The UK is a nation of -porkers- discuss

You've made me choke on my Maggie

Just off to update my Bucket List

There are a lot more overweight people around these days, and many of them appear to be health professionals. I had to spend some time at our local hospital recently and couldn't help thinking how many of the nursing staff and the admin staff could have done with losing a few pounds. I had a doctor's appointment last week and the locum I saw was very overweight. It's a bit rich for people to be taken to task for their inability to control their weight when the people who are charged with safeguarding our health obviously can't do it.

Agreed Greyduster- but many doctors work such long hours that they grab what they can to eat and eat far too fast in case the bleeper goes- and have very little time for exercise- if that helps as an explanation. Junio Doctors hours are not what they used to be in the 70s, when 130+ hours a week were 'norma', but even so.

Oh, this is getting ridiculous. A doctor puts on weight because he's so busy he can only grab a few minutes to eat quickly in case his bleeper goes?

What about the calories in alcohol?

And please don't tell me that these hard working, snack munching doctors don't drink.

In my experience it's the hospital nurses (mainly the women) who have been obviously overweight. As they seem to be on their feet for most of the day and work long hours, I'm surprised.

not quite sure why you thnk this is ridiculous Merlot? Have you ever been on call for 2 days and 1 night non-stop, with the bleeper going off everytime you try to eat, sleep or breathe for a few minutes? have you ever worked 70 to 90 hrs a week- never mind 130+?

Our bodies crave sweet, instant food when we're tired. When I'm on a diet [whichhasbeenfornearly50years] it goes to pieces if I'm tired; worst time was when the children were small and sleep was non existent

Anya, no, you won't enjoy it, honestly!

Perhaps I am being picky but I feel this thread has been flogged way beyond any horse's natural lifespan.
I don't know what purpose it served in the first place other than to pick a bone, and despite a clearly desirable DNR has been revived to no valid purpose as far as I can see.
BTW many of us or nearest and dearest, or relies, do have experience of being on call, of snatching a bite as and when possible and working punishing hours. I also see consultants who are lean as a whippet, cycle through London streets to get to and from work and probably exist on thin air.
Let's not over generalise.

And that Alea says it all, in a nutshell.

Well! I've just read through this thread and Anya is absolutely right. Alea says it all.

My first comment on this thread, it is a daft thread,and yes, Alea, you say it rightly!hopefully, it will fade away now.

I think it's an interesting thread - and you can't say that about many of the threads currently in Actives. Why should it fade away?

Anyone else got a contribution to make?

Btw - we all know what is meant by "porkers". It doesn't really matter which word is used, in this context.

...and stop getting so bloody cliquey amongst yerselves.

I do think it is an interesting thread as it highlights the problem of obesity that undoubtedly exists here. And it is a huge health planning problem for the NHS, as more people become ill with obesity-related disorders.

And I have found out that there are at least 2 people in this country who can eat 3 Mars bars at a sitting! How is this done!!??

They have only just been on about the huge increase in diabetes in the last few years, on the Today programme. And about how much it is costing the NHS.

of course alea- no generalisations. All I am saying, is that it is not always easy to eat healthily when you work very long hours, have no time for frehsh food shopping or cooking from scratch, have to eat quickly in between calls are very irregular hours and have not time to exercise (Consultants do work much shorter hours than juniors btw ;) ). And as someone else has touche upon- stress also does not help- few will deny that junior doctors in particular, and nurses too- do not work long hours under a lot of stress. Combine both and it is a recipe for disaster for some. Others turn to drugs, alcohol or just break down. Some manage to combine all and survive- DH worked full-time +++ until aged 63.

Jingl thanks for that comment. Some will pick at and distort anything I say, does not matter to me- but it does get tedious, and so obvious- and spoil what could be an interesting exchange.

I am amazed that some still deny that obesity is a time-bomb in the UK (and in many other countries). The NHS will crumble under its weight- when the money should be so much better spent elsewhere.

Superfluous 'amongst yerselves' jingl you can't be cliquey by yourself, can you?

It just seemed to illustrate the point better. I am no pedant.

Why are we focusing on doctors (apart from the fact they should know better?) what about other busy professionals who work anti social hours? Mums of tinies who barely have time to snatch a bite? Social Workers? Carers? Actors? Shift workers of any sort?
It is getting silly.
An informed discussion on obesity, fine.
Scoring Proving points, that's another matter.
I am feeling just a bit "got at" there are other nations with an obesity problem, it is a First World problem after all. And don't tell me "Frenchwomen don't get fat"!!

But of course Alea- this was following Greyduster's post, which specifically mentionned doctors. And as said, although there are many professions that work long hours, few work the 70hrs young doctors work now- and certainly few ever worked the 130+ hours junior doctors worked until not that long ago. That's all- why are you getting all het up here?

Firemen for instance work a 48 shift over 8 days- a huge difference.

To lighten the tone a little I thought I would share something that happened to me yonks ago.

I was in a car with some men and we saw a very fat young woman walking down the road.

From the back seat I heard one of the guys say "God love, fart and give us a clue!".

I was young and innocent - and have never gotten over it!

Never heard that one Wilma - thanks ;)

French women can and do get fat- but the % is still 50% compared to UK. Not scoring points, but if you mention it:

Delving into the figures today, one woman in four aged 18 to 24 is so overweight that their health is suffering. This is nothing to be happy about.

By comparison, 12.7 per cent of French women are overweight, 14.4 per cent of Spaniards and just 9.3 per cent of Italians, the figures compiled by Eurostat, the EU's statistical office, show. In Romania, just 8 per cent of women are fat.

Have you not? (Heard that one) Is my DH the only uncouth old bugger on here? (Better not say when he has been known to say it )