Dear Anne – Patients Make the Staff Fat!

It's a bit late to ask this – it's a holiday question – but it would be nice to know for next year. One of our coworkers is seriously overweight. She tries to diet, brings in vegetables for lunch, but around the holidays, patients keep bringing in gifts of candy and cakes. The temptation is just too much. I don't want to ask the patients not to leave their treats, because they wouldn't really understand, and anyway, how do you say "no" to chocolate? What can we do to help our friend without seeming to insult our patients?

Sincerely,

Bittersweet

Well, we arranged to publish your query on Valentine's Day, so while it is a bit late for the holidays you're talking about, it's still appropriate!

This seems to be a surprisingly common problem these days, and there's no perfect answer. Of course, it all depends what sort of patients you have. If all patients give you are chocolates and truffles and chocolate cake with ganache and fresh berries and Viennese pastry and … where was I? Oh yes – then you may have a real problem, and there may be no solution but to tell your coworker to keep her hands off. She'll hate you, but she'll know you're right.

But, if at least some of your patients bring healthful treats, like fruit baskets, then you might be able to arrange some sharing with other units near you. When you get the caramels and bonbons, you share them with other units, when you get the pears, apples, and oranges, you share them on your own unit. That way, your coworker doesn't get left out, but does get mostly low-calorie goodies.

You might stop by the medical library and read Nutrition & Health 17(1):65-9, 2003, "The effects of chocolates given by patients on the well-being of nurses and their support staff." A sizeable percentage of nurses (25%) felt that a healthier snack would be more appropriate than sweets, and about 33% felt that regular candy consumption was having a detrimental effect on their well-being. But, patients don't read this stuff, so the candy will keep coming.