Is it ok to give a heavier person at work diet advice?

A girl I work with needs to lose about 50 pounds. I'm not being mean, it's just how it is. Every day I see her drinking regular cola, and eating the full-calorie versions of foods that she could enjoy just as much for much fewer calories. Is there any tactful way to tell her about this?Is it ok to give a heavier person at work diet advice?
I like jhredmon's answer here best %26amp; think this is good advice.





Wow, some of the other answers here are pretty rude %26amp; uncalled for imo. Your Q is a valid one and it indicates that you ARE a sensitive and considerate person that you're here seeking input from others about whether broaching the subject with her *would* be okay.





I think it's cool that you are concerned about her -- being 50 lbs over weight IS unhealthy, unattractive, and lowers self-esteem. While there may indeed be too much rude unsolicited advice %26amp; questioning in society right now, where people have lost their a manners, there is also a disturing national increase in obesity and way too much encouragement I'm seeing that being moderately overweight is just fine and overweight individuals should just be more accepting of themselves as overweight.





And far too many people in society now just ';mind their own business'; in all kinds of situations where they could really help -- even in more dangerous circumstances like domestic violence.





Many, many very overweight persons do NOT know how to eat healthfully and be slender. And they may be in denial, trying not to think about their weight %26amp; avoid dealing with it, or feeling seriously overwhelmed and alone at needing to lose a substantial amount of weight. That can be daunting and feel just impossible.





So I totally agree with getting to know her, being her friend, taking her to lunch with you, and inviting her to do an after lunch walk with you. I also agree that you shouldn't broach the subject at this time. What I do think you should do if you want to help is model healthful eating, an active (exercise including) lifestyle, positive self-esteem based on reality (whatever strengths a person has; yours include a healthier weight while hers do not, but she certainly has other strengths). Be a role model and a friend.





So go out to lunch with her some place really healthy, have a healthy balanced low cal lunch, offer to share your healthy snacks at work (%26amp; insist that she must try, as they're so good!) -- like hummus %26amp; baby carrots, cottage cheese %26amp; fruit, a small handful of nuts(model portion control of healthy fats), green or white tea sweetened w/stevia, etc. It's also okay to talk up your healthy life choices, meals, exercise activities. You may really be helping her!





I've always been on the slender side of the spectrum, mainly from growing up eating healthfully %26amp; continuing into adulthood, and totally get where you're coming from. Two of my really good friends were struggling with becoming more %26amp; more overweight and they knew it but just didn't know how to deal with it, so avoided the whole thing. It still really affected their self-esteem along with health, and the problem just kept growing bigger since it was being avoided. I wanted them to be happier, more confident, and healthier longterm.





The truth is, I think they would have lost a lot of weight right away if they had done nothing more than eliminate their 3 worst daily habits -- 1)lots of fat %26amp; calories laden meals %26amp; in between meal ';snacks'; at Taco Bell Drive-thru, 2)giant thirstbuster soda drinks, and 3)processed high fat foods from packages from Sam's Club for every meal (rather than cooking themselves with natural whole healthy foods, fruits %26amp; veggies, whole grains, lean proteins, fats like extra virgin olive oil, etc). That alone would have been an awesome doable first step %26amp; would have really helped.





Good luck!Is it ok to give a heavier person at work diet advice?
The problem with this is do you really have the knowledge to give proper advice.


The odds are that you don't. The reality is that many people dispense diet advice and most of the time it's only slightly correct or totally wrong.





Here's the problem. I'm a 'heavy' person. You tell me something to help lose weight. It wasn't good advice and it causes me a health issue. I take you to court because it was your advice. I win.


You may think it's far fetched but it isn't. It really does happen.


The reality is that if you give health advice without training and it goes wrong you're effectively liable.





On the other side. The odds are that she already knows she has a problem and what she's doing wrong.


Only she can decide what to do and seek advice.


It's just not your place, not your responsibility.





Would you like it if someone started giving you unsolicited diet advice?


If she asks then that's a different matter.
I'm overweight so I think I can answer this. From my perspective if you are not real chummy with her you need to wait for her to bring it up. If you really want to help her befriend her. Maybe ask her if she wants to eat lunch with you and go for a walk after you eat together. Once you become friends you can talk more candidly with her. Otherwise I would just think it is rude.
No, she knows, and doesn't need you to tell her. If she asks for your advice, by all means, you can help out. But if she is not asking, keep your mouth shut. What if she decided that she didn't like the way you wear your hair and just came up to you telling you how you should change it? Wouldn't you be offended?
aslong as your not mean about it . just tell that cola isnt good for you im14 and weigh 170 but i carry it well id like to loose 20 lbs i barely drink soda its bad tell her that stuff can clean a car engine and you shouldnt put that in your body !!!!
No,. it is not your business and very unprofessional to even bring to her attention...





the only way out is if you worked for a GYM and you were a physical trainer. other than that mind your own business and get over hers...





sorry.. not trying to sound rude if it reads that way.
Absolutely not!! I'm a little overweight and would be totally offended by that. It's none of your business. If she asks you, that's different. But DO NOT just come out and give her advice that she didn't ask for.
no, it's not ok. until she comes to you and asks your input stay out of it. if you don't you'll more than likely end up being perceived as ';that skinny little ***** that thinks she knows what's best';
no! it is none of your business telling her what to do. It is her life and you shouldn't be worrying about it. No matter what YOU say it will probbaly make it worse.


just stya out of it....trust me!
Only if it is sollicited. Think about how you'd take unsollciited advice.. it comes off as judgemental in my opinion.
Ask her if she wants to go to lunch or go to the gym after work one day or something. if she starts hanging out with you, just set a good example by how you eat.
How about the next time you guys order food advice something in a smaller portion.
It is definitely NOT OK...Her eating habits and weight are none of your business.





Sounds like your boss isn't keeping you busy enough...
Honor your friend by minding your own business. Unless she asks ofcourse.
What the hell is to do with you? She may be happy with her life. Stop being a diet fascist!
no. It is NOT ok.
Tell her summers here, and it's time 2 lose about 50lbs....lol
Believe me, she *knows* that she's overweight. She also knows that what she's eating is contributing to that fact. Having someone she barely knows tell her this will only make you come across as rude and pushy.





However, if you were her friend, it would be different.





And there are not-so-rude ways of doing this. For example, once you know her a bit, and have had several casual conversations with her, you could talk about your own current attempt to diet (even if you weren't dieting at the moment.) For example, while eating a donut, you could say, jokingly, ';I'm supposed to be on a diet!'; Thus giving her an opening to talk about her own struggles in a light manner, after which you could share your own struggles, and perhaps, in that conversation or a future one, move on to deeper subjects. You can even drop in helpful hints, but again, not in a preaching way. Instead, you could say, ';And yeah, I used to drink full sugar sodas, but when I switched to Diet Coke I lost ten pounds!';





You'd keep your diet ';tips'; coached in actually talking about yourself and your past experiences, and thus be able to bring them up organically, without overtly telling her what to do. In this way, you wouldn't be preaching at her, and you wouldn't be some rude near-stranger telling her what they think is best.