Healthy Health Professionals

Will Graham

Will Graham

Hello, Dr. Lecter
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I was watching Come Dine With Me when I was eating dinner, and one of the people was quite overweight and also a GP. One of the other guests said they had a problem with health professionals dispensing advice when they themselves were unhealthy?

What do you think?

Is it acceptable for a GP to be overweight, a smoker, or radically unfit etc.? Or any kind of health service worker for that matter

Psychiatrists/therapists etc. have to pass rigorous mental exams, should doctors and nurses have to pass medical check-ups?
 
:hmmm:

I think I'd rather my health service worker (whether it's a doctor or a dentist or whatever) had good health, I think it shows they know what they're talking about and care about themselves which might mean they'd care about me, their customer, more as well.

Though at the end of the day it's their body and their own choice. They could know everything ever to do with their profession but choose to enjoy food and eat til they're a fat-ass.
 
I've been told by a smoker (not a doctor but still very hypocritical) that I'm overweight and need to change my lifestyle :facepalm:

Foamy put it best "Timmy, we're going to have to have chat about your drug problem right after I take my anti-depresants" You've got to be in the right position to point out someones flaws.

I've also been told that I need to stop playing so much PlayStation because I'm wasting my money. This was by an alchoholic...
 
I don't think a pack of cigarettes a day invalidates a medical degree.
I only watch come dine with me when I'm slightly drunk or completely drunk and even then I think a lot of them talk shit and are stupid and/or weird.
I think people need to be able to differentiate between a professional opinion, ie that of a doctor and the someone's personal opinion ie an overweight guy, who might happen to be a doctor.
Just because a doctor may have self control issues, he might eat 3 donuts and a pepsi for an afternoon snack, doesn't mean that his professional opinion isn't correct. And doctors don't order you to lose weight or quit smoking, they tell you what's best and leave you to make a decision.
Also if I were trying to quit smoking I'd prefer a doctor who was or had been a smoker, they'd be able to empathise with you and could offer advice.
 
Lana Del Rey said:
I don't think a pack of cigarettes a day invalidates a medical degree.
I only watch come dine with me when I'm slightly drunk or completely drunk and even then I think a lot of them talk shit and are stupid and/or weird.
I think people need to be able to differentiate between a professional opinion, ie that of a doctor and the someone's personal opinion ie an overweight guy, who might happen to be a doctor.
Just because a doctor may have self control issues, he might eat 3 donuts and a pepsi for an afternoon snack, doesn't mean that his professional opinion isn't correct. And doctors don't order you to lose weight or quit smoking, they tell you what's best and leave you to make a decision.
Also if I were trying to quit smoking I'd prefer a doctor who was or had been a smoker, they'd be able to empathise with you and could offer advice.
Click to expand...

1st off. I never said he was a doctor, it wasn't his 'Professional opinion'. I just think that it's hypocritcal that a smoker was telling me I need a change in lifestyle when, in my personal opinion, he does too.
 
Whilst it does seem more...consistent when a health adviser leads a healthy lifestyle, I'd rather have someone who knows what they're talking about then someone who takes their knowledge on board in all aspects of life.

Wanting to help others and wanting to help yourself are two completely different things. Everyone can be a hypocrite, and it's much easier to feel fear or sadness when you see a friend do something that may damage their health than it is when you do it to yourself.

I'd also like to point out that not everyone CAN be slender unless they eat...well, basically nothing. If I eat what's considered 'normal,' for example, I gain weight. And I LOVE healthy food, whilst I hate what's bad for me; my diet consists of porridge, fruit, veg, pulses, a little fish, a little bread, honey, and low-fat dairy. There are others who can eat 50% extra than what's 'normal,' most of it fattening, without seeing any difference at all. Every body is different.

One should also remember that some people are overweight because of further issues with health. If a doctor has to take medication for a serious illness, they may find it very easy to maintain a 'healthy' weight, even when eating a normal amount. Furthermore, the medication may make them feel ravenous.

I've focussed on food and eating here... I don't really know where I stand on things like smoking. I've never smoked, and my grandfather was able to give up easily when he had a health scare, so my experience is somewhat limited. However, one can have knowledge without making sensible choices. I am guessing that a lot of smoker-doctors begin smoking before they become qualified.

What doctors offer is advice, which they base on scientific knowledge and data. They don't tell you how to live; they tell you what you can choose to do if you want to live in the best way for your body. In that way, they're not being hypocritical.
 
Lana Del Rey said:
I don't think a pack of cigarettes a day invalidates a medical degree.
I only watch come dine with me when I'm slightly drunk or completely drunk and even then I think a lot of them talk shit and are stupid and/or weird.
I think people need to be able to differentiate between a professional opinion, ie that of a doctor and the someone's personal opinion ie an overweight guy, who might happen to be a doctor.
Just because a doctor may have self control issues, he might eat 3 donuts and a pepsi for an afternoon snack, doesn't mean that his professional opinion isn't correct. And doctors don't order you to lose weight or quit smoking, they tell you what's best and leave you to make a decision.
Also if I were trying to quit smoking I'd prefer a doctor who was or had been a smoker, they'd be able to empathise with you and could offer advice.
Click to expand...

Indeed This.
However yeah people can be quite hypocrites and tell or advice people to do a certain thing when themselfs are not doing it either..

Anyways take the advice or not..I also know people can be pretty stubborn..that dont take the advice.

Hypocrites:
Those people will try to help you cause they are concerned but they dont give their own bodies the same treatment...think about it that way :P
 
I can definitely understand that when you are seeking competent medical advice from your healthcare provider, that you want it to be from someone who not only can speak about what they know, but who also who themself exudes a picture of health. We all take pride in the knowledge that we work so hard to obtain through our schooling so I'd be a little let down when I see someone so intelligent and knowledgeable about how to take care of other's health...while they let their own slide.

I understand some people may have genetic problems of whatever sort, or that they may be running into a hard patch in their lives so they have let their healthy lifestyle fall a bit...because we are all only human...but ultimately I'd prefer my doctor to be a picture of health. However, what they choose to do in their time out of their office is their decision. As long as they are giving me competent care I don't see how them being slightly overweight, having a high cholesterol level, or them not exercising enough is going to effect their care of me.
 
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As someone who is in this field, I deal with this kind of question daily.

I came to the conclusion that, yes, I expect people to practice what they preach. They don't necessarily have to do everything, but they need to be able to put their methods into practice and achieve the results they promise.

At the very least, I wouldn't trust someone telling me how to live a healthy lifestyle as they shoved a cheeseburger down their throat.
 
As a health professional as well ild agree with Stoic hero, and one of the things that you sometimes learn is that you should practice what you preach as it does affect patient compliance. However, in some other regards, some tings you just cant do anything about, and sometimes it does the same affect, for example, a dentist having crooked or stained teeth, some things they just cant help yet a patient will have a moment of, well, if my dentist looks like that, then I really should bother to fix myself to what they say.
 
I have a mixed feelings about this, yet I am pretty surprised by the outcome of replies so far. I am going to lean on the side of what Hal said I think.

First of all I will say that I personally will not take advice from a person who cannot balance the same advice for her/himself, or at least it would mean a lot less then if it was coming from a fit model. However when I think about it... I am smart enough to realize that this person is right, and he/her does not practice it.

However I personally believe that just because the man/woman is unhealthy, or smokes, or eats crap, does not mean that he/she doesnt know better in general.

So in short I do not think a doctor whose job is to ensure the well being of his patients should be scrutinized agaisn't his own free will. As long as this unhealthy man is making other people healthy... well he is doing his job, and that is that. Anything else this man does is of his own accord. Hell, I smoke everyday knowing it could kill me, but its not like I am going to teach my kids to smoke just because I do.

There is difference between being ignorant of something when you know better, and just being ignorant. The man/woman's job is to know better, so I would assume he/she did. It would not be fair or ethical to stop this man/woman from doing his job (because he/she is unhealthy)... as long as he/she is doing it. The job does not mandate him/her being healthy themselves, so live and let live.


P.S I apologize for the abundance of shared sex "/"'s. I did the last half like that and thought it was ugly only doing it halfway. One thing led to another and now it almost seems like overkill :sad:
 
This is very much a "do as I say, not as I do" idea.

Your GP knows everything there is to know about your ailment (usually). He knows that if you eat another cake you're putting your heart at risk of atherosclerosis, hypertension, even cardiac infarctions. He knows that if you have one more cigarette it could be the one that kicks off a cancerous mutation and growth in your throat or lung. On the occasion where you go to visit your doctor for a blood pressure check-up, however, you're using your national health service and, if you're in a position where your health costs are paid for you, you should probably do what he says. Your BP's sky high and you need him to give you meds. He might be overweight but not on medication for it yet...is his weight costing the health service any money? Not yet. Is yours? If you're in front of your doctor, aye, it probably is.

That said, if your doctor's fat and on medication, and you're fat and he's telling you to change your life, you should still do it. Not doing so is analogous to the jumping off a bridge scenario we all know and love.

Also, the amount of hours a doctor puts in? You get pissed off when you can't see him 24/7...when would you expect him to go for a run?!

Yes, it seems hypocritical, but your health professional knows more than you do, and it enrages me when the general public think otherwise.
 
I've never actually given it much thought.

I always think, well they're a doctor and should know what they're talking about regardless of their own health issues.

I've never walked out of a doctors office and thought, 'How can they say this when they're so fat and they smoke etc etc.'

At the end of the day, they've got a job to do and the advice they give you should be professional advice which is all I need.

Whatever way they choose to live their life (healthwise) is no concern of mine and doesn't deter me at all.

Is it acceptable for a GP to be overweight, a smoker, or radically unfit etc.? Or any kind of health service worker for that matter
Click to expand...

I don't think it's unacceptable. Shouldn't really matter in my opinion.

Psychiatrists/therapists etc. have to pass rigorous mental exams, should doctors and nurses have to pass medical check-ups?
Click to expand...
I'd be more concerned about background checks over health checks. I'd rather a Doctor who was a fat smoker who knows everything about everything over a healthy doctor who can't tell me if I have just a harmless rash or HIV.
 
I view it the same way I view art critiques. It doesn't really matter how skilled the artist critiquing me is - it matters if they're right or not. I've gotten some of the best advice from people who are awful artist but who happen to be knowledgeable.

Besides, the doctor is just recommending what you should do for your health. It's your choice to do it or not. Plenty of people drink even though they know it's not good for you because they enjoy it. Why view health professionals differently?
 
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