Texas hospital bans obese workers?

Food4Fuel

A BMI of 35 is high in almost every scenario.

1stday13

Only applicants with a BMI of <35 are even considered for a job...And this is something that might catch on like only hiring nonsmokers...

Is anyone else outraged about this? They say that worker with a BMI >35 cannot do their job effectively! What a crock of crap. I do my job a hell of a lot better than people with BMIs of <20!

http://www.hlntv.com/article/2012/04/09/texas-hospital-fat-people-bmi-need-not-apply

http://www.builtlean.com/2012/09/24/body-fat-percentage-men-women/

Sweetie I live in TX, Don't know where you got that " out of text" quote. I sure Haven't seen it, Stick to your own state! Do not go picking on something you know nothing about !!!

underwater77

How is this different from refusing to hire people of different races based on an assumption that is nothing more than bigotry?

Because you can't change your race.

JingleMuffin

this is probably a big generalization but i know so so many nurses. and this is just nurses that know: 90% of them and smoke 90% are majorly overweight. I don’t understand it. maybe it’s just an Minnesota anomaly? but If you find a nurse here that isn’t over weight and doesn’t smoke it’s kind of a rare thing.

underwater77

this is probably a big generalization but i know so so many nurses. and this is just nurses that know: 90% of them and smoke 90% are majorly overweight. I don’t understand it. maybe it’s just an Minnesota anomaly? but If you find a nurse here that isn’t over weight and doesn’t smoke it’s kind of a rare thing.

lolz

And you're worried about bigotry and generalizations?

fanakar

That hospital will be empty and closed in the next two years. They must be going broke.

Chibea

You know, if that's what they want, they should serve healthy food in their hospital cafeteria, give nurses longer than 30 minutes for lunch, put in a small workout room with exercise machines, and have a lower patient-to-nurse ratio to cut back on stress for their workers. This is particularly important for people who work grave or swing, and even more important if they rotate shifts.

If they don't want obese workers, then they really need to take responsibility for some of the problems they are actively promoting. You can't expect healthy workers if you don't provide a healthy atmosphere.

That's a little much, don't you think? We are all responsible for our own health and well being. I don't expect my employer to provide such things. Sure it would be nice, but when it comes down to it, it is my doing. I worked 7p-7a for 5 years and I know ****ty ratios. We were 4:1 and we took vented patients on Tele. When it came down to it, I knew I had to bring my veggies, get to the gym first thing after work, and be extra cautious on my days off.

I think there is enough blame to go around here. I live in Houston - with one of the largest medical centers in the country - and the high quality hospitals do offer many of the benefits that were suggested. It is probably a financial decision for them to do that, so they can save on insurance costs and sick time. To be fair, we all "know we need to bring our veggies....etc." Actually doing it is the problem..if not why are we here?

JingleMuffin

this is probably a big generalization but i know so so many nurses. and this is just nurses that know: 90% of them and smoke 90% are majorly overweight. I don’t understand it. maybe it’s just an Minnesota anomaly? but If you find a nurse here that isn’t over weight and doesn’t smoke it’s kind of a rare thing.

lolz

And you're worried about bigotry and generalizations?

the only thing im worried about is all my friends that are nurses that are unhealthy to the point of irony.

underwater77

Well that is unfortunate. I work with a number of incredibly healthy, fit, non-smoking, amazing nurses.

MaryJane_8810002

I do feel that we will see more of this as companies try to better afford the insurance on their employees. There are problems though with regard to this policy, not related to a question to true fitness level.

MOST NFL players are really fit.. yet they are technically obese. They have a great deal of muscle mass... therefore, they have a higher than 30 BMI... BMI is a poor and inaccurate measure of fitness. If they are going to do something like this, quite frankly, they need to use body fat percentage as an indicator of fitness. Also, if they are going to do this, they need to be required to offer support for current employess to come within compliance.. this should include both physical and emotional support.

Could not have said it better myself.

neverstray

While BMI may not be the best indicator, I think it's a good change. It will be challenged a lot. Their will be suits left and right and it will be tested and probably changed to be more than BMI. Probably a battery of tests to determine overall health. But, I think it's a great change.

Where I live, they did something similar with the sherriffs office. Oh boy, was that controversial. Lol. They gave them a long period to get things in order. If they didn't, they were gone.

I think next year, where I work, they are going to provide a discount to those that are in good physical condition. We don't know yet what that means or how it will be measured. But, the big fat people (majority) are not happy. Since its a DISCOUNT for good health, they are advertising, no one is being penalized. A penalty would be if they charged more for being out of shape, which they aren't. Those folks just continue on the plan as they always have, but people like me will get a discount from the regular rate. Lol. I'm all for it. I think the insurance companies are starting to notice that healthy people cost them less. So, they are trying to provide incentive, financially. Rather than say," you're fired", they just say, "here's your bill".

MaryJane_8810002

I am now worried that by the time I graduate and start looking for a non hourly job, my credentials are going to be overshadowed by the numbers on a body fat scale.

Food4Fuel

Edited

Chibea

So, I went to the links and was shocked to find that the man who has decided to ban overweight workers has other issues:


"In the memo, one of several records used by three physicians of Indian descent to lodge a racial discrimination suit against Citizens, Brown wrote that he felt “a sense of disgust” that more “Middle-Eastern-born” physicians were demanding leadership roles at the hospital. “It will change the entire complexion of the hospital and create a level of fear among our employees,” he wrote.":frown:

RhonndaJ

My personal opinion is that if you're working within a hospital, for whatever inside or outside company, you represent them, so you should also represent what they stand for, health.

It kind of makes me think of working within a bank, if you have horrible credit and have not made any effort to pay/maintain your debts, they screen you, and you will not be offered a job. Why? Because they dont want someone who owes money, cannot represent the banks expectations of their clients and esp. give advice if they havent been able to breathe it in and put it into practice in their own lives.

Unlike with your banking analogy, it's not easy to judge when someone is unhealthy. A higher BMI does not necessarily mean lack of health. How many medical professionals smoke, eat poorly, don't get enough sleep or exercise? I'd think that the majority fall under those issues than don't. Are people who are disabled also disallowed from the profession? Or the aged?

neverstray

Yeah this is biased against all the NFL players who are trying to be nurses. Give me a break 35 BMI is too high for most of the general public, sure there's exceptions (NFL players) but they are not the issue. I'm sure when Troy Palamalu applies to this hospitals ER unit they will make an exception.

I don't know dude. We have a weight lifter at work. He's big. He told me about this big deal he went through because his doctor told him he was dangerously obese. He truly was concerned. He kept asking, "are you sure". Finally, he went in for a check up, and he took off his shirt, and he said that maybe it was the first time the doctor had even looked at him, but then he said the dr said, "ok, nevermind, you're fine". But, think about bean counters and insurance companies. The rule is NO BMI MORE THAN 35, the paper from the dr says BMI IS OVER 35, therefore you are fired". I work in stupid *kitten* administrative crap like this everyday. Computers and apathetic people and policies and it happens easily.

realme56

I think most things based on BMI should be banned. It is an unrealistic marker and actually encourages more eating disorders due to it's inappropriate measuring. I would look like a POW at my healthy BMI.

underwater77

While BMI may not be the best indicator, I think it's a good change. It will be challenged a lot. Their will be suits left and right and it will be tested and probably changed to be more than BMI. Probably a battery of tests to determine overall health. But, I think it's a great change.

Where I live, they did something similar with the sherriffs office. Oh boy, was that controversial. Lol. They gave them a long period to get things in order. If they didn't, they were gone.

I think next year, where I work, they are going to provide a discount to those that are in good physical condition. We don't know yet what that means or how it will be measured. But, the big fat people (majority) are not happy. Since its a DISCOUNT for good health, they are advertising, no one is being penalized. A penalty would be if they charged more for being out of shape, which they aren't. Those folks just continue on the plan as they always have, but people like me will get a discount from the regular rate. Lol. I'm all for it. I think the insurance companies are starting to notice that healthy people cost them less. So, they are trying to provide incentive, financially. Rather than say," you're fired", they just say, "here's your bill".

My hospital did the same thing.

realme56

My personal opinion is that if you're working within a hospital, for whatever inside or outside company, you represent them, so you should also represent what they stand for, health.

It kind of makes me think of working within a bank, if you have horrible credit and have not made any effort to pay/maintain your debts, they screen you, and you will not be offered a job. Why? Because they dont want someone who owes money, cannot represent the banks expectations of their clients and esp. give advice if they havent been able to breathe it in and put it into practice in their own lives.

Unlike with your banking analogy, it's not easy to judge when someone is unhealthy. A higher BMI does not necessarily mean lack of health. How many medical professionals smoke, eat poorly, don't get enough sleep or exercise? I'd think that the majority fall under those issues than don't. Are people who are disabled also disallowed from the profession? Or the aged?

Not to mention the number of health professionals that get addicted to the drugs they around everyday!

andyisandy

while i can i see over concerns with health costs, why not make them enroll in a program to help lose the weight or something along those guidlines instead straight no hire/fire. Just my two cents.

Lesa_Sass

Interesting,

I have actually had the conversation, several times with various people, about employees in the healthcare industry that are over weight and are smokers. I have also over heard conversation about this in the various drs offices I have been in the last 10 years since I frequent them so often with elderly in laws an an auto immune disease.

Would any of you feel more confident in a health care provider that has fit employees? Just wondering if anyone has rolled their eyes at taking heath advice from someone that is obese?

Personally, I trust people more that actually walk the walk. But that is me.

hollyjane77

That shouldn't be legal... It's discrimination.

Food4Fuel

Fair, it seems most fat percentage would be a better way to go about something like this.

underwater77

I would personally not feel comfortable providing patient education on health if I were obese, much like I could never tell my patients not to smoke if I smoked, but perhaps that is just me. I'd feel like a hypocrite.


So, now, per this thread, nurses are fat, smoking, drug addicts. Awesome.

Josie_lifting_cats

My personal opinion is that if you're working within a hospital, for whatever inside or outside company, you represent them, so you should also represent what they stand for, health.

It kind of makes me think of working within a bank, if you have horrible credit and have not made any effort to pay/maintain your debts, they screen you, and you will not be offered a job. Why? Because they dont want someone who owes money, cannot represent the banks expectations of their clients and esp. give advice if they havent been able to breathe it in and put it into practice in their own lives.

This is how I see it too, however I think we're going to be in the minority here.

This is true - and it's true for so many other things. Mortgage lenders cannot lose their house in foreclosure, or they lose their license. SO many jobs are doing credit screening now. And you can argue it the same way - you have some control, but sometimes there are circumstances out of your control.... and that sucks. Is it a perfect solution? No. And is it necessary to be fit for every job in a hospital? Probably not. However there are some jobs that require some serious strength and cardio.

Thinking back to my midwife when I had my first baby - we walked the halls for HOURS. Up and down stairs, back and forth, up and down, literally for FOUR. HOURS. But no ill effects from her - and when contractions got worse and I needed support, she was there 110%, not winded in the slightest. That was so important. .

monicalosesweight

I suspect the self insurance angle might be what's driving this. I do know that my school district requires that you be able to lift 50 pounds. I wasn't given a test (no 50 pound weights handed to me at my interview) but it was on the paperwork I signed. I'm not sure exactly what they expected me to lift as I've never had to lift more than textbooks and my computer (way under 50 pounds).

I do know that the medical Obama bill allows insurance companies to charge double the fees if the person is a smoker. Apparently, this would raise the rates for all smokers to the point where they'd not be able to afford the insurance. It's basically a way to filter out the unhealthy or force people to finally stop. I've never liked smoking and know it's bad for you so I could easily see an insurance company panicking about cancers and all sorts of other problems that come with it - which is most likely how it got written into the law. It's like that law in New York regarding soda sizes...and the laws requiring the nutrition be posted in menus. I think the soda stuff is silly - the nutrition law where they post calories and such...that's not bad. I kinda like knowing what I'm eating and even now look for that information.

caegem

Agreed !

andyisandy

I would personally not feel comfortable providing patient education on health if I were obese, much like I could never tell my patients not to smoke if I smoked, but perhaps that is just me. I'd feel like a hypocrite.


So, now, per this thread, nurses are fat, smoking, drug addicts. Awesome.

because nurses are people too so they arent perfect.

underwater77

I think the credit score is a far better analogy than race.

1223345

Obesity, (or even just being over weight) is not black and white. I really hate the inside-the-box mindset of society today. They should first try to help those who need to shed the weight. It is not just as simple as calories in calories out. There are people who are very overweight or obese who have tried in vain to lose weight. There are so many poisons that we put into our bodies and we have no clue how they have wrecked the normal functions we used to enjoy. I think that if they are going to set these limits, then they need to be wiling to take an active role in the weight loss efforts of the individual who wants the job but is not within the limits. If they can't do that, they are only contributing to the problem.