An obese nutritionist: would you be her patient?

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Replies

  • 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
    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
    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.
  • 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: 3,041 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
    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
    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 ;)
  • jesiann2014
    jesiann2014 Posts: 521 Member
    msf74 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 ;)

    Indeed this is also true! ;)
  • jellybeanhed313
    jellybeanhed313 Posts: 344 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.

    This is the truth right here! :)
  • Really, your ability to perform tasks and knowledge of how to perform tasks are separate. The nutritionist could be using his/her knowledge of nutrition, to intentionally be obese! Maybe their partner has a fetish!
  • jesiann2014
    jesiann2014 Posts: 521 Member
    Really, your ability to perform tasks and knowledge of how to perform tasks are separate. The nutritionist could be using his/her knowledge of nutrition, to intentionally be obese! Maybe their partner has a fetish!

    HA! That's funny right there. Or scary...
  • GryffynsMom
    GryffynsMom Posts: 4 Member
    I had to ask myself the opposite question: would I feel comfortable with a weight coach who had never had an extra ounce to lose? (And not just slender, 5'8, leggy, and looks like a runway model.) So I was candid with her. I asked if she'd ever had any type of weight issue and she admitted she hadn't - however, she had done extensive training and had an education in nutrition/treating weight related issues. So I asked if she felt like she could emphasize with someone experiencing those issues if she hasn't personally experienced them and she said yes. Seemed fair to take her at her word and education, and I'm glad I did. So, with regard to the overweight nutritionist, why not ask the obvious and then decide? Best way to deal with the elephant in the room is to acknowledge it.
  • JoRocka
    JoRocka Posts: 17,525 Member
    PRMinx 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.

    well that's not fair- every person I know who works in psychology is effed up- that's one of the reasons they are in that field LOL.



  • FredDoyle
    FredDoyle Posts: 2,273 Member
    Would you hire a plumber who can't get his own toilet fixed?
  • Need2Exerc1se
    Need2Exerc1se Posts: 13,576 Member
    If the nutritionist was a licensed dietician and I had no reason to question her credentials, then sure. Nutritionists are people. And people often don't do what they know is good for them. That in no way means they don't know what should be done.
  • PRMinx
    PRMinx Posts: 4,585 Member
    JoRocka wrote: »
    PRMinx 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.

    well that's not fair- every person I know who works in psychology is effed up- that's one of the reasons they are in that field LOL.



    Innnteresting. On so many levels.
  • bennettinfinity
    bennettinfinity Posts: 865 Member
    PRMinx 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.

    You're right to a point, but I was just trying to point out that we take advice/assistance from people how can't/don't apply their own expertise all the time (we just may not know the extent that they do/don't... e.g. the mortgage broker whose home is in foreclosure, etc.). The OP is just about a case that's based on a judgement made only by someone's physical appearance.