Overweight applicants

[Super Rob]

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I have smokers and overweight people in my class. I can assure you they will make terrific doctors.

Yes, looking like Mr. Olympia or Ms. America certainly has its advantages when you are interviewing, trying to make friends, competing for a promotion, or receiving any kind of subjective evaluation.

So, I've heard.

Yes, many people including myself believe that doctors should practice what they preach, but I also understand that doctors are human beings. I am not perfect and although it has been a few years since I fit the criteria for obesity, I in my thin-ness attest that I would rather be a fat med student with a brain, a heart and a conscience than a 5 % body fat med student lacking any of the latter attributes.

I can tell you that no applicant is perfect. Some of them seem close to it, but not one of them is happy about every single aspect of him or herself. Likewise, it will be impossible to positively impress every single interviewer.

What it comes down to is... in a few years, we'll all be interns eating candy bars for breakfast. Our metabolisms and our apetites will largely dictate the extent of the damage done to us by our poor diets (young men with thin parents will show it the least). Some of the people pointing fingers now will need to reform their perspectives in order to stay happy about themselves. This is a career that involves many personal sacrifices. However, the most important question is... can you do the job?

If the admissions committee thinks the answer is yes, then hopefully they'll take you even if you are not a swimsuit model.

Good Luck to all applicants!

 

[45408]

Yes, looking like Mr. Olympia or Ms. America certainly has its advantages when you are interviewing, trying to make friends, competing for a promotion, or receiving any kind of subjective evaluation.

Are you kidding? Everyone would look at Ronnie Coleman, make snide comments about steroids and assume that he couldn't work five minutes without flexing in the mirror. You can't do anything without somebody whining about it. 🙄

 

[VPDcurt]

I can tell you that no applicant is perfect.

That's not necessarily true. I'd like to introduce you to...













me

 

[redruby]

First off, I want to say that in the US, we live in a fat, fat society. I've been to Europe and Asia, and what we consider to be simply "overweight" they would probably consider to be morbidly fat.

That said, I work in a doctor's office where I would say over 80% of our patients are overweight or obese. People come in for 3 or 6 month check-ups, and will have gained 40 or 50 lbs!!! And the doctor I work for rarely ever says anything about it. I mean, in general, he'll emphasize low- fat diet and exercise as healthy habits, but he almost never addresses significant weight gain directly. To most people, weight is such a sensitive topic, it's hard for a doctor to talk about it without having their advice being translated to things like... being unattractive or something. I don't know, I think in a lot of ways, the issue has been hijacked from medicine because of cultural stigmas.

Off-topic, I know- but I do think that as a doctor, I would be uncomfortable urging my patients to lose weight for health reasons if I was overweight myself. But then, people can always lose weight, quit smoking, etc- so I don't think it should be that big of an obstacle for acceptance.

 

[VPDcurt]

I think this unfortunately is a result of the fact that our society is one that throws accountability out the window whenever possible. this is turning out to the be the case for all instances of obesity, when in fact it applies to only a few.

 

[scota]

I was once overweight, and I was disgusted with myself! I think that overall, society has a negative perception of the overweight/obese. I think that people assume the obese are obese because they are lazy and/or eat in excess (that was the case with me ). I guess it's not so bad if people are overweight due to medical conditions they have no control over.

One of the motivations for me to lose weight was the fact that I felt it would hinder me if/when I interview. First impressions are, unfortunately, very important.

Just trying to provoke a little conversation. Do you think overweight applicants, not morbidly obese, but definitely overweight applicants are at a disadvantage when they interview? Do you think adcoms look down on them? Just some food for thought.

I think personally it could be a hinderance, and some people might imediately have a beginning of a negative impression of those that are overweight. I think i t could hurt you but, I guess the importance is to have your personality shine through right? Not your gut.

 

[scota]

Oh yeah, I forgot to mention that obesity costs the taxpayers billions every year 😡.

 

[NubianPrincess]

You really cannot assume that an overweight person takes any less care of him/herself than a thin person.

 

[MS3NavyFS2B]

Stupid weightlifters on roids with no lives who are narcissistic and conceited. 🙄

I hate stereotypes like that.

One cannot be both narcissistic and conceited.

Narcissism is characterized by a pervasive pattern of grandiosity (fantasy or behavior), need for admiration, and lack of empathy--all of which serve as a defense mechanism for very poor self-esteem (see DSM IV-TR for full criteria for Axis 2 personality disorders and traits).

Conceit, on the other hand, implies a greatly inflated self-image with accompanying high self-esteem, with accompanying behavior.

To use these words together to describe a person is oxymoronic.

just an FYI...

 

[IndyZX]

One cannot be both narcissistic and conceited.

Narcissism is characterized by a pervasive pattern of grandiosity (fantasy or behavior), need for admiration, and lack of empathy--all of which serve as a defense mechanism for very poor self-esteem (see DSM IV-TR for full criteria for Axis 2 personality disorders and traits).

Conceit, on the other hand, implies a greatly inflated self-image with accompanying high self-esteem, with accompanying behavior.

To use these words together to describe a person is oxymoronic.

just an FYI...

thanks.

 

[MS3NavyFS2B]

I have smokers and overweight people in my class. I can assure you they will make terrific doctors.

Yes, looking like Mr. Olympia or Ms. America certainly has its advantages when you are interviewing, trying to make friends, competing for a promotion, or receiving any kind of subjective evaluation.

So, I've heard.

Yes, many people including myself believe that doctors should practice what they preach, but I also understand that doctors are human beings. I am not perfect and although it has been a few years since I fit the criteria for obesity, I in my thin-ness attest that I would rather be a fat med student with a brain, a heart and a conscience than a 5 % body fat med student lacking any of the latter attributes.

I can tell you that no applicant is perfect. Some of them seem close to it, but not one of them is happy about every single aspect of him or herself. Likewise, it will be impossible to positively impress every single interviewer.

What it comes down to is... in a few years, we'll all be interns eating candy bars for breakfast. Our metabolisms and our apetites will largely dictate the extent of the damage done to us by our poor diets (young men with thin parents will show it the least). Some of the people pointing fingers now will need to reform their perspectives in order to stay happy about themselves. This is a career that involves many personal sacrifices. However, the most important question is... can you do the job?

If the admissions committee thinks the answer is yes, then hopefully they'll take you even if you are not a swimsuit model.

Good Luck to all applicants!

So...what's this guy getting at?

It sounds like the bare-bones beginning of a philosophical treatise on why it's acceptable in American to be a smoking, obese physician. Humm...look at almost all of former Presidents (including soon-to-be-former President Bush)...they have a busy lifestyle, too. Stop making excuses.

So...the rhetorical question: "can you do the job?" I don't know. Can a quarter-ton man stand for 6 hours during surgery (without needing a break or tossing a PE)? No excuses.

I don't eat candy bars for breakfast. I work with interns everyday as a third-year med student...they don't either. No excuses.

I never read anywhere they being a swimsuit model is a criterion for admission but, now that you mention it, it surely wouldn't hurt.

"No applicant is perfect." Wow...that's insightful.

 

[MS3NavyFS2B]

thanks.

No problem. Knowledge is power.

 

[fielight]

this issue has already been discussed in the Med Student forums... most of the people who replied noted that their classmates tend to be above-average attractive and in good physical shape. i would have to agree that this is the case in my class as well (some are almost model-esque)... i can only think of about 5-10 people in my class (out of 180) that would be considered "obese," and only 1-3 that are significantly so. i can't say why that happens, but i wouldn't be surprised if fit, attractive people just have an edge in the interview process.

 

[iamgoaloriented]

People in medical school tend to be well educated, dedicated, intelligent, and privilaged to some extent. All of these things make one less likely to be overweight. I think that is the main reason why med students tend not to be obese, although an obese person may very well get looked down upon in an interview (depends on the interviewer).

In regards to the notion that in a few years we will all be eating candy bars for breakfast and getting fat: BULL$H!T (although I agree with basically everything else this poster said). I was once overweight, I now eat healthy and exercise, and still managed to do so even at a time when I was working three jobs. I cooked all of my meals when I got home and packed them for the next day, which only took an hour (less time than everyone on this forum spends every day dicking around on the internet, and I got work done while the food was cooking), and if you must eat fast food there are always healthy options.

I agree that nobody is perfect and we all have weaknesses, but the notion that living a crappy lifestlye is inevitable because one is too busy infuriates me, almost as much as the people who say to the solutions I propose "whoa, that is way too disciplined for me" If it is really important to you, you will make the time. It only takes an hour or two a day (cooking and working out combined), and vitrually everyone on the planet wastes at leat that much time a day.

Getting back to the topic, I think that discriminating on the basis of weight is wrong. An overweight person can make a good doctor, still make good decisions, still use good judgement, still give good advice, but if they cannot lead by example they will not be as effective as someone of equal talent who looks like they take their own advice.

 

[45408]

That's not necessarily true. I'd like to introduce you to...













me

in the great words of:

oh please...you need to get over yourself.

 

[45408]

One cannot be both narcissistic and conceited.

Narcissism is characterized by a pervasive pattern of grandiosity (fantasy or behavior), need for admiration, and lack of empathy--all of which serve as a defense mechanism for very poor self-esteem (see DSM IV-TR for full criteria for Axis 2 personality disorders and traits).

Conceit, on the other hand, implies a greatly inflated self-image with accompanying high self-esteem, with accompanying behavior.

To use these words together to describe a person is oxymoronic.

just an FYI...

actually, they're synonyms

 

[constructor]

i worked part-time in an ER this summer, and we got a lot of patients for gastric bypass since i live in an area where people basically love to eat lots of meat and sit around... and there was this anesthetist in the ER who always talked smack about the patients while they were sedated and having the surgery done... he especially liked to make fun of fat people because he was pretty active and felt he was in a position to criticize others for it i guess. he'd say stuff to me like, "i've got to take a piss, send me a page if this fat **** goes crazy while i'm gone" and "did you guys irrigate this guy? what'd you find in there, a couple of live pigs?". one of my jobs was to monitor the patient for the anasthetist along with his resident when he had to answer phone calls, go to the bathroom, etc. i didn't know whether to laugh or not when he said stuff like this, but i thought it was pretty ****ed up for a physician to say that.

 

[MEG@COOL]

I used to worry about being fat while applying to medical school. A couple years back I was weighing in at a massive 340 pounds while being only a measly 5 feet tall. Today though, I have grown to over 7 feet tall and can now enter the gauntlet of the application process with my chin up and much more self esteem and confidence.

 

[SitraAchra]

One cannot be both narcissistic and conceited.

Narcissism is characterized by a pervasive pattern of grandiosity (fantasy or behavior), need for admiration, and lack of empathy--all of which serve as a defense mechanism for very poor self-esteem (see DSM IV-TR for full criteria for Axis 2 personality disorders and traits).

Conceit, on the other hand, implies a greatly inflated self-image with accompanying high self-esteem, with accompanying behavior.

To use these words together to describe a person is oxymoronic.

just an FYI...

there's a word in spanish for someone like you: "sabelotodo"

it means know-it-all.

edit: **** you probably knew that!

 

[Assembler]

I highly doubt that any interviewer would even suggest that an applicant is overweight (directly to his/her face). Obviously, first impressions count though, and you can damn well be sure they might think something of it in their own heads. However, when that starts to interfere with the admissions process, it crosses the line from personal into business - and also brings up the possibility of discrimination.

With all this said though, if you are looking to be a physician, you do want to set a good example for your patients. I know of some (older) people who are overweight, and their physicians still say they are in excellent shape (according to HDL/LDL/etc. levels). Yet, what about the people who smoke though? There is no way in hell anything is going to make up for that. And believe me, it's easy to catch a smoker's breath.

Anyhow, if it ever becomes a concern, you can always tell the interviewer that you want to be a good role-model for your patients, and thus you are already on a daily regimen of good nutrition + exercise.

Truthfully, I don't think a few extra pounds here and there will hurt anyone.

Half of the physicians I know right now are somewhat overweight as well...

 

[MS3NavyFS2B]

actually, they're synonyms

Once (actually if) you get into medical school, you'll realize that the lay meanings of words are infrequently the same as the medical definitions.

(and I doubt Webster went to med school)

 

[MS3NavyFS2B]

there's a word in spanish for someone like you: "sabelotodo"

it means know-it-all.

edit: **** you probably knew that!

don't hate! I'll be an MD in a year...then I'll really know it all, right?

In medicine (and in life), the more knowledge, the better. You better get some sense of sabelotodo about yourself if you plan on a career in medicine, to be sure.

But, I'm sure you already knew that.

 

[DieselPetrolGrl]

I'm shocked you know your class mates given your history of class attendence.

LOL I thought you were Dick Chaney!
?give ur history..attendance !? awesome! 👍

 

[MS3NavyFS2B]

Truthfully, I don't think a few extra pounds here and there will hurt anyone.

Are you kidding? A few extras here and there? Obesity severely hurts people--yes, from a medical standpoint, but also from a social, political, and economic standpoint.

On what basis are you making this outrageous comment? Is it just your "feeling"? This type of reasoning will get one nowhere in medicine (other than in the courtroom).

 

[DieselPetrolGrl]

"a few extra" would mean a slight overweight (few is defined as 3-5)!!
so ha ur not a cukaracha or whatever ...um um sobertodo!
obesity popo!

 

[UseUrHeadFred]

The problem with this study is that there are two variables. Weight and attractiveness. Sexual attraction is related to weight, but facial symmetry is probably a better measure of social attractiveness than weight. There needs to be a study where skinny people with busted faces go on interviews.

The three-sentence summary I provided is a gross simplification of the actual study.

 

[neuropower]

Sexual attraction is related to weight, but facial symmetry is probably a better measure of social attractiveness than weight.

I'm always amused by this theory of facial symmetry. Katie Holmes' face looks to me like one side of it got smushed, but everyone seems think she's pretty cute...

 

[Megalofyia]

"a few extra" would mean a slight overweight (few is defined as 3-5)!!
so ha ur not a cukaracha or whatever ...um um sobertodo!
obesity popo!

As an expert in overweightness a few extra pounds is a bit more than 3 - 5. More like 10. You would never notice if someone weighted 120 vs 123. but there is a difference between 120 and 130.

 

[acl3623]

mmm..interesting thread....its funny how someone mentioned that here in the states being seen as slightly overweight is seen as normal, whereas abroad people with even a few pounds have problems. whenever i go home and see my doctor in guatemala, he always says something about my weight. (whether its normal, a little high, asks what im eating in college...) and ive found that to be the case with most doctors down there. i dont see why a doctor wouldnt talk about it with a patient. it is a health risk, isnt it?
and sad but true, people will judge you on the way you look.

 

[Assembler]

Are you kidding? A few extras here and there? Obesity severely hurts people--yes, from a medical standpoint, but also from a social, political, and economic standpoint.

On what basis are you making this outrageous comment? Is it just your "feeling"? This type of reasoning will get one nowhere in medicine (other than in the courtroom).

People have different body structures. It's very easy for some people to "hide it" well. I wasn't referring to a specific number in my statement, but rather the idea that as long as your body is proportionately oriented (ie. you are nowhere close to being "morbidly obese" or have excessive deposits of fat in specific places - ie. the stomach), then you should not be too worried about your impressions at an interviewer. It's better to come in prepared than it is to come in with low self-confidence, anxiety, and tension (of which no one else knows about except you).

lol. You sound so upset over my statement. Don't let it get to you. Just one guy's opinion.

 

[SOUNDMAN]

So...the rhetorical question: "can you do the job?" I don't know. Can a quarter-ton man stand for 6 hours during surgery (without needing a break or tossing a PE)? No excuses.

I think this is the key. I've stood in surgery for long periods like this and have had no problems. Of course when you are talking 1/4 ton, is that 500 lbs or 250 lbs. I think if a man is in the 250 lb range - 300 lb range this "may" effect your admission. I think over 300 lbs you are hurting your chances even more. I think it's wrong, but I think people really look down on those people who are over 300lbs, when many are overweight as well and should not cast that first stone.

 

[NubianPrincess]

As an expert in overweightness a few extra pounds is a bit more than 3 - 5. More like 10. You would never notice if someone weighted 120 vs 123. but there is a difference between 120 and 130.

Not if your interview suit is well made 😉 😀

 

[45408]

Once (actually if) you get into medical school, you'll realize that the lay meanings of words are infrequently the same as the medical definitions.

(and I doubt Webster went to med school)

God forbid I use the connotation in place of the denotation. Build a bridge and get over yourself.

 

[MS3NavyFS2B]

God forbid I use the connotation in place of the denotation. Build a bridge and get over yourself.

Why build a bridge myself? I have people like you to build it for me! (All I have to do is order it.) hahahhahahah

 

[45408]

Why build a bridge myself? I have people like you to build it for me! (All I have to do is order it.) hahahhahahah

If you're not actually a troll, you do a great impression of one.

 

[adamj61]

I have to say I even look at really chunky students and applicants negatively. Maybe it wasn't just weight, but overall appearance....I should be used to this being from WI. I also remind myself they could have a disease or condition that has beefed them up.

Also, you guys throw around numbers like they mean something. You should be talking about body fat percentage...not weight. I am 6 ft and I weigh 215...but lifting weights all of the time will push that number up. Sorry I am obsessed with that....but wrestling for 10 years will do that to you

 

[CaptainJack02]

by the same token, how about candidates who smoke? I was floored by the number of smokers when I took the MCAT. what if an interviewer smelled smoke on you? would that effect his/her impression?

my interviewer did notice smoke on me and we wound up talking about cigarettes(he was a HEAVY smoker) for like 30 minutes. pick up the habit, kids, it'll help ya get in later

in all seriousness, we talked about how(i recently picked up pipe and this guy is a pipe/cigar afficiando ), when, what we smoke, etc and he talked about how he started to quit and how hard it was,etc. didn't say anything judgmental or try to force me to stop or anything. i seriously lucked out with that dude.

 

[adamj61]

my interviewer did notice smoke on me and we wound up talking about cigarettes(he was a HEAVY smoker) for like 30 minutes. pick up the habit, kids, it'll help ya get in later

in all seriousness, we talked about how(i recently picked up pipe and this guy is a pipe/cigar afficiando ), when, what we smoke, etc and he talked about how he started to quit and how hard it was,etc. didn't say anything judgmental or try to force me to stop or anything. i seriously lucked out with that dude.

That is awesome. I love to smoke cigars and roll my own ciggs when I go out...I know that smokers are always tight with eachother. What did you think when he first asked you about the smoke...I would have been like oh **** me I may as well leave.

 

[dancinjenn]

I have to say I even look at really chunky students and applicants negatively. Maybe it wasn't just weight, but overall appearance....I should be used to this being from WI. I also remind myself they could have a disease or condition that has beefed them up.

Also, you guys throw around numbers like they mean something. You should be talking about body fat percentage...not weight. I am 6 ft and I weigh 215...but lifting weights all of the time will push that number up. Sorry I am obsessed with that....but wrestling for 10 years will do that to you

I agree with this. In our class we do have some overweight students, and yes a couple of students I would consider very obese. I happen to fall in the overweight category. I wore very good clothing that was the correct size and tailored well to my interviews. I know that I look overweight, yet overall proportional. I also happen to have thyroid cancer, a condition which has helped cause me to gain 30 lbs since the beginning of my symptoms. However I happen to be the exception to the rule, my guess is that most overweight applicants do not have a legit medical condition, but I don't think that you can hold that against a truly brilliant mind.

 

[SitraAchra]

Why build a bridge myself? I have people like you to build it for me! (All I have to do is order it.) hahahhahahah

seriously. you're a 3rd year med student? I know highschoolers less dorky than you - and by less dorky, i mean more mature. just be glad none of your classmates know who you are on here and continue hiding in anonymity

 

[rambo]

Just trying to provoke a little conversation. Do you think overweight applicants, not morbidly obese, but definitely overweight applicants are at a disadvantage when they interview? Do you think adcoms look down on them? Just some food for thought.

I think personally it could be a hinderance, and some people might imediately have a beginning of a negative impression of those that are overweight. I think i t could hurt you but, I guess the importance is to have your personality shine through right? Not your gut.

I thought that was funny.

*puts on flame ******ent suit*

 

[iamgoaloriented]

Also, you guys throw around numbers like they mean something. You should be talking about body fat percentage...not weight. I am 6 ft and I weigh 215...but lifting weights all of the time will push that number up. Sorry I am obsessed with that....but wrestling for 10 years will do that to you

At least nobody has been talking about bmi's. You know that you are technically overweight, and if you keep pumping iron and eating right, you might very well one day become obese (like many bodybuilders - Ronnie Coleman is probably morbidly obese technically). I also think that many people who have nomral bmi's are actually overfat because they have very little muscle.

 

[Megalofyia]

Not if your interview suit is well made 😉 😀

I've always pictured you looking very similar to Bushbaby.

 

[NubianPrincess]

I've always pictured you looking very similar to Bushbaby.

Probably in complexion, maybe hair only. 😉

 

[MS3NavyFS2B]

seriously. you're a 3rd year med student? I know highschoolers less dorky than you - and by less dorky, i mean more mature. just be glad none of your classmates know who you are on here and continue hiding in anonymity

outch (for the moment)...[feels better knowing that I'll have my MD in a year]

Once you reach the 3rd and 4th year of med school, everyone is doing their own thing all over the country. I'm not sure they would care.