As Obesity Rises, Health Care Indignities Multiply

The New York Times ^ | November 29, 2003 | RICHARD PÉREZ-PEÑA and GRANT GLICKSON

[pageonetoo]

"I just cried," said Mr. Rosenthal, 51, the treasurer of District Council 37, the New York City employees' union. "


Too much champagne and caviar, steak and potatoes, courtesy of your LOCAL UNION DUES!

What a pig... I just can't feel sorry for these folks. I love to eat, but have some scales in my bathroom! I learned to back away from the table, when the scales shouted at me!

[angkor]

her diabetes had raged out of control, sleep apnea had so ruined her nights that she spent her days in a haze, and a buildup of lymphatic fluid in her lower legs

This is a very sad example of someone obviously committing suicide through overeating.

You have to wonder what demons are causing her to do this to herself, and why she won't make the requisite changes in her life to address the "root causes", which clearly go beyond mere dieting.

In fact all the people in this story are committing suicide and need psychological guidance. Their obesity is a symptom.

[raybbr]

Amen to that! My wife has back problems from moving around these patients. She tells me of the same problems all the time. Then the patients cry when they realize it takes four male orderlies to turn them.

Why our society can't see the health risks, not to mention the abnormal strain obesity is and will pose to our national health is beyond me.

[Adder]

I take no "glee" in these folks misfortunes as I take none in anyone elses. I suspect that those who "look towards the refrigerator" need other ways to channel that craving. Its not like this is a new phenomena or that these folk "don't know". Whats next: that obeisity is a "disease"? Thats bs.
To make excuses and cluck over how sad it is only enables them, as it does other "victims". There has been mounds of information concerning good nutrition on tv, obviously their choice of entertainment and information.
However, I refuse to feel sorry for them and I refuse to support the coming grab for money that articles like this pressage.
Do I care about their "humiliation" when they are so grossly overweight that they can barely move? Did they get that way overnight? Were they born that way? Was the solution simply to get off their a$$es and move?
There is a fat woman who lives in public housing suing, I think in Boston, because her apartment is not designed to accomodate her girth. No, she can't diet to fit her surroundings, everyone must go out of their way to make things ok for her. Thats just plain sorry.
Its a load of crap I'm not buying into.

[raybbr]

They already make them:

Although this picture doesn't tell the whole story.

[RJCogburn]

from the NYTimes:

[RepubMommy]

I'm a hospital RN and can tell you that the gastric bypass surgery has quickly become a booming business. What annoys me the most about this is the insurance may cover a considerable cost of the surgery, while I my vision is HORRENDOUS, but Lasik surgery is considered cosmetic.

[RepubMommy]

This is an understatement. Too bad the story doesn't discuss injuries incurred by health care workers while assisting these people with basic body functions. Finding rotted flesh and other assorted treasures under the massive skin folds is a painful task.

I couldn't agree more. I'm an RN too and can't say what I really feel when one of these 300 pounders asks me to "give them a boost" up in bed. I'm 5'2 and 108 lbs soaking wet. Also too young to have a lifelong back injury. All the proper body mechanics in the world is not going to be able to save your back with these heavy weights. Too early in the morning to comment on my experiences with rotted flesh, lol.

[Gorzaloon]

making everyone else pay in higher health premiums and higher taxes for those who get the government to pay for their health care.

Years ago I was mass-flamed on an old style BBS system for pointing out that one class of people indulge in a dusgusting habit, wreck their health, raise insurance premiums and healthcare costs for everyone else, etc..

It was an antismoking forum and at the end, I let it be known I was referring to Hugely fat people. The tantrums and shrieking had to be seen to be believed.

It's similar, and the arguments can be extended to other things like drug addiction or chasing AIDS in bathhouses.

The problem then becomes Anti-Fat Mcdonalds's suites, etc.

[ladyrustic]

Amen to that, Duke. I am always astounded by some freeper's lack of compassion for their fellow man. They refuse to feel compassion for anyone who brought their misery on themself either entirely, or in part.

I remember a few of these threads... in one a Mexican woman died of thirst in the desert trying to reach the states.

Apparently, according to several posters, she got just exactly what she deserved.

In another, some woman with terminal cancer, a disabled husband, and four kids took to panhandling to supplement their food income. She and her husband were ravaged by freepers-- a typical post read something like,

"I refuse to feel sorry for that woman and her husband, they should have socked money away for a rainy day such as this when they had a chance. And if they were truly hungry, as they claim they are (but I have my doubts), then she wouldn't have bought that can of coffee with her other groceries. She would have spent all the money on REAL food, not luxuries like coffee. Something just doesn't pass the smell test here..."

I understand personal responsibility, but I also know that Christ showed us a mercy and grace that not one of us deserves. We need to try to do the same for our fellow man.

[biggerten]

I'm a 44 year old 400+ pounder.

I've got a family, I make $55K a year as an engineer designing electronics for military use (previous 18 years designing medical devices).

My wife and I pay more than enough in income taxes each year. We pay property taxes in two states, as my wife and I have a lake home. I work on my own cars, do my own plumbing, electrical, carpentry. I do my own yard work, except this time of year, like yesterday when I spent an hour behind the snow blower. I give to charities. I have family and great friends who love me.

Yes, I put up with stares from young children (kids are great, and they don't know any better). I also put up with stares and rude comments from adults who despite their years still don't know better.

I don't go to tax-payer (meaning ME) funded venues to see baseball, football, hockey or basketball games because the seats don't accomodate me. I don't file lawsuits to make them accomodate me, either.

I also perform the very public service of allowing those people of ill will who wish to feel so much better about themselves because they are obviously so much better than I, because my faults are visible to the naked eye. I do it graciously and without asking for thanks or accolades.

Maybe someday one of the medical devices I worked on will save or improve your life. Maybe someday a serviceman will be helped by one of the devices I currently work on (which I'd love to tell people about, but I can't, not even my WWII vet Dad).

I'm a decent, hardworking human being. Life is good, despite my size.

I'd say a lot more, but I gotta get back to my breakfast.

[Wolfie]

What kind of country do we live in, that eating yourself to 450 pounds comes with consequences?

[angkor]

They buy a handful of items at the local store a few times a week,

As they do in Asia.

Market stands are everywhere, you can fall out of your front door into one of several cafes, fruits and vegetables are in abundance, and "stocking up" means for the next day or two.

The whole concept of cooking and eating is different. It's a leisurely social activity from start to finish, whereas here in America its a combination of frenetic hoarding and privacy.

Yes, we are the most productive society in the world, but this is the price we pay.

[RaceBannon]

Thats because they would rather dish out $200 for glasses twice a year instead of $20,000

[Capriole]

Then, sir, maybe you can tell us something we clearly do not understand: why do you and other severely overweight people do this to yourselves? You don't sound like a miserable person who has to eat to find any satisfactions or consolations in life, so what is it? For those who keep their weight down, it's very hard to comprehend.

[ladyjane]

A squatty person that is not overweight (just bulky - think Samoans and some Mexicans) is now considered obese with their one-size-fits-all guidelines

Oh come on. Obesity - like pornography - you know it when you see it!

[FITZ]

I'm a decent, hardworking human being. Life is good, despite my size.

Big people who work hard for a living don't bother me --- and I'd bet that you eat well --- get the right nutrition and maybe aren't that unhealthy plus you're buying your own food ---- but when we see the extremely obese people waddling through the store with their fat children with their shopping carts filled with soft drinks, cookies, candies and use food stamps we have a right to be disgusted.

A lot of the problem would be solved by limiting food stamps to real foods ----- no more cakes and candies and ice creams for those who won't work.

[lady lawyer]

We used to be able to make judgments based on behavior without being called "bigots."

[rolling_stone]

Yes, I put up with stares from young children (kids are great, and they don't know any better). I also put up with stares and rude comments from adults who despite their years still don't know better.

What don't these people know better?

Do you know better than to shorten your life drastically? With all your friends a wife and good job, I would think one might want to me around a long time to enjoy those things....