Overweight and Working in Healthcare

I graduated summa cum laude from a medical assisting program a while ago and it took me two years to find a job in healthcare. I got 20 interviews but it never went any further than that. I finally got a job as a phlebotomist. Looking back now I bet me being overweight had a lot to do with it.

I'm going to go a little in the opposite direction. I'm a nurse and I'm overweight, my BMI puts me in the obese category. I work in a delivery room, it can be very physical. Yes, it affects me in that I sometimes crawl out of there after a hectic shift, but so do the younger and thinner nurses. I've been doing this for 27 years. And while I may be tired and my back hurts, the seriousness of the job makes sure I don't get lazy, if there's an emergency, I'm there.

Now, as a patient, I've had many family practice doctors over the years. I've gotten the weight loss lecture more times than I can count. I know that medical school training doesn't spend much time on nutrition/weight loss etc.I also have a hard time listening to weight loss advice from someone who weighs 110 lbs and has never been fat a day in her life. Most of them don't get it. I left one doctor who suddenly got really rude about it on one visit and spoke to me in a highly inappropriate way when the scale showed I gained a few pounds since the last visit. This was a woman who wore her skinny jeans home after giving birth. While I realize doctors can't know what it's like to have every medical issue for their patients, I've always had a hard time listening to those who are thin/slender and don't have a clue on something that's this emotional/physical/mental.

I don't work in health care, I'm a pre-med, and I think it's important for providers to set a good example for patients by living a healthy lifestyle. I get what you mean though about feeling judged; I haven't told anyone about my career goals yet and don't think I plan to until I get to a healthier weight. My fear is that being overweight is going to associate me with being lazy, careless having no self control, etc.

As a patient I find that I am more able to trust providers who are at a healthy weight because they appear more healthy; I can assume that they are more likely to have good judgement in how to take care of me because they know how to take care of themselves (studies have even shown that overweight doctors are less likely to bring up weight loss with patients than doctors of a normal weight). I only really think this way for doctors, nurse practitioners, etc. who make more decisions on my behalf than others in allied health. However I wouldn't mind if I found out that they're actively trying to lose weight. In that case, they'd be kind of inspiring since we'd have something in common.

I used to work as an Emergency Medical Tech in my county. But it seems as an EMT you're either super fit and healthy or super big. Because of the fast paced life style you're always on the go, eating as fast as you can, and eating whenever you can. I don't think I was looked at negatively - at my largest I was 167. I knew some people over 300 working in the field.

My mother was also overweight for some time and finally pursued her passion and became a medical assistant. She is not as overweight now (she was 235, now she's about 165) and she uses her weight loss journey as a way to talk with patients. She is diabetic, but now off most of her medication and they always ask if she has the lap band. Her claim to fame is no, it was diet and hard work. No surgery, no magic pills, no special potion. Just good old fashioned hard work and eating right.

I do think as a provider it's different than working in administration. When you are more face to face with patients and telling them they need to watch what they eat or keep their weight in balance, who are they more likely to believe? The fit healthcare provider or the person who is just as overweight as them and not fixing their own issues (ie taking their own advice?) I would see it like "well dr. so-and-so is telling me to lose weight but she should really look in the mirror!).

The truth is - if you're qualified for the job, you should get it. Not saying that's how it really is out there (there were many medical jobs i was qualified for) but i'm sure didn't get because I didn't know someone, or I was a little chunkier, or they didn't accept my field experience as "real" experience".

As for people who do not work in healthcare, do you frown upon overweight healthcare providers (doctors, nurses, therapist, etc.)?

My doctor also has a very, very obese nurse who has to roll around in her chair in the office to do her job. I never say anything, and I don't mean to judge, but YES, she is "frowned upon!" I don't even trust her work. How can you help me, if you won't help yourself? I'm not saying that people in healthcare have to be perfect, but at least make health your priority!

I am just about to finish my first year of medical school, and this is something I think about a lot. I do worry that my patients won't listen to me, that they will make my issues theirs and visa versa. That's part of why I am here, and when I do lifestyle counseling I will be sharing my personal struggle with them, that it is hard, and that trying honestly and focusing on health over a particular number. I hope that people will judge me on my skills when hiring, because I know that between my history, genetics, and stress load, my weight is going to be a life long struggle.

I don't know what the solution is, but I do know that health care workers are more prone to alcohol and drug abuse, suicide, divorce, and a plethora of behavioral issues and isolation. In a lot of ways, the way we are asked to live feeds out lacks of health. I am actually in the process of getting a healthy lifestyles FOR medical professionals course added to our curriculum.

Thanks for bringing the topic up: it is important!

My doctor is on the heavy side. When I wanted to discuss my difficulty in losing weight and perhaps undergoing thyroid testing she looked at me as if I had 3 heads and said 'you're fine'. Despite the fact that my BMI had me overweight at the time. I felt she had no concept of what overweight really looked like. But I keep her because she will give me a prescription for damn near anything

I absolutely agree with you! The rotating shifts, length of shifts, lack of quality healthy food on site, rarity of actual lunch breaks all make it very difficult to make good choices. Most shifts I would just be happy to have the chance to pee once - sadly I often don't drink all day because I likely will be too busy to pee, let alone eat! Sometimes I remember to bring a lunch and eat a bite here and there... On days I forget, it is guaranteed that families will have brought cake and cookies or candy for staff.

I am just about to finish my first year of medical school, and this is something I think about a lot. I do worry that my patients won't listen to me, that they will make my issues theirs and visa versa. That's part of why I am here, and when I do lifestyle counseling I will be sharing my personal struggle with them, that it is hard, and that trying honestly and focusing on health over a particular number. I hope that people will judge me on my skills when hiring, because I know that between my history, genetics, and stress load, my weight is going to be a life long struggle.

I don't know what the solution is, but I do know that health care workers are more prone to alcohol and drug abuse, suicide, divorce, and a plethora of behavioral issues and isolation. In a lot of ways, the way we are asked to live feeds out lacks of health. I am actually in the process of getting a healthy lifestyles FOR medical professionals course added to our curriculum.

Thanks for bringing the topic up: it is important!

I'm in med school and as someone earlier in the thread said, this is exactly why I'm here! I want to be a healthier weight so that patients don't think I'm hypocritical - if you're going to talk the talk you've got to walk the walk, right? Also, I'm only going to be 22 when I qualify as a doctor so I've been warned that patients will already be up in arms about me looking like a 'baby' so I don't want to give them anything else to worry about. That being said I do have Hashimoto's disease which makes it very hard for me to lose weight without medication (medication I can no longer take) so I'm not sure how successful I'm going to be despite my best efforts. So all in all, I'm going to try like crazy to be healthy so I can be a good role model etc. but I would hope my patients wouldn't judge me for being overweight.

"I also have a hard time listening to weight loss advice from someone who weighs 110 lbs and has never been fat a day in her life. Most of them don't get it. I left one doctor who suddenly got really rude about it on one visit and spoke to me in a highly inappropriate way when the scale showed I gained a few pounds since the last visit. This was a woman who wore her skinny jeans home after giving birth. While I realize doctors can't know what it's like to have every medical issue for their patients, I've always had a hard time listening to those who are thin/slender and don't have a clue on something that's this emotional/physical/mental.
[/quote]


^^^ THIS. I am an RN also with 28 years in the feild. Have always been a bit overweight and more recently creeped up into the obese BMI. Got back into the overweight category here at MFP
I work with many tiny little asian co-workers who have never had to diet a day in their life and can eat me under the table!!
I had a tiny Dr who I know never weighed more than 120lbs tell me all I needed to do to lose weight was move more eat less....well really??? DUH! LOL
I think severe obesity in any workplace can make the persons job harder to complete. Hospital rooms are usually confined access so that can get challenging at times if trying to work next to a very large person.
Good luck to you original poster!! I hope you find a job you love :O)