Examiner.com

Regina Benjamin

A recent story in the London Times mentions that overweight health care workers will be asked to reduce their weight.

"...the Government’s public health campaign, was helping to convey the message of good diet and exercise, but that greater emphasis needed to be placed on doctors and nurses as ambassadors for healthy living."

This article appeared around the same time President Barak Obama appointed a "full-bodied" surgeon general.

"...as images of Dr. Benjamin have circulated on Internet news sites, some voices have wondered whether a person who is on the heavy side is the best person to lead the nation's health agenda, particularly as we attempt to wage war on obesity."

These stories are good indicators of the validity of current dietary advice. The very health professionals that tell people to cut calories, reduce fat intake and eat more fruit can't keep off the extra pounds themselves. Sure they could have a desk drawer full of Twinkies and Skittles along a serious Mountain Dew habit, but I am willing to guess that a good many of them are simply following their own dietary advice.

When I followed the government recommended food pyramid, it was the time of my greatest weight gain. The less fat and calories I ate, the more body fat I piled on. The more whole grains I ate, the higher my blood pressure went. Only by totally abandoning all I was taught by the powers that be about diet and weight loss did I lose weight and regain my health.

It will be interesting to see if the NHS doctors, nurses and nutritionists will actually be able to shed their excess pounds following government recommended methods. I predict many will lose weight temporarily, and then gain back all they lost plus some extra. This is the usual pattern when basing your diet on grains and calorie restriction. Will any of those chubbos take the low carb plunge? If so, what happenes when a doctor loses a lot of weight eating plenty of meat and fat yet is required by current medical standards to recommend fat cutting and fewer calories?

And what of our new surgeon general? Does being chubby make you unqualified for the job? It didn't seem to be a problem for former Surgeon General C. Everett Koop. While the debate goes on whether these medical role models are setting the right example, the true problem is not being addressed. The human body is not designed to consume large amounts of grains and sugars. Until that message gets out to the mainstream, expect to see plenty more fat doctors, chunky nurses, politicians and 300lb nutritionists.

C. Everett Coop, Former Surgeon General.