“Texas hospital bans obese workers?”

Taken from: http://www.hlntv.com/article/2012/04/09/texas-hospital-fat-people-bmi-need-not-apply?hpt=hp_t2

April 9, 2012

A Texas hospital that incorporates in its hiring policy an applicant’s body mass index — a formula that assesses one’s health based on their weight and height — hurts patient care, critics say.

Citizens Medical Center, located in Victoria, requires its employees “fit with a representational image or specific mental projection of the job of a healthcare professional,” including having an appearance “free from distraction” for patients, according to the Texas Tribune newspaper.

Potential employees must have a BMI of less than 35 (185 lbs for someone who is 5-1; or 265 lbs for someone who is 6-1), according to the newspaper.

But is this legal? In Texas and most states, yes. “The policy is not against Texas law,” Daniel S. Hamermesh, an economics professor at the University of Texas at Austin and the author of “Beauty Pays: Why Attractive People Are More Successful,” told HLN. “But I wouldn’t be surprised to see a lawsuit challenging the policy under the federal Americans with Disability Act.”

Critics say the weight requirement not only discriminates against perfectly able and highly skilled workers who may be a bit on the chunky side, but it also exposes the scant legal protection afforded to obese workers.

A call to Citizens Medical Center CEO David Brown by HLN was not returned, but in an interview with the Tribune, Brown defended the hospital’s policy as one that caters to its patients. “The majority of our patients are over 65, and they have expectations that cannot be ignored in terms of personal appearance,” he said. “We have the ability as an employer to characterize our process and to have a policy that says what’s best for our business and for our patients.”

Peggy Howell, spokeswoman for the National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance, told HLN that the requirement raised a number of questions that expose the hospital as discriminatory. “This new policy is a clear example of weight bias and fat hatred. How will their fat patients be treated if they are requiring their employees to meet a BMI requirement?”

An awry BMI may not be obviously apparent from appearances, Hamermesh said. He cautioned that the rule, enacted about a year ago, will curtail the hospital’s ability to hire skilled workers. “The policy will exclude some workers who do not appear morbidly obese; as such, it will prevent the hospital from hiring some desirable workers and will limit its ability to attract acceptable employees.”

Howell said the policy raised some provocative questions regarding workplace atmosphere and employee retention. “Does this policy affect those that currently work there? What about promotional opportunities for those who wouldn’t have met the new BMI cut-off? How will they be perceived? What type of work environment are they creating? This type of practice will create a very unhealthy work environment with employees fearing for their jobs if they gain a little weight (eating disorders, stress, food policing, bullying, etc.) And won’t this then give those employees the opportunity to sue because of the hostile work environment?”

Brown told the newspaper that the hospital tries to work with potential employees that are overweight. “We have some people who are applicants and they know the requirements, and we try and help them get there but they’re not interested,” he said. “So that’s fine, they can go work somewhere else.”

“Disney’s Habit Heroes Accused of “fat-shaming”"

Taken from: http://shine.yahoo.com/healthy-living/disneys-habit-heroes-accused-fat-shaming-232300194.html

March 1, 2012

Meet Snacker: Disney’s newest fairy at the center of a major controversy.

The zaftig Snacker, along with a bean-bag shaped mob figure named “Glutton” and a ball-bellied couch potato named “Lead Bottom” make of a few of the cartoon villains in Epcot Center’s educational exhibit Habit Heroes.

The theme park’s interactive experience and corresponding website were created in collaboration with Blue Cross and Blue Shield, to teach kids healthy eating habits. But after a soft launch three weeks ago, critics have accused the exhibit of “fat-shaming,” and Disney has responded by closing the exhibit as the company mulls a relaunch. And the website is down for maintenance.

“It’s so dumbfounding it’s unreal,” Dr. Yoni Freedhoff, an assistant professor of family medicine, told the Calgary Herald. “I just can’t believe somebody out there thought it was a good idea to pick up where the school bullies left off and shame kids on their vacation.”

In question are the over-exaggerated body types of the villains and their association with being bad. Visitors entering to the three interactive rooms are first introduced to their heroes: The fit, muscular Will Power and Callie Stenics. They’re also confronted with the overweight caricatures, each one a product of unhealthy habits. Snacker loves processed foods, and visitors use arcade guns to shoot vegetables at the cream puffs and hotdogs that surround her like an aura.

The intention is to inspire kids to live healthier, but the message, says Salon’s Mary Elizabeth Williams, is that “fat people are bad.”

Disney princesses have come under fire before for sending negative messages to young girls about their own waistlines. A recent study found young girls who viewed several Disney movies were more likely to identify a virtuous, aspirational “princess” as someone who’s thin. Consider the Little Mermaid, a movie where the slender main character spends most of her time in a bikini, while villain Ursula fills the screen with her voluptuous tentacled body.

Much has changed since the early days of Ariel. We’re now living in a country with a 17 percent childhood obesity rate. At the same time, school bullying cases and teen suicides have called attention to the need for sensitivity.

While combating obesity through education is crucial and certainly commendable, it’s not as simple as a few cartoons and some tips on diet and exercise. Genetics, finance and family support play key roles in managing kids’ weight in a healthy way. So does self-esteem.

A recent Atlanta PSA featuring overweight kids as cautionary tales, became a prime example of how not to teach kids about weight issues. Shame and fear are harmful tactics when it comes to tackling childhood obesity, because weight isn’t the only issue on the table.

Disney’s Habit Heroes may be learning that lesson. The exhibit has already been shuttered and the website is down for maintenance.  ”The attraction is currently closed as we work to further refine the experience,” Kathleen Prihoda, Disney’s media relations manager told Shine on Wednesday. “Our goal with Habit Heroes is to make sure it conveys a positive message about healthy lifestyles in a fun way.”  Now they’re looking to fix the fail and relaunch an improved exhibit. Prihoda added that the exhibit had never officially opened. “It was in soft open period, which allows us to get guest feedback, prior to the official opening.”

Disney’s rep couldn’t offer any details on when Habit Heroes would re-launch or what it might look like when it does.

One problem with the exhibit that’s harder to fix is its location. Disneyworld has it’s share of restaurant options, but it’s still a theme park. Funnel cakes and hot dogs are just what you do while you wait on line for Space Mountain. “You want to promote good heath? Start by looking at your own sugar and animal fat-laden menus,” writes Salon’s Williams. It’s hard to practice healthy eating in the happiest place on earth.