Despite the fact that so many Americans are overweight, it still seems that the obese are a disliked group in the U.S. Just turn on the t.v. and you’ll see some skinny woman who is being diagnosed by Dr. Phil as having an “aversion to fat people.” People love to criticize the overweight and how they are costing everyone money, and how they are an eye-sore, but it is difficult to lose weight. And there are probably very few overweight people out there who don’t look in the mirror everyday and feel bad enough without the rest of the world telling them that they are slobs. On the other hand, I think Americans really need to get a grip and start caring about their health–it’s really no one else’s job to do that for you. Our automobile based society and suburbanization in addition to a lack of access to healthy foods has been a recipe for an obesity crisis.
But “should doctors lecture patients about their weight?” That was the title of a blog article written by health journalist Tara Parker Pope this morning. In her article, she talks to Dr. Rob Lambert, who has his own blog where he discusses patient stories and thinks about the above question. Dr. Rob says that his patients don’t need lecturing, because everyone else berates them enough. He writes, “Obese people are the new pariahs in our culture; it used to be smokers, but now it is the overweight.”
According to Dr. Lambert, “a culture of shame and accusation” is hurting the nation’s weight problem more than it is helping. His comments have led me to think about the potential disaster awaiting if we adopt Universal (socialized) Health Care in the U.S. If people simply treat the overweight unsympathetically now, what will it be like when our taxes pay for everyone’s health care?
I’ve already heard stories about Great Britain and how some want cancer patients who smoked to be denied treatment. This link goes to an article discussing the “NHS Health Miles Card” which would penalize people for poor health decisions and reward them for good ones to “encourage the well being of society.” Are you kidding me? Google NHS Health Miles Card for yourself and read up on this. Supposedly, the card would just give people points who quit smoking or lose weight so that they could use the points toward buying healthy food or joining a gym. Why should our government be offering penalties and incentives for people’s health decisions? It’s like people are dogs that need to be trained and taxed.
My worry: eventually this card could be tied to your debit card so that any time you made an “unhealthy” purchase, you would lose points. It’s not like we don’t have the technology to do this.
Refer back to my article on the Japanese government’s plan to rid their country of “fatties.”
I know obesity is a problem–an unfortunate and saddening one. But it seems that between “the culture of shame” and government policies, the obese are becoming outcasts. But what will happen if the vast majority are morbidly obese? There won’t be anyone left to point fingers. Let’s take control of our health and set personal goals that we know we can accomplish–let your own motivation to live a long, healthy life guide you; not what anyone else says.
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By: CM'Blog on July 9, 2008
at 11:44 am
Lol, the ‘cute fat kitty’ picture made the article!
By: Andrew Slominski on July 9, 2008
at 12:09 pm
Interesting topic that is generating some very interesting responses. I have been reading the comments on TPPs recent posts on obesity and cholesterol drugs for 8 yr old kids. Very emotional responses.
My blog post – http://healthhabits.wordpress.com/2008/07/08/youre-fat-its-your-fault/ – on the comments made by UK opposition leader David Cameron has resulted in some interesting comments as well
We have a real personal responsibility v.s. social conscience argument going on.
The the cute fat kitty as well
By: DR on July 9, 2008
at 1:31 pm
haha, I wanted to tone down the seriousness with a cute kitty pic.
By: Alicia O. on July 9, 2008
at 1:39 pm
Great post! I have dedicated my blog to discussing these types of things.
Is this really much different than requiring all drivers to wear seatbelts, or motorcyclists to wear helmets, or telling cigarette companies they can’t advertise to children, or making the legal drinking age 21, or banning trans-fats in some restaurants?
I think it’s just another example of our government stepping in with their attempt at having our best interests in mind. A concern for a society’s general well-being and need for improvement.
If an employer offered a bonus if you stopped smoking and joined a gym, I think a lot of people would do it, if not just seriously consider it. What’s wrong with that? Isn’t this a win-win situation? The employer’s health care costs will be down, and the employee’s health will be improved. The only reason for anyone to be upset about that deal is if an egotistical and sensitive employee complained that their employer was telling them how they should live their life. Of course, it’s all in how you look at things. If that employee takes that offer in a negative way, they will probably play the victim card in a lot of other areas of their life, which translates to not taking responsibility for ones own actions.
What do you think?
By: McBloggenstein on July 9, 2008
at 3:23 pm
“Is this really much different than requiring all drivers to wear seatbelts, or motorcyclists to wear helmets, or telling cigarette companies they can’t advertise to children, or making the legal drinking age 21, or banning trans-fats in some restaurants?”
I guess it’s not, in some ways it’s not much different…except I don’t believe that the government should necessarily need to intervene in some of those things (i.e. requiring drivers to wear seatbelts…if someone doesn’t wear a seatbelt, isn’t that his problem?) I guess I’m still trying to decide how much impact the gov’t should really have in our lives. I’m not against gov’t, I just don’t really think the gov’t can tell people what their weight should be, or mandate a certain weight. Their policies should legislate that certain harmful foods don’t make it out on the market (have you noticed how high fructose corn syrup is in EVERYTHING?).
I suppose in some ways, it’s just a little scary to think the government could start weighing and measuring us all–would they know where to draw the line? Or would it just turn into some Nazi-creating-the-ultimate-race thing? Isn’t it partly government policies that created the obesity problem (i.e. suburbanization). We also receive conflicting info on fats and carbs–the gov’t outlawed certain kinds of fat, then companies started using trans fats. Now they say no trans fats…so it’s just some other kind of fat.
I’m not totally against companies doing weight-loss challenges. As a matter of fact, my sister participated in one at work. But, I think companies actions are different from those of the federal or state gov’t.
We all have responsibilities to ourselves and families–one of those is to stay healthy. If the government actually cares about our health, that’s one thing. But to me, it just seems like they are worried about the U.S.’s rep for being a nation of fatties. It also seems like there is some clash with the American work ethic ideal (that you somehow must be thin to be productive…)
I don’t know, I’m out of ideas. But it’s fun to talk about. I appreciate the response!
By: Alicia O. on July 9, 2008
at 5:25 pm
I dont see why there shouldnt be some sort of “scale” (Excuse the word) in order to incentivise people accepting universal health care to live a healthier lifestyle if your X% body fat and such ….
Or maybe you work it the other way, people with better health get a tax credit? The better health your in, the larger of a credit you receive?
By: Nathan on July 9, 2008
at 5:59 pm
I agree, I’m also hesitant as to how much I feel comfortable with the government intervening in certain areas. I definately don’t think that they should tell us what our BMI’s should be, like in Japan, but incentives to provide some encouragement sound great to me.
Of course, what one person sees as encouragement, another person sees as “big brother” telling them what to do. You can’t please everyone.
Unfortunately, government policies have definately encouraged poor diet and sedentary behavior. I recommend reading this post. I also talk about high fructose corn syrup in a few of my posts.
I don’t think so much that they’re worried about being one of (no longer THE) fattest countries in the world. More like what you said about improving work productivity. I have read many studies that showed increased productivity when subjects exercised just a little bit each week. Better mental functioning, alertness, and multi-tasking. Also worth mentioning are studies that show children perform much better in school when they have a proper breakfast and a healthy lunch, void of sweet sodas and snack foods throughout the day. It’s sad, but poor parenting sometimes needs to be supplemented with governmental “suggestions”, or policies.
By: McBloggenstein on July 9, 2008
at 7:07 pm
Poverty and obesity are tightly linked in many areas. I don’t think we can start “punishing” folks for their “bad decisions” until the costs of a red pepper or a bag of organic salad is as cheap as a Big Mac and fries. Also, agreed we must find ways to rid the food supply of HFCS which is not meant to be consumed by the human body in the quantities it does. Like many problems we have to attack the multiple root causes, not the symptoms.
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at 11:49 pm
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By: joynice on July 10, 2008
at 12:19 am
PLUMP PLUMP! FAT PEOPLE RUNNING THE WORLD!
By: sean liebel on July 11, 2008
at 9:45 am
what kind of comment is that, Sean?
By: Andrew Slominski on July 11, 2008
at 11:53 am
[...] Want to read my original article: “The New Pariahs: Obese in the USA”? [...]
By: Recent Blog Activity–Fat Cat « rise up Rochester on July 17, 2008
at 2:57 pm
Poverty and obesity are tightly linked in many areas. I don’t think we can start “punishing” folks for their “bad decisions” until the costs of a red pepper or a bag of organic salad is as cheap as a Big Mac and fries. Also, agreed we must find ways to rid the food supply of HFCS which is not meant to be consumed by the human body in the quantities it does. Like many problems we have to attack the multiple root causes, not the symptoms.
What she said.
I am morbidly obese – partly because I lived on $20 for groceries a week for the first 25 years of my life, and partly for medical reasons (I was treated with steroids for a medical condition during my teenage years).
I make every effort to follow healthy guidelines, but I agree, in many areas healthy food isn’t always accessible or affordable. Thanks for reiterating that.
By: Spike on July 18, 2008
at 2:16 pm
thanks for the useful information.
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By: tigran777 on July 24, 2008
at 1:10 pm