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MyFitnessPal Community

Fat Dietitian

BonjourAmelia

In class earlier a comment was made that spiked my interest. It was along the lines of "who would trust a fat dietician?".

I'm not going to claim to be a super-human that doesn't see body size when they meet a new person, but even if I am surprised to see an overweight people as nutritional professionals (because honestly, I was) I would like to think that I can think critically, and withhold assumptions/judgement. Because simply, we don't know what it's like to be another person. This person's "fatness" could be rooted in so many different physiological, psychological, and/or social conditions, that making these assumptions that "they can't apply knowledge to themselves" is really unfair.

I'm just curious how other people react to this.

and something more to think about...
What about overweight doctors? personal trainers?
What about if you were going to a dietician for non-weightloss issues, for example Celiac, IBS, or an injury that affects the way you cook/eat?

Replies

DorkothyParker

If there is a group of people who know a lot about food and nutrition, it's the over-weight/ yo-yo dieters. All that time researching and reading instead of doing. Besides, it's a lot easier to shell out good advice than to take it (believe me, I'm guilty on multiple fronts).

Whether or not they apply the knowledge is irrelevant to whether or not it is still true. Hide a copy of Invincible in War and Peace and you're still reading a comic book.

So yes, I would trust them. I would choose my nutritionist by perceived personality, tbh.

corn63

Say hello to these boards. Many of us are overweight but we're giving physical advice and food advice. Some of us are even licensed to do so. We just all stick to the old proverb:

Those that cannot do; teach.

brevislux

If you don't practice what you preach, why would I get practical advice from you?

drmerc

Would you hire a broke finance adviser?

tinytemple

I guess it depends on what type of "fat" - a slightly overweight dietitian is different to an obese personal trainer who couldn't demonstrate exercises to a client.
To be honest, if my dietitian was fat it would put me off a little. However, I know myself that I am very very good at giving advice but cannot always follow it myself. I think it would really depend on many other factors, primarily their professional experience and previous customer satisfaction.

bcattoes

After 30 years in healthcare I am used to seeing competent medical professionals that don't practice what they preach, It doesn't mean that what they are preaching is wrong. They are human just like the rest of us.

bcattoes

If you don't practice what you preach, why would I get practical advice from you?

Because it is the preaching that you should want. Are you really suggesting that you've never known that option A was best but still taken option B or C? As long as their knowledge is sound, why do you care what they do with their own body?

corn63

Would you hire a broke finance adviser?

But do you have any way of telling that they're broke if they're living on credit and playing the part??... Hmm mister?

Chief_Rocka

It wouldn't make their information incorrect, any more than being fit would make their information correct.

However, if you're seeking their advice, it's likely that you're not equipped to tell the difference, so you have to use something to evaluate the validity of what you're being told.

TNR32

bump

SteveJWatson

My wifes dad is a consultant surgeon (colorectal).

He once fired a dietician for being fat, because he felt she couldn't possibly be taken seriously by the hospitals clients at that size (they did try and get her to lose weight firs - it wasn't instant).

bcattoes

It wouldn't make their information incorrect, any more than being fit would make their information correct.

However, if you're seeking their advice, it's likely that you're not equipped to tell the difference, so you have to use something to evaluate the validity of what you're being told.

But you still likely won't know if this fit person got fit by doing what they are telling you to do.

brevislux

If you don't practice what you preach, why would I get practical advice from you?

Because it is the preaching that you should want. Are you really suggesting that you've never known that option A was best but still taken option B or C? As long as their knowledge is sound, why do you care what they do with their own body?

I want to get the preaching from someone who probably knows what they're talking about.

MiTime2016

When I first read this post I thought "that wouldn't make any difference to me". I would see an overweight dietician.
But then I saw the doctor? personal trainer?
I know that at my gym my preference has been to see the personal trainer who has the most athletic body (in my eyes); I'm less confident in the ability of the slightly overweight personal trainer that works there.
The more athletic personal trainer could just have good genes; she doesn't necessarily have more knowledge or work harder than the other.
Glad you made me think about that.

Cr01502

Unfortunately people don't always practice the knowledge they preach.

Doctors who light up a cigarette on their break are the perfect example of this.

dwh77tx

I have my BS in Nutritional Science (though I am in a different career right now) and I will say that in my most of my core degree classes, there were lots of overweight ladies, and a bunch with eating "issues". So, not sure where they are all now, but dietitians are human just like the rest of us.

Chief_Rocka

It wouldn't make their information incorrect, any more than being fit would make their information correct.

However, if you're seeking their advice, it's likely that you're not equipped to tell the difference, so you have to use something to evaluate the validity of what you're being told.

But you still likely won't know if this fit person got fit by doing what they are telling you to do.

True. But if you were in a situation where you had to chose who to put your trust in, the final decision might come down to appearances. It might end up being the wrong decision, but if people had the time to do their own research, they wouldn't need the dietician in the first place.

bcattoes

It wouldn't make their information incorrect, any more than being fit would make their information correct.

However, if you're seeking their advice, it's likely that you're not equipped to tell the difference, so you have to use something to evaluate the validity of what you're being told.

But you still likely won't know if this fit person got fit by doing what they are telling you to do.

True. But if you were in a situation where you had to chose who to put your trust in, the final decision might come down to appearances. It might end up being the wrong decision, but if people had the time to do their own research, they wouldn't need the dietician in the first place.

True enough. When the contents of the books are unknown, we usually do judge by the cover.

bcattoes

When I first read this post I thought "that wouldn't make any difference to me". I would see an overweight dietician.
But then I saw the doctor? personal trainer?
I know that at my gym my preference has been to see the personal trainer who has the most athletic body (in my eyes); I'm less confident in the ability of the slightly overweight personal trainer that works there.
The more athletic personal trainer could just have good genes; she doesn't necessarily have more knowledge or work harder than the other.
Glad you made me think about that.

Take a look at the trainers for professional or Olympic athletes. They are often not fit at all.

alpine1994

Interesting topic. I started college as a nutrition major when I was 18 and 200lbs. After a few months into school, I started realizing that I was the only "fat girl" in nutrition (there were ZERO boys!). It made me think that nobody would ever take advice from me on what to eat to be healthy, so I switched my major to accounting. Here I am almost 10 years later and I'm going back to nutrition. I obviously wish that I stayed in it and didn't let my own head get in the way, but I learned a lot while losing weight that I think could really help other people.

To answer your question, dietitians can't be dietitians without lots of schooling and at least a 6 month internship working with a variety of patients and their unique needs. I think schooling and experience is enough to trust a dietitian's advice. I completely agree that we don't know their situation and why they are overweight in the first place. However, just because I think that way doesn't mean it's the popular opinion.

SuperstarDJ

Would you trust an underweight dietician?

TryingtobeHealthy4Life

Some of you have very good points. But, i'm not going to lie. I definitely would not see a fat dietician, doctor or especially personal trainer. If i'm going to see these people i'm going because i want help for one reason or another. Therefore i would totally be turned off or less motivated if they weren't energetic, healthy people.

With that being said, I myself am studying to become a doctor and am overweight. REALITY is that people will be less inclined to come see me for health advice if i wasn't healthy and energetic myself. Which is why i joined MFP. I realized that enough is enough and i'm ready to change!!

Kabijots

When I first read this post I thought "that wouldn't make any difference to me". I would see an overweight dietician.
But then I saw the doctor? personal trainer?
I know that at my gym my preference has been to see the personal trainer who has the most athletic body (in my eyes); I'm less confident in the ability of the slightly overweight personal trainer that works there.
The more athletic personal trainer could just have good genes; she doesn't necessarily have more knowledge or work harder than the other.
Glad you made me think about that.

Lovely to see such an honest response. Made me think too!

ninerbuff

People put trust in the decisions/comments that professionals make. While a professional may give great advice, if they suck at living it, it's hard for people to believe and who actually want to see proof that the advice works being given by someone who can't abide by it themselves.
I don't take a someone seriously if they say "smoking is bad and will kill you" if they are puffing a cigarette. Unless of course they are suicidal.:laugh:

A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

Zylphie

Hmmm... this is interesting, especially because I just completed a nutrition class. For the first few days, everyone was incredibly shy and self-aware, regardless of what they weighed.

I would trust an overweight dietitian. What do I know about their story? Maybe they've already lost 100 lbs or something, and it spurred them toward this career.

However, I would NOT trust a dietitian who I saw eating McDonald's or complete crap in front of me.

Basically, the appearance of the dietitian isn't what does it for me; it's how they act.

trishmce

I have to say I was a fat personal trainer. it wasn't from lack of trying, I did and still do work out daily and eat very well. I even gained 25lbs while training for a marathon. I was going insane. Found out I had a severe gluten intolerance and my blood panel showed me as s malnourished. Since changing to a gluten free diet I have not changed my calorie intake or my fitness and have dropped 3 sizes since November 5. If I didn't work out yeah I would have been a sham and if a nutritionist is eating wrong then I would doubt them or a doctor who smokes is questionable but look a bit beyond. I was more frustrated than any of my clients and they all got to where they wanted to be: win races, lose weight, build for competitions, rehab from surgeries etc. I had the information in my brain and the ACSM certs to prove it.

Danni1585

The nurse at my GP surgery is very overweight. I love her warmth, personality and that compassion that she shows everyone. I dont judge her on her appearance, she is just a lovely, lovely person and I will always try to get an appointment with her if I can whatever the appointment is for x

NuclearMosquito

My wifes dad is a consultant surgeon (colorectal).

He once fired a dietician for being fat, because he felt she couldn't possibly be taken seriously by the hospitals clients at that size (they did try and get her to lose weight firs - it wasn't instant).

Wow. That's not illegal or anything.

SteveJWatson

My wifes dad is a consultant surgeon (colorectal).

He once fired a dietician for being fat, because he felt she couldn't possibly be taken seriously by the hospitals clients at that size (they did try and get her to lose weight firs - it wasn't instant).

Wow. That's not illegal or anything.

It wasn't illegal - this was recently. Went through the whole disciplinary procedure etc, but essentially, I think that the opinion they and the medical board took was it severely undermined her professionalism.

bcattoes

Hmmm... this is interesting, especially because I just completed a nutrition class. For the first few days, everyone was incredibly shy and self-aware, regardless of what they weighed.

I would trust an overweight dietitian. What do I know about their story? Maybe they've already lost 100 lbs or something, and it spurred them toward this career.

However, I would NOT trust a dietitian who I saw eating McDonald's or complete crap in front of me.

Basically, the appearance of the dietitian isn't what does it for me; it's how they act.

I would certainly question a dietician eating McDonald's in front of me while s/he was counseling me on nutrition. But if I walked into McD and saw my dietician there, I wouldn't stop trusting him/her (though I'd question their taste in food). Maybe if I saw them eating there every day, but then I'd ask myself "WTF am I doing in McD every day?!?"

I don't know why anyone ever wants to eat McD's crappy food, but eating it once in a while is unlikely to damage your health, and a nutritionist would know that.