Posted on 06/23/2009 10:04:31 PM PDT by Chet 99
Fat can be disabling. A person 180 pounds over a healthy weight is susceptible to arthritis, has increased blood pressure, a weakened heart and could soon need a walker just to get around.
Under the Americans with Disabilities Act, such a person could legally be labeled as disabled.
But should obesity be considered a disability? On Tuesday the American Medical Association voted a resounding no at its annual meeting.
But in a country where nearly one in three people is obese but where laws do not always cover size discrimination, and many health insurance policies do not cover obesity treatments until a patient develops a more serious health condition -- not all who deal with obesity agree on the matter.
"We believe that we passed this for the patient's benefit," said Dr. Domenic Federico, an AMA delegate from Michigan. "We do not want to have this limit the ability to have doctors talk about a very serious condition."
Federico explained that doctors are worried they could be legally reprimanded for discussing obesity with a patient who doesn't want to hear it.
"If obesity is designated as a disability, physicians could be sued or reprimanded for discrimination under the Americans with Disability Act if a patient takes offense at the physician discussing obesity," the resolution states. "Therefore be it resolved that our American Medical Association not support the effort to make obesity a disability."
(Excerpt) Read more at abcnews.go.com ...
This will be a can of worms.
Anyone else notice the increase of negative health care related stories in the media during the past few days?
Well, there goes my plan to eat and eat eat and retire on disability.
Why should the fatties get all the good parking spaces?
It would make one calculate how many bags of cheetos they’d have to eat in order to get the best parking spots.
We could cut obesity in half in this country if they’d get rid of those damn Wallymobiles at Walmart and they make the lardasses get up and walk if they want to shop.
Like the bikini logo.
Ms. Klansman 2009.
Chloe Marshall (born 1991) is a British plus-size model from Cranleigh, Surrey in south-east England. She is the first size-16 (US size 12) model to pass into the finals for the Miss England tiara after winning over seven other girls for the Miss Surrey title in March 2008.
Marshall’s physical statistics make her an unusual contender for contests normally vied for by so-called ‘size-zero’ figures. In April 2008, she weighed 12 stone 8 pounds (176 pounds/80 kg), sports a 38DD bust on her curvaceous 38-32-42 figure, and stands five foot ten inches (1.778 m). This gives her a Body Mass Index of 26.03, 1 point over the normal range for a healthy adult of 18–25. This has attracted criticism for what some have called the promotion of obesity and an unhealthy diet.
Marshall told The Sun: “I wanted to go through to the Miss England finals to break the stereotype that you have to be tall and skinny to be considered beautiful.”
In 2008, she was signed by the Models Plus agency. Models Plus spokesman Stevie Walters has gone on record describing the teenager as “luscious.”
The national finals for the Miss England title were held on 18 July 2008. Chloe was selected as first runner-up.
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Personally, I think she’s hot, but then I’m 49, ugly and weigh almost twice what she does! LOL
I admit I haven't seen this, probably because I don't watch the liberal news channels, for one. That said, I'm not surprised in the least as the main stream media is blatantly, unashamedly anti-American.
I think she’s pretty, but I like curvy chicks.
Obesity is a disability that can be cured by Eating Less and Doing More.
Looks like her ankles are going already at 18.
I agree but people are disabled after heart attacks, and get all the bennies, even though they may have avoided exercise and eaten high fat diets.
A man with AIDS wasting gets the bennies, and he engaged in risky sex for years.
A man who liked to dirt bike without a helmet, now in a wheelchair, gets the bennies.
A woman who took dope for years and is now addled gets the bennies.
In short, many people who are really truly handicapped are handicapped because of terrible decisions they made.
Of course many are not, as well.
But what’s good for the goose is good for the gander. Why is overeating the only unhealthy habit that keeps a person from handicapped status?
they can’t be for really.
Help for some mental/emotional problems was obviously needed and should have been sought.
That these women would pose for a picture tells me they need professional help.
Don't get me wrong--obesity of others is really none of my business--but I don't believe it is in and of itself any kind of disability.
I agree that some people need psychological help. But I would think that the problem there is something mentally wrong that just manifests itself in obsessive, excessive eating. Mostly those people it seems, either seek that help or a loved one intervenes on their account, when they reach an emotional breaking point.
“The cure for obesity doesn’t cost a penny or require any medicine.”
Granted, but the cure for some of the side effects of obesity (wrecked joints, diabetes, etc) does require medicine.
Just like the cost of procedures for folks who have heart disease, cancers, immune problems, or psych issues due to their misbehavior. If they stop the behavior they may heal or not get worse, but there are still physical problems left over that need to be dealt with.
Did obesity cause the nuropothy?
So if obesity is officially branded a disability, doctors can be sued if a patient takes offense if the doctor discusses obesity. Wonderful. Soon nobody will want to be a doctor. Who in their right mind will feel that it’s “worth it?”
The hostility toward obese people in these kinds of threads is always fascinating. According to the Surgeon General, 2 out of every 3 Americans are obese. I don’t see any reason to believe that the posters here are exceptions. Therefore, many or most of the people calling others lard-asses, lazy, weak, etc. are themselves weak, lazy lard-asses. There’s obviously an obesity problem in the US, and the weird hatred for obese people exhibited by obese people probably isn’t helping.
Bingo! As I admitted in an earlier post, I am twice the size of the young Miss England runner-up, but I am mostly healthy, other than diabetes type 2, which millions have, fat and thin. Having lived in Iowa, Mississippi and now Texas in the last 10 years, I can tell you that obesity is EVERYWHERE and growing at a staggering rate. Back in the 1960’s, a 300+lb. person (male or female) would’ve been a rare curiosity, but I don’t recall ever seeing anyone even near that size until at least the 1980’s. Today, I go into ANY Wal-Mart and am surrounded by shoppers and employees who outweigh me, some by 50% or more (remember, I’m over 350) and the same at malls, restaurants, churches, etc..
As a child, I lived on my bicycle and couldn’t have gained excess weight had I wanted to. Kids today play Xbox, eat junk, lounge around and are driven everywhere for fear of pedophiles.
I agree that there is a lot of hostility but I think it’s because obese people use it as an excuse to gain sympathy and special treatment. Some people DO have legitimate weight issues related to their health, but for the most part I think Americans are just too damn lazy to take care of themselves, and I personally know a few of them. I love them to pieces and they’re always complaining about their weight, but always too “tired” to take a walk around the block for some fresh air and exercise. I get tired of their whining. If you don’t like it, DO something about it! If you don’t try to lose the weight, you have no right to complain about it or use it as an excuse for special treatment. For most people, obesity is a choice, not a disability.
You’re right and I’m sorry. I was talking about the very obese, but you are right. It is really none of my business, as I mentioned. Please accept my apologies. I need to step away from the keyboard. Good night—and again, I’m sorry and will be thinking about it all. I understand if you don’t accept—I need an attitude adjustment. Good night.
And as the parent of two children who have a real disease, type 1 diabetes, this sends me into orbit.
I do accept. No hard feelings.
I was crippled off and on for more than ten years and told by Army surgeons that the damage from the injuries would not be completely corrected by surgeries. ...opted not to do the surgeries. I discovered later on, after getting overweight, that the answer was proper, daily exercise. ...had to endure the pain for a couple of years, keep moving and never did go on disability (even after being told to do so). Now I can run pretty well at high altitude and sub-0 weather with only some occasional pain.
So yeah, those of you who can do so at all, get your fat rear ends outside, and start moving around every day. And remember, I’m not laughing at you. I’m laughing with you!
I am sorry, BCBD. I hope that it all gets better for you (the nuropothy.) My sweet 11 year old nephew is Type 1 Diabetes and it’s a hard row to hoe. Sorry. Nite.
Thank you, BCBD.
I do owe you an apology and thank you for what you say. I stay fit and active but have many other flaws. You are a bigger person than I (no pun intended.). Nite.
Where I wrote, “I discovered later on, after getting overweight, that the answer was proper, daily exercise, make that obese instead of overweight. I was obese and could hardly walk (injuries, arthritis,...). ...no more. It was a terrible way to live. I was dying. Now I do things that most people wouldn’t try to do at my age (high altitude running, swinging a pickax all day, stone masonry, snowboarding, etc.).
Good for you! I like you’re tenacity.
That’s the key....keep moving! Even if you hurt and you’re tired, just do the best you can do and keep at it. No one says it’s easy, but it does take commitment. No excuses!
Thank you!
Frankly, the ADA was another well-intention disaster. It has created a nation of disabled .. from ADD to obesity, to drug addiction; it makes the truly disabled/handicapped less well protected by diluting the seriousness of their disability.
The legislation should be re-written to categorize disabilities and/or eliminate several ailments that are not appropriately designated disabilities.
I was not aware until recently that a drug addict or practicing alcoholic is ‘disabled’ and entitled to SSI benefits, including monthly payments and medical care. Being able to get a ‘disability’ designation can be profitable on the taxpayers’ dimes.
Also should be noted that the hefty person is not very agile or fast and will have a more challenging dilemma if attacked by a pit bull.
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