NHS and Obesity

Earlier this week, the D Telegraph was criticising some NHS hospital cafeterias for selling unhealthy foods and drinks to both patients and visitors, instead of offering foods of benefit..

A couple of years ago, while waiting in the outpatients for a consultation, I observed many medical staff who were, in some cases, grossly overweight, waddling back and forth. Slim ones - there were few.

Perhaps staff weight-loss competitions and a few exercise machines littered around, would be a partial answer to create a lithe healthier looking group of medical people? Would also set a good example to Joe and Jill Public?

Obesity or overweight in public enemy number one......

Re: NHS and Obesity

Hi Mike I would say it is a matter of personal choice how people treat their bodies. If they want to eat too much and get fat that is up to them.

I don't but that is my choice

Re: NHS and Obesity

I had a friend who was slim ,trained to be a midwife,about year after when i saw her she was twice the weight ,i would guess it is the unsociable hours and snacking to keep energy levels up which was why.

Re: NHS and Obesity

I think it shows they're human too.

I was chatting to a doctor connected with my work recently and she was telling me that patients often bring in "treats" for the staff and even after consultations with patients about the dangers of overeating immediately upon visiting the staff room finds herself and her colleagues all tucking in.

Interestingly she also said that if the advice they gave to cardiac patients was as ineffective as the advice they gave to overweight patients there would be a public outcry but they're lucky because every overweight patient thinks it's their fault that they're not succeeding and don't consider that the advice given is ineffective
.

Re: NHS and Obesity

Problem is; if a group of medics are mostly overweight, then fat people become their visual norm. In contrast; at grammar school 500 years ago, we only had one fat boy, the rest of us were like lamp-posts.

I do think that some obese people should take heed of the costs of medical treatment and the costs of gastric bands etc to the NHS.

Re: NHS and Obesity

So those that :-

suffer sports injuries;
get pregnant - ;
smoke;
get STDs;
drivers of cars involved in RTAs;
asthmatics that live close to busy roads;
alcoholics;

Should equally take heed of the cost to the NHS

In fact most illnesses could be avoided I guess. And that is why the NHS don't act as judge and jury.

Re: NHS and Obesity

I've socialised with doctors on a number of occasions, and off the record, they will often express opinions and behave in ways which are quite contrary to the 'official' advice they dish out.

One GP (and I have heard this from other sources) said that you have to drink twice as much as the recommended max amount of booze before you're worse off than a T-totaller. I've known doctors who were obese, smoked, drank a lot, were scared of dentists etc... they presumably are aware of the risks and are happy to live with them.

Re: NHS and Obesity

I've got an idea. Why don't the Government just put all us fat folk up against a wall and shoot us. That'll save pots of money.

Re: NHS and Obesity

Then all the skinny folk would complain about the amount of land that we'd all take up to bury us fat folk!! Or the energy bill if we were all cremated.

Re: NHS and Obesity

Can I also mention that sufferers of anorexia nervosa get treatment on the NHS. Smokers get treatment for different chest diseases. Arthritis sufferers get treatment and cost the government a huge amount of money. Obviously not self inflicted, but a huge problem none the less. But oh no, get the fat folk out of the way and we'll all be happy.

It makes me so angry and it's getting boring now.