Dr. J on messages and messengers
Contributor: “Dr. J”Dr. J offers his irreverent, slightly irrelevant, but possibly useful opinions on health and fitness. A Florida surgeon and fitness freak with a black belt in karate, he runs 50 miles a week and flies a Cherokee Arrow 200.
Although it would seem like a simple distinction, people tend to often ignore the message and either vilify or praise the messenger based on the listener’s particular agenda.
I happened to be watching Fox News the other day and saw MeMe Roth discussing the recent choice of Dr. Regina Benjamin for our next surgeon general.
MeMe did not like the fact that Dr. Benjamin was overweight, and possibly clinically obese, thereby not setting a good example for others. Roth went on to present her anti-obesity message and agenda during the ensuing debate over the president’s choice.
Although I do support the importance of her anti-obesity message, I felt that using Benjamin and her size as a means to advance this agenda may not have been the best way to do it.
Benjamin a good choice
When Regina Benjamin was nominated for the position of Surgeon General, the spokesman for the Department of Health and Human Services Jenny Backus issued this statement: “Dr. Benjamin is a highly qualified physician who has dedicated her life to providing care to her patients. She is a role model for all of us, and will be an outstanding surgeon general.”
If you look at her background, her struggles and her achievements, I feel you will see she has done a more than credible job as a doctor.
“I am appalled that this amount of bias and discrimination exists regarding large people,” said Steven Blair, professor of exercise science at Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina. “The focus should be on Dr. Benjamin’s credentials and accomplishments. What difference does her size make?”
What difference does her size make?
From what I’ve read on health and fitness sites, it seems it does make a difference to many people. Some, arguing for fat acceptance, support Benjamin’s large frame. Some, supposedly concerned about the well-known problems associated with obesity have shall we say, issues with it.
Personally, I try to focus on the message rather than the messenger.
Setting too good an example, not setting a good enough example
MeMe Roth tends to set a strict example of her anti-obesity message. People do not like her example, and attack her based on her behaviors in spreading that message.
Regina Benjamin does not set as firm an example, perhaps, and people are criticizing her based on her lack of apparent pristine health behaviors.
Health care professionals and setting examples
Lord Darzi, health minister from Denham, England, recently advocated that British
doctors and nurses who are overweight and unhealthy should be encouraged to change their lifestyles as an example to the British people.
I must admit, if I were looking for doctors to treat or advise me, I would take their personal health and fitness into account. I’m not sure I would give as much credence to their medical recommendations, especially if the unhealthy behaviors were in areas directly related to my concerns.
However, just because I feel setting a good example as a health care professional is a good idea, I do not think it is necessary because, really, I like to stay healthy and fit primarily for myself, and for the life it allows me to have.
Also, examples come in many forms. Seeing someone set a negative example can also have very profound effects on others’ lives. I suspect if you need to criticize someone for not setting an example for your lack of commitment or willpower, you need to look in a mirror for the person you are really having a problem with.
Role models
If people think a role model in this administration’s political arena is important, perhaps Michelle Obama would fit their need. As for me, when I think of the role models in my life, they were all a lot closer and more real to me than celebrities, athletes, politicians or the like.
They were real people I had the good fortune to come into actual contact with. I can only hope that I have lived in a small way up to the standards that they motivated me to strive toward.
I don’t think the surgeon general needs to be a perfect physical role model to be effective in the office. The message must take preference over the messenger. I feel she is a good choice, and hopefully she will have an effective message.
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hey Dr. J,
first of all, good point in listening to the message. Too often our perception of who is delivering said message gets in the way of what is being said. Our bias towards that person for whatever reason affects what we hear.
My personal opinion is, without knowing exactly what the job duties of the surgeon general of the United States are, except warning people about cigarettes and alcohol, is that if the person is a qualified physician who knows a lot about health, then so what? Hell, if she is clinically obese, she can get up there and preach about obesity! Preach how she struggles with it! Preach how she has made mistakes along the way and doesn’t want to see our young people end up like her. Is she the perfect role model of health? Probably not, but really, are any of us? Let’s face it. We all make mistakes with our health and none of us are perfect, although we certainly try to be.
Thanks for all the well wishes and whatnot for the tri. Best experience of my life. And yes, I am hooked. ;-)
Prejudice comes in all forms. Prejudice of overweight people increases as the volume of larger people increases.
Some argue that it’s okay to be prejudice against larger people since they may tax society more in the way of health care costs, space used (airline seats), etc. I almost understand this prejudice, but ultimately it is still prejudice, where it should just be a concern.
As it relates to the choice of Surgeon General, Ms. Roth (and the many others) is out of line. If our president had appointed a Fitness General, I might raise an eyebrow. Proper medical standards applied to the public, the sharing of medical and health information to the public, consideration and administration of such are the primary responsibilities of the Surgeon General. This has scarcely to do with human aesthetics, least of all her own.
Interesting post & discussion. I agree with your the other comments. If a person is qualified & knows their stuff then there should not be a problem. Saying that, I do hate to say that I do prefer to see that a doctor practicing what they preach meaning if you are telling me to do this or that, it would be nice to see the doctor practicing that. Also, setting a good example is a good thing. I don’t look to sports stars, celebrities or the like as role models but I would like to see that from a doctor that is telling us to be healthy.
Like personal trainer. I am sure there are plenty out there that may be overweight but know what they are doing but if I were to chose one, I would want one that looks like they practice what they preach…. even though you & I both know there are plenty of trainers in great shape that suck as trainers!
You have to look at the big picture & everything involved to make an informed decision & that is what we should do with the surgeon general.
very thought provoking and in a way relates back to a post I did recently about my daughter and the pediatrician.
I never mentioned the “shape” of the ped who informed me nonetoosubtly he thought my daughter was too large—-but I did notice and think “huh? we’re preaching a lot and not practicing huh?”
First – I can’t believe anyone thought MizFit’s tornado was “too large”!! Second – I agree that the message is more important than the messenger. The problem I have though is when the messenger makes the message about themselves. MeMe Roth uses herself as her own best evidence rather than relying on science or even consensus. I don’t appreciate a study of 1. Especially not when that 1 is vitriolic and uncivil in debates. I see MeMe Roth as the Ann Coulter of obesity. Sure she may raise some awareness but only because she is so offensive that people can’t ignore her. There are many sane and rational voices preaching a more moderate message. I don’t however, see Dr. Benjamin as employing the same shock tactics. Like you, I will reserve judgement until I can see what kind of job she’s doing rather than just the package it comes in.
I think you’re right about this and I really like what you’ve said about our role models being people that we KNOW rather than celebrities.
If the surgeon general has really poor health and doesn’t take care of herself, then that might be concerning- but it sounds as though she’s healthy and just happens to be a little overweight. If her credentials are up to par, then there should be no need for all of this uproar over her weight.
Good advice about listening to the message. However, it is difficult for me to buy into a “do as I say not as I do” leader. Doctors who smoke and advise patients not to smoke are in the same category. For me it isn’t a bias against an overweight person or a smoker. “Physician heal thyself”.
Hey Brandon!
Thanks for your optimistic point of view! Supporting you for the Tri was the easy part. You did the hard part, nice going!
Roy!
Well stated! Fitness General, I like that idea :-)
Jody!
Very good points!
Carla!
Strange, I have to say, whenever I saw your toddler on video, she looked great to me.
Charlotte!
I’m pretty sure that Dr. Benjamin will do her absolute best to deliver a good message. It’s not as important, but she may well turn out to be a good example before she’s done serving.
Sagan!
I agree!
Liz!
We all need to heal ourselves. Although it would be nice if all good advice came from someone setting a perfect example, I think we are only hurting ourself if we ignore it based on that reason.
I would be wary if I went to a psychiatrist for help with my weight issues and the psychiatrist were chubby, overweight etc. though my experience with chubby people are they are pretty knowledgeable about weight loss, gain and issues surrounding those. Of course doctors and psychiatrists, therapists also have their own prejudices against fat people.
http://www.jung-at-heart.com/jung_at_heart/fat_betty.html
I would be less wary about a GP etc if they were larger than the average bear.
I’m sure Regina Bejamin will do a fine job. We can’t all be Twiggy.
Fat acceptance is complicated. While it’s completely unfair – and illegal – to discriminate against someone based on their weight, or to say they are in any way less competent than anyone else, I do worry that in our junk-food-centered society, “accepting” fat will send the wrong message about eating and exercise habits.
POD!
I suspect chubby people who have tried various “diets” are knowledgeable, those who haven’t, not so much. Prejudice does not have any clear boundaries :-( I like your summary sentence :-)
Vered!
I worry about the same things.
Hey Dr. J!
I seem to recall no controversy with C. Everett Coop being overweight? I thought he was a good surgeon general… I remember he was pushing fitness for a while there before he was out of the job.
While it might seem strange that some expected “role models” could use some of their own advice like me when I used to sell life insurance and mutual funds for Prudential, when I did not have any investments (but the knowledge). I don’t think it is required that one walk the walk to talk the talk (to have a job). If that were the case – half of us would not be allowed to have some jobs.
Another example that comes to mind is football coaches that used to be fit when they played ball but now are obese. They are still great coaches!
If the job requires a given trait like arguably a cop, firefighter, or lifeguard – then I’m all for requiring fitness.
As doctors are not required to be fit to practice medicine – I can only surmise this is a politically motivated argument.
You make a good point about focusing on the message!
Hi John!
Yeah, I thought about several of the former Surgeon Generals when writing this column and they were not perfect role models either.