Surgeon General Regina Benjamin: 'I Struggle With My Weight' (VIDEO)

President Obama's surgeon general spoke frankly with ABC News Monday, saying that she struggles with her own weight.

"I'm just like 67 percent of Americans. I struggle with my weight just like they do," Regina Benjamin said on "Good Morning America." She hopes to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro this year.

The doctor also responded to critics who said she was too heavy when she was nominated.

"I'm a woman. Just like everyone else, I want to be attractive. You don't want to see those negative things -- people calling you names. So it was very hurtful," Benjamin said.

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Comments

[faith]

08:18 PM on 01/12/2010

Sorry, but choosing someone for this position who demonstrates inability to control her personal health (weight) sets a terrible precedent for our younger generations especially. Wrong choice. Bring back Dr. Koop. He had the courage to stand up and say things that appalled the White House (remember his encouragement for using condoms - humorous, but a very smart, practical thing). Yep, Dr. Koop understood public health care and basic, pragmatic care options. Dr. Benjamin is poor choice. But, then, it appears President Obama has a penchant for making poor choices. We have Geithner, Summers,......

[fouchnickens]

10:15 PM on 01/12/2010

Koop was overweight, by the way...

[RusStyles]

12:35 AM on 01/13/2010

I've got to agree....I wouldn't go to a doctor who was clearly unfit...

[esgabel]

12:46 AM on 01/13/2010

In what way--mentally, morally, physically???

[Bartel5]

06:45 PM on 01/12/2010

She's a porker all right. Quite the role model.

[LovelyGirl]

05:23 PM on 01/12/2010

I used to be arrogant about size until I gained weight. This is a very serious medical issue. There's more to it than pushing back from the table an exercising. It's much more wholistic. You have to get sleep, manage stress along with managing caloric intake and exercise. I have no problems with the New Surgeon General. She's qualified and perhaps in good health in every other way other than her weight. She's not condoning being overweight and maybe since she struggles like the rest of us, she can model the way.

[Zipzop]

05:39 PM on 01/12/2010

Like Oprah. Everyone knows how she struggles with her weight and does her part to educate others, as well as herself about health. People relate to her about health and weight issues.

[krystalxlyte]

03:29 PM on 01/12/2010

Well i think you are just fine and just right for the job Dr. Benjamin. Obama must have known that CURVIER WOMEN ARE SMARTER.

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/health-science/science-proves-curvy-women-are-smarter/story-e6frg8gf-1111114854264

[amyhasopinions]

03:20 PM on 01/12/2010

Being fat in America is so multilayered; it's far too simplistic to just say: put down the fork and exercise. I mean, technically, yes--put down the fork and exercise. But there's a definite science to weight loss--what goes into your mouth daily vs. calories burned vs. your body's natural metabolic caloric burn rate....I'd need 10 pages just to explain it all, and I'm not even an expert at it.

In addition, bless your heart if you're poor. You simply don't have the same kind of access to the fresh, unprocessed foods that will keep your body healthy and running efficiently. Sometimes even the education to know which foods are good for you.

And on top of all of that? Food has replaced smoking in our society, and food processors are the new tobacco companies of the new millenium. They're quite diabolical, if you ever read about how they work the system (and the society).

[Aesthete]

04:57 PM on 01/12/2010

...and it really annoys me the way the food industry keeps increasing the carbs and sugar content of food. I have been forced to substitute light sour cream in all my recipes that call for plain yogurt, which now contains 15-17 grams of sugar. I can't find real "plain" yogurt anywhere. Even in a lot of "health" foods, the sugar content has gradually crept upward.

[Zipzop]

05:36 PM on 01/12/2010

What makes me mad is that the lite version of Yoplait yogurt contains high fructose corn syrup. That stuff is hardly something a dieter or anyone should eat!

[RusStyles]

12:32 AM on 01/13/2010

Yes GI of foods is a factor. Frequency of meals and portion size are factors. Protein intake...DNA..--all factors..Having said that, If you exercise enough to burn more calories than you consume, it's a rare situation when one wouldn't lose excess weight. We are a lazy, high-tech addicted lard a$$es. Less than 10% of the populace engages in regular, vigorous exercise. We drive everywhere. Most jobs are sit-on-your-quistas-all-day jobs. Of course two thirds of Americans are fat, chubby or a lil bit fluffy.

[hulagirrrl]

03:02 PM on 01/12/2010

She is right, it is not the weight, it is the overall health of a person, but... She is representing the United States Navy, and wearing that uniform. Any other female or male for that matter would be given the boot for being overweight, regardless of past accomplishments.
Although it is known that stress adds to weight gain, long deployments on ships, really not the healthiest foods always available, these people serving on ships, being out at sea for months at a time patrolling oil platforms in the middle east, these people are not allowed to be big and still considered fit for duty. I am not talking morbid obese, I am talking about people who would look like she does.

This is a slap in the face to all of the people who are pressured to maintain a certain weight by military standards. I do not agree with this, and it bothers me to see her wearing that uniform in that size.

[kgb999]

03:37 PM on 01/12/2010

That's absurd. The military gives overweight service members token PT and let it go at that. You don't get out of Iraq by packing on a few pounds.

[Aerows]

05:09 PM on 01/12/2010

Obviously you don't serve in the US Navy or know anyone that does. Military standards have been relaxed over the years with regard to weight, otherwise we wouldn't have a good third of our military serving.

If you have a valid criticism, that's one thing. The criticism you are offering amounts to "you don't have an ideal body so you shouldn't wear the uniform and serve our nation".

The woman is 52 years old. You should hope that you are in good enough shape to be the Surgeon General and wear a uniform at her age.

[jane8877]

02:18 PM on 01/12/2010

One of the big problems is our food supply. Only in America is our food supply so poisoned and void of nutrition all for the sake of the profits of big business. Only in America can you eat fresh produce and white meat chicken and end up with a plate filled with a lab experiment of chemicals, hormones and antibiotics. On top of that it's nearly void of nutrients. You might as well eat plastic. Only in America are we not allowed to know if our food has been genetically engineered. It's not allowed to say so on the label the way it is in other countries. Our dairy and meat cows spend their lives sick and dying. Only in America is HFCS allowed in almost every product on the market.

What does Obama do? As soon as he's elected he picks one of the heads of Monsanto, Vilsack, one of the leading "poisoners" of the world's food supply to head the USDA.

Well, he and Michelle and their kids get to eat nice healthy safe organic foods and I'm sure grass fed/pastured meat, poultry and wild fish. Too bad for the rest of us, especially the poor, that can only afford to eat unhealthy even when we try to eat the right foods.

[Mike949]

02:57 PM on 01/12/2010

Honestly i don't want to start an argument but your note gives the impression that people who are overweight are victims and not responsible for their situation.

If we don't take responsibility for our own failures we can never believe we can better ourselves through our own efforts.

[jackbutler5555]

03:11 PM on 01/12/2010

Do you feel confident enough in your declaration that you believe it applies to everyone who is obese?

[hulagirrrl]

03:10 PM on 01/12/2010

Some of your points are valid. To begrudge the first family to have the opportunity to eat healthy is maybe not so cool. They ate healthy before moving to Washington, and should be commended to constantly bring the subject up, to enlighten people. Yes, there are areas in this country where people have little or no access to healthy food, and we can all do something about that. Overall though, it is about choices, and the choices are made by the consumer. Lately more and more products are on shelves that are promoted because they do not contain High Fructose Corn Syrup, it is because many consumers are making better choices, then they will deliver. The next time you are out shopping and see a mother with small children look what is in her shopping cart, and observe who tells her what to buy. The kids do, they watch TV and the commercials bombard them, you'll even find detergent commercials on children channels, ever wonder why?
We as consumers also have the power to tell manufacturers that we want genetically altered foods identified, we are just not exerting that power.
The Europeans did, and protested and that is why American Corn is banned as well as American Beef.
Speaking of beef, the US is the only country that does not have Mad Cow disease??? Yeah right.

[kissmygrits]

02:16 PM on 01/12/2010

There are so many freaks commenting on this post, I don't even know who to begin replying to. My eye doctor wears glasses. Yes, she probably shouldn't spend so much time in front of a computer, hurting her eyes. But I go to her because she knows how to diagnose & treat MY issues. The Surgeon General makes policy about treatment - she isn't a physical specimen role model. Bizarre how uneducated people are ...

[Mike949]

02:50 PM on 01/12/2010

I'm just curious....would you feel the same way if the person smoked cigarettes?

People with weak eyes, like myself, cannot correct their vision and did nothing to lead to the deficiency.

[kgb999]

03:49 PM on 01/12/2010

No more than people can change their metabolism. Weight is a poor proxy for an honest assessment of health.

[Mike949]

02:10 PM on 01/12/2010

It is one thing to struggle with a personal issue and it is another to not overcome that issue. The message apparently is that it is OK to fail at overcoming issues we face?

I and I am sure many others have issues we struggle with. Overcoming a challenge is what makes a person a role model. To struggle with an issue and fail to conquer it does not mean someone is a "bad" person but at the same time it does make that person someone to look up to.

Personally, I admire people that succeed not people that fail. If I want to admire someone who fails, I'll look in a mirror.

[BMcCue7]

01:42 PM on 01/12/2010

It makes me sad when I hear a woman who is a little overweight say that she feels unattractive.

I don't think Dr. Benjamin is unattractive at all. I wish she didn't feel that way.

[sweetwhine]

01:23 PM on 01/12/2010

Girlfriend, welome to the club.

[AsaOne]

01:32 PM on 01/12/2010

At last, a real human being not some judgemental barbie that's out of touch with reality. Many of us struggle with our weight for a variety of reasons. That does not make us unqualified to think.

[sweetwhine]

08:05 PM on 01/12/2010

AsaOne I hear ya! Most of these offensive post are usually people who are young and wrong. Let them experience life a little bit...they'll change their tune.

[pjaybazaar]

01:16 PM on 01/12/2010

Personally, I find the surgeon general's comments on weight are an "excuse" for not doing the "smart" thing. One of the last surgeon generals also had a big problem with weight and I saw him on a documentary on it. Why do we put people in charge of things (like economics, health, etc), who are not role models in their industry. We got Goldman Sachs Mafioso running the economy and an unhealthy overweight person running health, boy we are real winners here in America. I can speak on both matters as an EXPERT. Having closed my mortgage company in 2001, because I saw what was coming. Having lost 90 pounds and kept it off for over 19 years...again I CAN SPEAK HERE (218 to 128). I can also see the impending obesity epidemic - diabetes II out of control and trying to pass on the costs to me, NOT A CHANCE. All these FAT CONSERVATIVES (just look at congress) - talking saying they have a right to speak and pass on their ignorance. Americans just plain stupid and killing themselves by thinking they are so entitled...a little like this surgeon general. Good luck with that...hope all like paying for their ignorant fat neighbors and government.

[Adriana231]

10:27 AM on 01/12/2010

For all Americans who struggle with weight issues--how are we supposed to respect someone who preaches at us but never actually battled the problem? This is a person 67% of Americans can relate to. If she tells me I need to do something, even when it is extremely difficult (on top of all the other difficult things in my life) I am going to believe her more than someone who preaches at me but has never walked in my shoes.

Dr. Benjamin is a brilliant, accomplished doctor. As hard as it would be on her, I would love to see her take a public lead on tackling this problem. Not just policy-wise but personally, too. And invite us to join her and teach us how to make it livable. It would sure beat Jenny Craig and any million other diet programs that do not work.

It appears that some have never considered that it may be best if we can all attempt to walk this road together. And perhaps Dr. Benjamin should be the person out front helping us do it.

[LeighAnnes]

10:31 AM on 01/12/2010

And only 5% of the people who have tried to lose weight (without surgery) have succeeded in keeping it off for 5 years or more. How can those 5% understand or help the 95%? They tend to be the least tolerant or helpful with the attitude "if I could do it, why can't you?" It doesn't solve the problem.

[krystalxlyte]

02:49 PM on 01/12/2010

did any of you STOP and THINK that maybe WE ALL were not meant to be stick figures like people in other countries/ethnicities ect. on the TEE VEE Do ANY of you STOP to THINK that we SHOULDNT compare ourselves to other people based on what we see but not about what we KNOW. Yeah sure it has a lot to do with what we eat but for all we KNOW this woman could have GENES that allow her to retain such weight. CONSIDER HER BONE STRUCTURE, FAMILY HISTORY CONSIDER MORE rather than just her APPEARANCE AND OP ED STATEMENTS...look beyond the exterior and quit inducing the basest and least common denominator s and judgments about a person especially concerning OTHER PEOPLES situation just because of only what you see. People can be healthy and have a little extra here and there its all about how you as an INDIVIDUAL process and store fat..its not like the woman is morbidly obese for gods sake..how do we even KNOW this woman has not TRIED to lose weight and is going through the process thereof? America is fuqing dumb.

[ezgoingal]

09:42 AM on 01/12/2010

Well, let's see if she develops an agenda that she walks the walk and talks the talk. Why not start a stronger initiative for a healthier weight and lead by example? Personalize it and take us on her journey of doing same. She looks like she is at least 50 lbs overweight and I can't believe that is healthier regardless if she just feels good.

[LeighAnnes]

09:48 AM on 01/12/2010

Why didn't people demand that Koop do that?

[ezgoingal]

10:01 AM on 01/12/2010

From what I recall, he wasn't overweight when he took the job. I could be wrong.

[carester]

09:15 AM on 01/12/2010

I'm sorry folks but I have a problem with people preaching something that they cannot live up to, in matters of morality or health.

[LeighAnnes]

09:21 AM on 01/12/2010

So much ignorance and judgment. Young?

[carester]

09:23 AM on 01/12/2010

It's called REALITY!!!!!!

[Altruth]

09:24 AM on 01/12/2010

Who is preaching, just trying to make something out of nothing? This woman is Brilliant and has done a lot of good work - Oh, you would rather a beauty queen who went to five colleges to complete a two-year degree. That’s right, ignore the substance and embrace the superficial!