Regina Benjamin Surgeon-General...a fat lady?

[Anonymous]

I think it was posted previously that her qualifications are spot on, its her job as a proper role model that is in question.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It just seems a weird choice...her qualifications are fine, but it is a little ironic to have a public health official who isn't following the key rules for good health herself.

Frankly, unless you live with her on a daily basis or are her personal physician, how in the world would you have any idea what health rules she follows? Do you know what she eats everyday? Do you know if she excersizes? Do you have personal knowledge of her heart condition, her blood pressure, whether or not she is diabetic, whether or not she has thyroid issues? For that matter, what are the key rules for good health in your opinion? Are you a physician? No jabs here, just innocent curiousity.

No, but I am getting my MPH. Unfortunately, obesity is neon sign of not following a healthy diet. Metabolism, really only fluctuates about 10% in the population. Its hard to look like a supermodel (and they are generally just as unhealthy...I am not recommending the Kate Moss diet FWIW), but its also takes 'work' to be obese. And, as stated previously, she has genetic predisposition for obesity related diseases since her father died of complications related to diabetes. And FYI, I have a thyroid problem myself...(Hashimoto's, the most common hypothyroid disorder in developed nations) and it doesn't mean you are going to be obese...it means that you just can't always have ice cream after dinner. I eat a healthy diet and walk...and I am within my normal weight range. Sure, I have to work harder than others, but my health is worth it.

[Anonymous]

Where to start...

Do people even think about what they say? Here we go again with the "this town" and the shear waste of a non-Ivy League education. Get over yourselves - she is clearly qualified.

She is amply endowed - some in my family too have very large tatas - so what? My SIL wears custom made shirts because of her H sized boobs, and a size 8 skirt/pant. Forget a dress unless it too is custom made. She often looks overweight, and probably is a bit, but not obese.

Maybe the executive branch can give her a chef czar like Oprah had so she can loose weight?

[Anonymous]

The original post wasn't about what university she attended.

[Anonymous]

Benjamin is obese, which is defined as more than 20 percent over their ideal weight. She obese and then some and may be morbidly obese. Morbid obesity is defined as being around 100 lbs. overweight. If you have seen Dr. Benjamin you would see she is VERY overweight, and her health may be at risk.

[Anonymous]

OK - we get it - she's fat and you don't want her being the surgeon general because her fatness sets a bad example for the rest of us fatties! Thinness is virtue and fatness is vice. Skinny people of the world unite!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OK - we get it - she's fat and you don't want her being the surgeon general because her fatness sets a bad example for the rest of us fatties! Thinness is virtue and fatness is vice. Skinny people of the world unite!

Again, you are missing the POINT!!! Thinness being a virtue and fatness a vice is a stigma you hold on your own and not the point of the post. 'Fatness' as a way to slowly kill yourself is what is trying to be addressed here. Its about your health. Most people are in denial about that, and lack the health information to truly know what risks they are at when they are heavy. No one is saying she's less intelligent or less virtuous or that she looks funny. We're talking about her health and the health of the nation which happens to be in jeopardy because of this epidemic.

[jsteele]

From "Underwear Goes Inside The Pants" by Lazyboy:

Americans, let's face it: We've been a spoiled country for a long time.
Do you know what the number one health risk in America is?
Obesity. They say we're in the middle of an obesity epidemic.
An epidemic like it is polio. Like we'll be telling our grand kids about it one day.
The Great Obesity Epidemic of 2004.
"How'd you get through it grandpa?"
"Oh, it was horrible Johnny, there was cheesecake and pork chops everywhere."


And, now we can add: "Not only that, but the Surgeon General was fat!"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It just seems a weird choice...her qualifications are fine, but it is a little ironic to have a public health official who isn't following the key rules for good health herself.

I have heard that overweight applicants had a harder time getting into medical school (ie, when they go for their personal interview) because health care providers shouldn't look unhealthy. Don't know if this is true anymore with the lack of doctors as it is.

[Anonymous]

My hair dresser has horrible hair, but she makes me, and several of my friends look fabulous! My husband is an electrician, but we have 2 outlets in our house that don't work. My hairdresser was cursed with bad hair genes and just doesn't have the time to make it look good everyday. My husband is too busy with his customers to deal with our electrical problems. Maybe SG is just too busy to eat nutritious meals and find the time to exercise. Not making excuses for her and hopefully that she will take a look at herself now that she is in the public eye, but it doesn't mean she isn't qualified to do a good job.

[Anonymous]

This discussion makes me wonder if we would be having it if the candidate were a guy, or more specifically, a white guy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This discussion makes me wonder if we would be having it if the candidate were a guy, or more specifically, a white guy.

Are you kidding???? Why is everyone missing the OP's point?? This is not about being petty or a "mean girl" taking a dig at a "fat" girl. Obesitiy is a SERIOUS problem in this country! It is more of a burden on our healthcare system then smoking/tobacco. I know I would seriously question the judgment of my physician if he or she was obese, a smoker, etc. I wouldn't care what school he or she went to...

[Anonymous]

So funny but as I was looking at the Post today I saw her photo and thought that she was definitely overweight. I immediately thought it was strange in this day and age when we are talking about charging more on insurance for people who don't take care of themselves to have a surgeon general who is overweight. More bizarre is that she openly talks about many people in her family who died young from preventable diseases..I would love to see her lose some weight and talk about it.

[Anonymous]

So funny but as I was looking at the Post today I saw her photo and thought that she was definitely overweight. I immediately thought it was strange in this day and age when we are talking about charging more on insurance for people who don't take care of themselves to have a surgeon general who is overweight. More bizarre is that she openly talks about many people in her family who died young from preventable diseases..I would love to see her lose some weight and talk about it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OK - we get it - she's fat and you don't want her being the surgeon general because her fatness sets a bad example for the rest of us fatties! Thinness is virtue and fatness is vice. Skinny people of the world unite!

Again, you are missing the POINT!!! Thinness being a virtue and fatness a vice is a stigma you hold on your own and not the point of the post. 'Fatness' as a way to slowly kill yourself is what is trying to be addressed here. Its about your health. Most people are in denial about that, and lack the health information to truly know what risks they are at when they are heavy. No one is saying she's less intelligent or less virtuous or that she looks funny. We're talking about her health and the health of the nation which happens to be in jeopardy because of this epidemic.

NP here. PP, I see what you're talking about but I think that even though you didn't mean "fat as stigma" to be the point of the post that it was easy to interpret it that way. Clearly this isn't just a stigma that the previous poster "holds on her/his own." It's shared by many people and it is often aimed at women more than men. Perhaps some of us are being oversensitive but I don't remember this kind of discussion about Everett Koop (dating myself here).

Of course, I'm sure you know all this -- just wanted to emphasize that it is important to acknowledge this clearly up front if you want people to hear your important message about the health of the nation.