New Belgium Minister of Health to help solve rising obesity problem

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

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.

noexcusesjustresults2014 wrote: »

999tigger 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.

FredDoyle wrote: »

Harper appointed a creationist and chiropractor as minister of science in Canada.

Are you implying that creationists don't study science? Sir Isaac Newton would disagree with that assertion.

What one does while in the public eye is far more important than what one says.

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.

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.

noexcusesjustresults2014 wrote: »

999tigger 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.

JaneiR36 wrote: »

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

noexcusesjustresults2014 wrote: »

I think one can be credible and give good advice even if they choose not to follow it themselves.

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.

On the opposite end of this, people take recomendations seriously from those who are fit, even if it's terrible *cough* Jillian Michaels *cough*

999tigger 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.

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?

SLLRunner wrote: »

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."

JaneiR36 wrote: »

999tigger wrote: »

JaneiR36 wrote: »

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.