Would you have confidence in a morbidly obese/super obese or even obese bariatric surgeon?

Just wondering. 

I had a obese heart doctor and he was great. Didn't put me to task about my wright but did say we both needed to lose some.

Similarly, I wonder if people would have a problem with an oncologist (cancer specialist) or pulmonologist (lung specialist) who smokes. Being a medical transcriptionist, I often wonder about these things when I'm working.

 I wouldn't get hung up on it.  It is one thing to understand intellectually what is healthy for you and quite another to implement it consistently. 

 AnneMarie I loved your post. Every time I read a superior, disdainful post from a so-called 'vet' I think to myself "why aren't they off enjoying their skinny selves instead of here lecturing people all the time?" 

I think this is a very interesting question. What it brought to my mind is the psychological transformation that I have seen some morbidly obese make in the 8 years I have been on the boards. At first they often appear desperate but kind and understanding, just really reaching out for support, information, help. When after surgery they are successful at losing their weight, one of two things happens--usually they disappear and enjoy a life they had not had prior with the excess weight or they become more involved, indoctrinating a whole new generation of assistance seeking surgical candidates. Unfortunately (and this is the tie in to the post)a good amount of people seem to forget what it felt like (though no one will admit to it, lol)and they become more judgemental, superior, and full of disdainc for a way they once also looked like and often still are. I have found myself asking myself about the qualifications of a professional based on physical appearance. It takes me a conscious effort to push that down and make decisions based on qualifications, not BMI. Weight related bias is one of very few acceptable prejudices still allowed in our society. It is so often more acceptable to be recovering drug addict than obese. It's something we have to guard against, even more vigilantly as our weight declines and the rejection of our old ways become more repulsed.

 Very good points indeed.

Very good points, Ann Marie. Thought provoking as well.

I have a cousin who is a psychiatrist. She has to see a psychiatrist as I found out that most if not all shrinks have to get shrunk themselves. Kind of a peer review I guess to make sure crazy people aren't treating their patients! And many docs smoke and dont practice what they preach. Only human I guess. Everyone is ready to make chages when they are ready...

Yeah, of course, com'mon.

Reminds of the book where an MD lost over half his body weight, My Big Fat Greek Diet.   I used to be an MO scientist, and now I'm a scrawy scientist.  Does it make a difference?  I want the surgeon with the best results and metrics - and if that surgeron is a fat ******* who won't have surgery himself because he can't find a surgeon as good, that's ok with me.  We all have our hang ups and issues, right?  And surgery is right for us when it's the right time.

Reminds me of the joke about going to a barbershop with two barbers.  One has an awesome haircut and the other barber has a ****ty haircut.  Which do you choose?  You pick the barber with the ****ty haircut because he received it from the barber with the good haircut - because he cut that good haircut!

Or something.

Think I'm a bit over my pain pills, sorry....