New Belgium Minister of Health to help solve rising obesity problem
noexcusesjustresults2014
Posts: 212 Member
http://www.scotsman.com/news/fiona-mccade-making-a-meal-of-obese-health-minister-1-3574256
Any thoughts on the issue? She is a medical doctor and has an impressive resume.
Should her weight have any bearing on her ability to be health minister?
Any thoughts on the issue? She is a medical doctor and has an impressive resume.
Should her weight have any bearing on her ability to be health minister?
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http://c0.thejournal.ie/media/2014/01/measures-set-out-to-deal-with-alcohol-abuse-3-630x439.jpg
Ireland's previous minister for health
image may have been humorously photoshopped
http://cdn4.independent.ie/migration_catalog/article25194765.ece/e9208/ALTERNATES/h342/cowen_stevehumphreys
another of our recent minister for healths.
I guess your body weight has very little impact on how much of a party man and political crony you are-1 -
Maggie de Block right? I thought it was a joke. I mean with all respect she is not exactly the personification of health. Could well be she can do her job fantastically, but I can imagine people will have a hard time taking her serious.0
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The article is pretty fair and I agree if she wants to be taken seriously in a public role then she will have to practice what she preaches and follow all her own advice. If she doesnt then it will make her a hypocrite, do as I say not as I do etc. It could really be used to her advanatge if she used herself to show other people it can be done. Is it unfair to judge? She accepted the role so she must be aware the public will have expectations of her, so yes it is fair imo.0
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The article is pretty fair and I agree if she wants to be taken seriously in a public role then she will have to practice what she preaches and follow all her own advice. If she doesn't then it will make her a hypocrite, do as I say not as I do etc. It could really be used to her advantage if she used herself to show other people it can be done. Is it unfair to judge? She accepted the role so she must be aware the public will have expectations of her, so yes it is fair imo.
I agree...
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The article is pretty fair and I agree if she wants to be taken seriously in a public role then she will have to practice what she preaches and follow all her own advice. If she doesnt then it will make her a hypocrite, do as I say not as I do etc. It could really be used to her advanatge if she used herself to show other people it can be done. Is it unfair to judge? She accepted the role so she must be aware the public will have expectations of her, so yes it is fair imo.
So you basically feel like she needs to be a role model and improve her own health if she is going to be credible with her plan of improving the health of Belgium citizens?
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I'm sorry, but I'm scared
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noexcusesjustresults2014 wrote: »The article is pretty fair and I agree if she wants to be taken seriously in a public role then she will have to practice what she preaches and follow all her own advice. If she doesnt then it will make her a hypocrite, do as I say not as I do etc. It could really be used to her advanatge if she used herself to show other people it can be done. Is it unfair to judge? She accepted the role so she must be aware the public will have expectations of her, so yes it is fair imo.
So you basically feel like she needs to be a role model and improve her own health if she is going to be credible with her plan of improving the health of Belgium citizens?
That's what I made out of it and I do agree. I have been reading she is a good politician, but let's face it. When a super morbidly obese tells other obese people they need to lose weight, most of them will think something like "and you're telling me that? Look at yourself!" Still I think she can do a good job, by being a good example.
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Harper appointed a creationist and chiropractor as minister of science in Canada. 0
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Is that all there is to public health - being thin? How about fat doctors, do they not exist? We should publish some rules explaining what jobs fat people can or cannot have0
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What one does while in the public eye is far more important than what one says.0
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Is that all there is to public health - being thin? How about fat doctors, do they not exist? We should publish some rules explaining what jobs fat people can or cannot have
^^I agree with this
Really? As an adult, you are not able to see past another person's being human and having issues themselves. Even if they are knowledgeable and know what we can do to be healthier? I know this is a pretty common attitude, but I do not agree with it. I will accept information from anyone that can help. Discrimination, IMHO in any form, is wrong, and this is discrimination.
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Male obstetricians can give excellent advice. Incontinent people can potty train. Someone with cancer can tell you how to avoid it. Fat old men can coach pro football.
Fat people can give good advice on how to be healthy. It doesn't make them hypocrites. It just means they're giving good advice but not following it (or not able to follow it.)
Giving good advice doesn't mean you followed that advice.0 -
Male obstetricians can give excellent advice. Incontinent people can potty train. Someone with cancer can tell you how to avoid it. Fat old men can coach pro football.
Fat people can give good advice on how to be healthy. It doesn't make them hypocrites. It just means they're giving good advice but not following it (or not able to follow it.)
Giving good advice doesn't mean you followed that advice.
I tend to agree with this. One of the most obese people I know is a doctor and I think she is a very good doctor.
If people choose not to seek marriage counseling (for example) from someone who has been divorced 5 times that is their choice. Regulation should not prevent that counselor from offering their services to the public solely based on divorce history.
I will admit that this case is slightly different because we are not talking about someone in private practice or someone who was elected (she was appointed). However I see nothing in her resume to suggest that she is not qualified. She appears to be very well qualified for the position.
She still has a chance to become a positive role model as well if she uses diet and exercise to transform from a morbidly obese woman to a fit and active individual, using the same sound recommendations she would give to Belgium citizens .
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noexcusesjustresults2014 wrote: »So you basically feel like she needs to be a role model and improve her own health if she is going to be credible with her plan of improving the health of Belgium citizens?
I think she is in no position to give any life style advice relating to obesity with any credibility.
"Eat less and move more, like I did, it's easy to lose weight" ??
Advice on science and medicine is one thing, but on behaviour and lifestyle and coming from someone in the nanny state is another.0 -
noexcusesjustresults2014 wrote: »So you basically feel like she needs to be a role model and improve her own health if she is going to be credible with her plan of improving the health of Belgium citizens?
I think she is in no position to give any life style advice relating to obesity with any credibility.
"Eat less and move more, like I did, it's easy to lose weight" ??
Advice on science and medicine is one thing, but on behaviour and lifestyle and coming from someone in the nanny state is another.
Don't get me wrong, she is not my role model for fitness (I am 5'7 and 127 pounds, run 300 miles a month, do yoga, lift weights and hit my macros) but I disagree on your premise.
I think one can be credible and give good advice even if they choose not to follow it themselves.
Your nanny state comment could have some relevance however. For example I STRONGLY
disagree with what Bloomberg was trying to do with soda in NYC. Consumers should always have a choice and regulations should not take the choice (of diet or exercise) away.
While I support the ability of an obese woman (otherwise qualified) to hold such a role, is she proposes Bloomberg type regulations I would be instantly become one of her biggest critics (but not because of her weight).-1 -
noexcusesjustresults2014 wrote: »The article is pretty fair and I agree if she wants to be taken seriously in a public role then she will have to practice what she preaches and follow all her own advice. If she doesnt then it will make her a hypocrite, do as I say not as I do etc. It could really be used to her advanatge if she used herself to show other people it can be done. Is it unfair to judge? She accepted the role so she must be aware the public will have expectations of her, so yes it is fair imo.
So you basically feel like she needs to be a role model and improve her own health if she is going to be credible with her plan of improving the health of Belgium citizens?
Being a public figure and an effective politician will require her to exhibit some signs of leadership. She may be the best strageist in the world and devise absolutely stunnining initiatives which could work, but the public rate politicians on what they see and how they come across as well.
A so as I say and not as I do attitude will make many doubt her and pay less attention to what she has to say. It creates a barrier for her immediately.
Instead she should turn her current weight issues to her advantage by signing up for her own plans and going on a diet as she is telling everyone else to do. If Peple se her losing weight then they will see her as setting a good example and this will give her credibility that she talks the talk and walks the walk. Could be a good PR coup and powerful public health message if she shows everyone how its done and moves from obese to a normal weight. She isnt stupid and knows it. The media will prey on the discrepancy and keep asking her why she isnt on a diet until she does so.0 -
I know nothing of American politics, much less Belgian.
I wasn't taking a political side, just commenting on the obese/advice thing.
Although I have chosen not to eat them, I'm not one to hop on the "Make Oreos Illegal!" bandwagon.0 -
Is that all there is to public health - being thin? How about fat doctors, do they not exist? We should publish some rules explaining what jobs fat people can or cannot have
But shes a politician and in a very public role. People make their own minds up.
The CEO of the NHS has told his 700,000 staff that are overweight or obese to slim down. The UK like many nations is facing an obesity crisis.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/nhs/10999437/Overweight-doctors-and-nurses-told-to-slim-down-by-NHS-chief.html
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I think one can be credible and give good advice even if they choose not to follow it themselves.
Of course you can give good advice, because its not weight dependent, but people are going to take notice if they see her following her own advice and less notice if they see her ignoring it. Based on well it cant be that importnat if she wont follow what she is telling us to do.0 -
I agree, but people naturally judge the package that advice comes in, for better or worse. And being in a political position, that image is going to matter even more so. Health and obesity advice coming from someone in the morbidly obese category is not going to be well received.noexcusesjustresults2014 wrote: »I think one can be credible and give good advice even if they choose not to follow it themselves.
On the opposite end of this, people take recomendations seriously from those who are fit, even if it's terrible *cough* Jillian Michaels *cough*0 -
Is that all there is to public health - being thin? How about fat doctors, do they not exist? We should publish some rules explaining what jobs fat people can or cannot have
But shes a politician and in a very public role. People make their own minds up.
The CEO of the NHS has told his 700,000 staff that are overweight or obese to slim down. The UK like many nations is facing an obesity crisis.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/nhs/10999437/Overweight-doctors-and-nurses-told-to-slim-down-by-NHS-chief.html
That's all there is to being in charge of public health?? Not being fat?? No wonder being elected to public office is no better than American idol
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I think one can be credible and give good advice even if they choose not to follow it themselves.
Of course you can give good advice, because its not weight dependent, but people are going to take notice if they see her following her own advice and less notice if they see her ignoring it. Based on well it cant be that importnat if she wont follow what she is telling us to do.
Well I guess, having people that do not have an issue with weight that are in these positions throughout the world are doing a fantastic job...................right? We are all following their example of being fit and healthy. No obesity epidemic or overweight people on their watch. She is qualified to be in this position. She is highly educated and knows what it takes to become healthier. No one person inspired me to go from morbidly obese to a "normal" weight. I knew what I had to do and did it. I, nor anyone else, knows what drives this woman. What issues she has and may very well be trying to deal with for all we know. I do know it is not easy. If it were we would all be slim, trim and healthy. Walk a mile in her shoes, then condemn if you want.
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Leadership by example is almost always more effective than leadership by anti-example.0
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I would think a health minister promotes good health in all areas, including obesity. Will someone who is obese working to fight obesity be taken seriously?0
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Newton was a product of his age. I prefer governmental leaders to be non-delusional.TimothyFish wrote: »
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I would think a health minister promotes good health in all areas, including obesity. Will someone who is obese working to fight obesity be taken seriously?
I think there may be another issue than the being taken seriously. Let's face it, we see people here in the forums all the time that have every excuse in the world as to why they "can't" lose weight. Although they might understand that what she says is true, it will be very convenient to say, "But look! Even she can't do it because it's so hard."
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Newton would be considered a heretic by the average American christian.
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Is that all there is to public health - being thin? How about fat doctors, do they not exist? We should publish some rules explaining what jobs fat people can or cannot have
But shes a politician and in a very public role. People make their own minds up.
The CEO of the NHS has told his 700,000 staff that are overweight or obese to slim down. The UK like many nations is facing an obesity crisis.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/nhs/10999437/Overweight-doctors-and-nurses-told-to-slim-down-by-NHS-chief.html
That's all there is to being in charge of public health?? Not being fat?? No wonder being elected to public office is no better than American idol
Am quite surprised by that response as I normally agree with what you post. The people concerned are likley to be taken more seriously if they practice what they preach and lead a healthy lifestyle. I cant see anything that is controversial in what I wrote. People look up to Drs and nurses and are likely to listen more to what they are saying if the person giving the advice looks as though they follow it themselves. Cant see why that is such a hard concept to follow.
The CEO sees his staff as being a bit of a role model. Obesity is the biggest crisis the organisation faces, so he wnats it tackled and he sees his staff dealing with their own weight issues as sending a good message to the rest of the public.0 -
snowflake930 wrote: »I think one can be credible and give good advice even if they choose not to follow it themselves.
Of course you can give good advice, because its not weight dependent, but people are going to take notice if they see her following her own advice and less notice if they see her ignoring it. Based on well it cant be that importnat if she wont follow what she is telling us to do.
Well I guess, having people that do not have an issue with weight that are in these positions throughout the world are doing a fantastic job...................right? We are all following their example of being fit and healthy. No obesity epidemic or overweight people on their watch. She is qualified to be in this position. She is highly educated and knows what it takes to become healthier. No one person inspired me to go from morbidly obese to a "normal" weight. I knew what I had to do and did it. I, nor anyone else, knows what drives this woman. What issues she has and may very well be trying to deal with for all we know. I do know it is not easy. If it were we would all be slim, trim and healthy. Walk a mile in her shoes, then condemn if you want.
Are you even bothering to follow the debate? It doesnt look like it. She may be qualified to be in this position and she may be able to do the kind of civil servant aspect of her role very well. But its public office and she has to get her message across so that people follow her advice and pay heed to it. Thats part of being an effective leader and politician. Its a much harder task for her to give out advice on weight loss if she doesnt appear to follow it herself.
There is no condemning or need to walk a mile in her shoes, thats ridiculous. What is being pointed out is her weight will impair her ability to be effective in her job in terms of gaining public confidence. She has an opportunity to turn that to her advantage by following the advice she is giving to others.
In the UK one ex government minister has lost a lot of weight because he went on a diet and he became headline news. He is more famous for his weight loss than anything he did in office.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2808493/Not-political-heavyweight-Labour-peer-Lord-Falconer-shed-five-STONE-thanks-diet-Diet-Coke-apples.html0
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