An obese nutritionist: would you be her patient?

7elizamae
7elizamae Posts: 758 Member
edited November 8 in Food and Nutrition
The title says it all: would you go to an obese nutritionist for weight-loss help?

This question came up in a group discussion -- there was disagreement. I said I'd post here and get some more opinions from the MFP board.
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Replies

  • peachyfuzzle
    peachyfuzzle Posts: 1,122 Member
    "Those who can't do teach."

    Self-control is not the same thing as having knowledge. I would probably take her advice with a grain of salt, and do my own research on her advise, but that wouldn't dissuade me from visiting her altogether.
  • dbmata
    dbmata Posts: 12,950 Member
    edited December 2014
    Depends on if she is knowledgable in her field.

    Look at Glenn Pendlay, or Mark Rippetoe.
  • concordancia
    concordancia Posts: 5,320 Member
    For all I know, that person is obese because of medical issues, such as hypothyroidism.

    On the other hand, I once went to a very slim nutritionist who thought I should be eating perfectly according to the science of the time, with no mistakes or treats, ever. That was not particularly helpful.
  • goddessofawesome
    goddessofawesome Posts: 563 Member
    No, simply because while s/he might know what s/he's talking about nutrition-wise she's obviously not following what s/he's telling her clients.

    There have been similar discussions here except it's "Would you go to an unfit personal trainer" and again, for me the answer is no for the same reasons as the obese nutritionist.
  • SnuggleSmacks
    SnuggleSmacks Posts: 3,731 Member
    edited December 2014
    On the one hand, a person can have a great deal of valuable knowledge to share, and the ability to share it in a motivating way, without applying to their self.... But still probably no. I don't know if it's bias or a rational desire to have the person advising me be able to follow their own advice. For all I know, she has a medical issue causing temporary weight gain. But still, doubtful.
  • JenAndSome
    JenAndSome Posts: 1,893 Member
    I would probably not go to a nutritionist at all unless I had special dietary needs. Having special dietary needs and eating too much are two different things.
  • yarwell
    yarwell Posts: 10,477 Member
    I would ask her to validate her recommendations based on her personal experience. Hopefully I would manage to avoid actually saying the words "elephant in the room" while tackling that issue.
  • Adc7225
    Adc7225 Posts: 1,318 Member
    Depending on if I liked her approach. All weight issues are not always a result of overeating.
  • JoRocka
    JoRocka Posts: 17,525 Member
    JenAndSome wrote: »
    I would probably not go to a nutritionist at all unless I had special dietary needs. Having special dietary needs and eating too much are two different things.


    this sounds about right.
  • lyttlewon
    lyttlewon Posts: 1,118 Member
    Yes, and I would see a doctor who drank alcohol.
  • PRMinx
    PRMinx Posts: 4,585 Member
    JoRocka wrote: »
    JenAndSome wrote: »
    I would probably not go to a nutritionist at all unless I had special dietary needs. Having special dietary needs and eating too much are two different things.


    this sounds about right.

    Agreed.

    Also, it's one thing to be overweight and another to be obese. I would have a hard time understanding why she can't moderate herself.
  • eganita
    eganita Posts: 501 Member
    No.
  • simplydelish2
    simplydelish2 Posts: 726 Member
    As a nutritionist I've used my knowledge during this weight loss journey. I plan to offer a coaching program - but I've felt that I needed to be at a healthy weight to be taken seriously. One more year and I'll be there!
  • bennettinfinity
    bennettinfinity Posts: 865 Member
    edited December 2014
    goddessofawesome wrote: »
    No, simply because while s/he might know what s/he's talking about nutrition-wise she's obviously not following what s/he's telling her clients.

    There have been similar discussions here except it's "Would you go to an unfit personal trainer" and again, for me the answer is no for the same reasons as the obese nutritionist.

    So, I guess that rules out male OB/GYNs then? Or female prostate specialists...? ;)
  • AnthonyThrashD
    AnthonyThrashD Posts: 306 Member
    I'd give her a chance. I'd consider her a fat football coach. Those guys obviously don't practice what they preach, but damn they give a great sermon! :D
  • msf74
    msf74 Posts: 3,498 Member
    Yes.
  • PRMinx
    PRMinx Posts: 4,585 Member
    bennettinfinity wrote: »
    goddessofawesome wrote: »
    No, simply because while s/he might know what s/he's talking about nutrition-wise she's obviously not following what s/he's telling her clients.

    There have been similar discussions here except it's "Would you go to an unfit personal trainer" and again, for me the answer is no for the same reasons as the obese nutritionist.

    So, I guess that rules out male OB/GYNs then? Or female prostate specialists...? ;)

    Apples and oranges.
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  • ironanimal
    ironanimal Posts: 5,922 Member
    No, because I wouldn't go to a nutritionist anyway. A dietitian is a stretch, even.
  • lemurcat12
    lemurcat12 Posts: 30,886 Member
    edited December 2014
    JenAndSome wrote: »
    I would probably not go to a nutritionist at all unless I had special dietary needs. Having special dietary needs and eating too much are two different things.

    This.

    But I suppose I don't see why an obese person couldn't have the needed knowledge about nutrition that you were looking for if you did see her. It would probably be good, if weight loss was the issue, to talk about why it hadn't worked for her, but I don't actually think a lack of knowledge is the main reason people are fat. (But for the same reason I didn't think I needed a nutritionist to tell me how to eat, just because I happened to have gained weight that I wanted to lose.)

    My mother has a medical condition that means she has to avoid getting too much iron, which subsequently got complicated by some other medical issues, and the advice she received was confusing to her and did not address a lot of practical stuff. Knowing my parents I suspect better advice would had been received had they asked for it, etc., but this is the kind of situation where I think a nutritionist is really needed and it would have been no negative at all IMO if the nutritionist had been obese.
  • SoDamnHungry
    SoDamnHungry Posts: 6,998 Member
    JenAndSome wrote: »
    I would probably not go to a nutritionist at all unless I had special dietary needs. Having special dietary needs and eating too much are two different things.

    This girl. She makes sense.
  • lyttlewon
    lyttlewon Posts: 1,118 Member
    bennettinfinity wrote: »
    goddessofawesome wrote: »
    No, simply because while s/he might know what s/he's talking about nutrition-wise she's obviously not following what s/he's telling her clients.

    There have been similar discussions here except it's "Would you go to an unfit personal trainer" and again, for me the answer is no for the same reasons as the obese nutritionist.

    So, I guess that rules out male OB/GYNs then? Or female prostate specialists...? ;)

    Exactly! Also you don't know where she's at in terms of weight. I'm technically "obese" at my current weight, but I'm down 50lbs from where I was maintaining. Would it make a difference to you if you were told she used to be heavier?
  • PRMinx
    PRMinx Posts: 4,585 Member
    edited December 2014
    GuitarJerry wrote: »
    Most sport coaches are overweight and out of shape, but do they know how to coach and win games? Yes, they do.

    Many surgeons are overweight and out of shape also, so are many healthcare workers. Does that mean that don't know how to do their jobs? No, it doesn't.

    Yeah but professional coaches rely on a team of athletic trainers to get their athletes in gear.

    A surgeon has specific skill sets, including scientific training, medical training and a steady hand. That doesn't mean they know anything about weight loss and nutrition. You are paying them for their ability to operate.

    A better comparison is, would you go to a mental health professional who has mental health challenges.
  • Unknown
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    edited December 2014
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  • TheVirgoddess
    TheVirgoddess Posts: 4,535 Member
    I go to a fat doctor that harps on my weight - so why not? Just because someone doesn't put into practice what they know for themselves, doesn't mean they don't have knowledge to share.
  • ValerieMartini2Olives
    ValerieMartini2Olives Posts: 3,024 Member
    There are doctors and nurses who smoke, knowing full-well the effects of their actions. There are tons of athletes who are overweight. Heck, when I was in middle school, the dance team coach was easily 100 pounds overweight. The dance team was always winning awards! Things are not always what they seem.
  • teranga79
    teranga79 Posts: 202 Member
    edited December 2014
    No - in answer to the original question.
  • jesiann2014
    jesiann2014 Posts: 521 Member
    Well... If you want to know about the ins and outs of eating healthy, living a healthy lifestyle, 9 out of 10 overweight people can tell you.
  • goddessofawesome
    goddessofawesome Posts: 563 Member
    bennettinfinity wrote: »
    goddessofawesome wrote: »
    No, simply because while s/he might know what s/he's talking about nutrition-wise she's obviously not following what s/he's telling her clients.

    There have been similar discussions here except it's "Would you go to an unfit personal trainer" and again, for me the answer is no for the same reasons as the obese nutritionist.

    So, I guess that rules out male OB/GYNs then? Or female prostate specialists...? ;)

    Actually I had a male OB/GYN and I stopped going to him because he wasn't attentive. I have certain medical issues which could lead to cancer and which required me to go for check ups every 3 months. He continuously cancelled my appointments and once I waited in the office for an hour and a half before being told he wasn't there. I also never felt comfortable talking to him. Now I have a female gynecologist who I am a lot more comfortable with.
  • msf74
    msf74 Posts: 3,498 Member
    jesiann2014 wrote: »
    Well... If you want to know about the ins and outs of eating healthy, living a healthy lifestyle, 9 out of 10 overweight people can tell you.

    Ha!

    If you want to know how to be slim never ask a naturally slim person ;)
This discussion has been closed.

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