obese nutritionist like riding a scooter?
Lots of fun, but you don't want your friends to see you?0 -
Sure. We talk a lot about personal responsibility in weight loss. I don't need to worry about why she doesn't follow her own knowledge as long as I do. I'm not paying her to do the work for me but to help me understand it. A lot of people struggle with their weight, and for many of us, it's not lack of education. She has no more need to be perfect than anyone else. Someone who once upon a time helped me quite a lot with related issues was probably obese. She made such a lasting positive impression that she inspired my career path.0
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brightsideofpink wrote: »It would really depend how big they were. Overweight but still healthy and fit looking then sure no problem. If they looked like a contestant for the biggest loser then no way - I would struggle to be inspired by someone who for whatever reason doesn't embody the lifestyle they're instructing you on. Lead by example and all that
Do people really go to a nutritionist for inspiration? For back-patting and cheering and story-telling? For lifestyle instruction?
You can do that at weight watchers. Or certain pages here. Both much cheaper and easier to find.
Lets get to the root of the words. Nutrition. Diet. I've seen several nutritionists/dieticians. One for gestational diabetes, and others for nutritional counseling for my children who are underweight. I choose them for their knowledge. My dietician doesn't ever have had to struggle with diabetes to have helped me to create a meal plan to understand the GI of certain foods or manage insulin. Its science. I don't need them to lead me or be an example. There are better places for that. I need their knowledge. What they choose to feed themselves is irrelevant.
Thats fine for you, but i wasn't telling you that you needed to be inspired or motivated by your dietitian - i was stating that I personally do. Which was actually the original question.
So in answer to your question 'Do people really go to a nutritionist for inspiration?' the answer is yes, some people do. It entirely depends on your personality and the reason you're seeing them in the first place. Your examples were incidences where their knowledge may have been all you needed. When I've seen a dietitian it's been part of an eating disorder treatment program so actually their knowledge of food groups and numbers wasnt the whole of it. I needed to be encouraged and inspired to continue maintaining a healthy eating pattern, and held accountable when i didn't.
I can't take people seriously if they say one thing and then do another and I definitely wouldn't accept recriminations or advice about how and why i should eat from someone dangerously overweight.
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If she was just barely in the "obesity" range on the BMI scale & came with great recommendations, then I wouldn't think twice about being her patient. That level of obesity can be caused by confounding factors like hormonal imbalances while still maintaining a healthy lifestyle. If she was hundreds of pounds overweight, then I'd be more hesitant to make an appointment. Severely obese people can certainly still be highly educated in nutrition, BUT one of the important parts of meeting with a nutritionist is getting practical recommendations about how to make healthy a practical lifestyle. I'd be concerned that the advice would be more academic & I wouldn't be able to glean the tips I needed to actually apply the advice.0
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peachyfuzzle wrote: »"Those who can't do teach."
Self-control is not the same thing as having knowledge. I would probably take her advice with a grain of salt, and do my own research on her advise, but that wouldn't dissuade me from visiting her altogether.
Sorry, I have to be a total nerd and correct this quote..."Those who can do, those who can't teach." Bernard Shaw (I use this and many other quotes from him frequently LOL). If mine is also a little off sorry but I think I'm close.
While no one is perfect and certainly experience on the bad end of nutrition can be valuable I have to say if someone puts it out there that they are an expert in this I would expect they are in at least fairly good shape themself. These days I also think that doctors, nurses, etc should be held to a higher standard and take care of themselves better.0 -
I think it's more about attitude and manner rather than size. You can have the biggest or skinniest healthcare professionals giving you advice, but if they sound like they're judging you harshly and are unsympathetic, I'm not going to want to go and see them.
As it happens, I visit a nurse who specializes in helping people lose weight, and she is a little overweight herself. But she is wonderful! She has lost a significant amount of weight, and truly understands the difficulty of it. She emphasizes it's not about reaching perfection, it's about being healthier and making better choices most of the time. Plus the main thing is, she's really nice! And I feel like she'd be that way no matter what her weight.
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Would you chose a life coach whose life was falling apart?0
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I agree with this too an extent....but I know great accountants who are amazing with all their clients books, but their books are a mess. I know house cleaners who do a wonderful job, but their homes are a mess. There are therapist who do their job fantastically, but they need therapy themselves....so you never know the case.Would you chose a life coach whose life was falling apart?
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KombuchaCat wrote: »peachyfuzzle wrote: »"Those who can't do teach."
Self-control is not the same thing as having knowledge. I would probably take her advice with a grain of salt, and do my own research on her advise, but that wouldn't dissuade me from visiting her altogether.
Sorry, I have to be a total nerd and correct this quote..."Those who can do, those who can't teach." Bernard Shaw (I use this and many other quotes from him frequently LOL). If mine is also a little off sorry but I think I'm close.
I've heard an extention to this quote "and those who neither can nor can't become critics." but I'm not sure who said that.0 -
It's also horridly inaccurate and comes from a position of idolatry of idiocy, but yeah.KombuchaCat wrote: »Sorry, I have to be a total nerd and correct this quote..."Those who can do, those who can't teach." Bernard Shaw (I use this and many other quotes from him frequently LOL). If mine is also a little off sorry but I think I'm close.
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Wheelhouse15 wrote: »KombuchaCat wrote: »peachyfuzzle wrote: »"Those who can't do teach."
Self-control is not the same thing as having knowledge. I would probably take her advice with a grain of salt, and do my own research on her advise, but that wouldn't dissuade me from visiting her altogether.
Sorry, I have to be a total nerd and correct this quote..."Those who can do, those who can't teach." Bernard Shaw (I use this and many other quotes from him frequently LOL). If mine is also a little off sorry but I think I'm close.
I've heard an extention to this quote "and those who neither can nor can't become critics." but I'm not sure who said that.
I'm sure I say that on a daily basis about video game "journalists" lol.0 -
Do you take investment advice from people that aren't millionaires?0
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JeffseekingV wrote: »Do you take investment advice from people that aren't millionaires?
For some people, very competent and intelligent people... it's hard to gain $1mil in solvency without patronage, or being born into an already affluent family.
We all know that.0 -
Would you live in an apartment even though they are stuck together?0
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JeffseekingV wrote: »Would you live in an apartment even though they are stuck together?
Would you eat a goat if what you really wanted was lamb?0 -
Wheelhouse15 wrote: »KombuchaCat wrote: »peachyfuzzle wrote: »"Those who can't do teach."
Self-control is not the same thing as having knowledge. I would probably take her advice with a grain of salt, and do my own research on her advise, but that wouldn't dissuade me from visiting her altogether.
Sorry, I have to be a total nerd and correct this quote..."Those who can do, those who can't teach." Bernard Shaw (I use this and many other quotes from him frequently LOL). If mine is also a little off sorry but I think I'm close.
I've heard an extention to this quote "and those who neither can nor can't become critics." but I'm not sure who said that.
someone on the internet that couldn't find time to workout.
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Wheelhouse15 wrote: »KombuchaCat wrote: »peachyfuzzle wrote: »"Those who can't do teach."
Self-control is not the same thing as having knowledge. I would probably take her advice with a grain of salt, and do my own research on her advise, but that wouldn't dissuade me from visiting her altogether.
Sorry, I have to be a total nerd and correct this quote..."Those who can do, those who can't teach." Bernard Shaw (I use this and many other quotes from him frequently LOL). If mine is also a little off sorry but I think I'm close.
I've heard an extention to this quote "and those who neither can nor can't become critics." but I'm not sure who said that.
someone on the internet that couldn't find time to workout.
ROFL0
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