I think companies should approve the new Lap Band procedure so patients can lose weight and not have to spend all those billions of dollars in medical cost for obesity. I’ve read that the Lap Band has reversed diabeted is some cases. Much less expensive this way.
to raise insurance costs onthose people whose genetics have left them unfortunately inclined toward gaining weight. I hope people remember this when they go to the polls in a couple of weeks. The Redumblicans will make the working class pay for voting them out in 2008 – I just know they will.
I don’t disagree that the lap band may be helpful for some. But it isn’t always effective long-term, and it doesn’t address the emotional and psycholgical reasons people get fat, or the lack of education about nutrition. I think a good place to start would be revamping education about nutrition and exercise.
Genetics my A $ $. Eat a salad and do some exercise. I hate the genetics excuse unless they do have a medical condition of some overactive gland or something.
This is such a cop-out. Can you direct us to any study that indicates that some people (who are otherwise not suffering from a metabolic or genetic disorder) are genetically pre-disposed to gain weight to the point that it affects their health, irrespective of other factors like over-eating and lack of physical activity? Gaining weight is simple math: you take in more calories than you burn.
Only the obese who suffer from a medical problem beyond their control should receive benefits. The weak willed, un-disciplined, lazy slobs with no self-control who make no effort to control their weight should pay for their own treatment. If they don’t care about their own health and well being, why should anyone else. People need to be held accountable and responsible for their own decisions in life.
Stop eating restaurant sized portions, if the meat on your plate is bigger than your palm, it’s too big. Also, your salad can’t be covered in bacon, croutons & ranch. It doesn’t count. Stop drinking carbonated beverages & go for the water. Take a jog or a bike ride 3-4 times a week. It’s not easy…but it’s not that hard either.
100,00 hits on google? That’s your proof that people are genetically pre-disposed to being fat? Hmm. Will the president force carriers to cover Stupid too? I’m sure that contributes to your health problems.
Stop picking on the obese without knowing their specific issue. Genetics DO Play a part with some people. Others DO have food issues. Metabalism has a HUGE part in a persons weight issues too!
I just read an article this week about the genetics/obesity link. Guess what folks, there IS one…and multiple genes are involved…so don’t be so quick to condemn.
You can look at a lot of this reserach in any medical journal, and some of the not for profits that work on anti-aging as well as anti-obesity research.
This is not to say that personal choice as well as societal factors (those restaurant portions) and consumer habits (we are programmed to be fatty/salty carnivores and that is what our groceries provide so much of)but it isn’t all that simple as “eat a salad.”
I agree with the nutritional education. I just don’t think it’s very effective people start taking it serious only after they develop diabetes or other disease that are even more costly and now you have a nutrition councelor and diabetes medication that insurance companies need to pay out more $$. Lap Band procedure seems to be safe, reversable and you will be forced to cut down on your food intake. Just my thoughts…
just like tobacco…………
Tax the heck out of chips, cookies,candy, donuts and soda pop. I mean like $10 a bag!! Plow the tax revenue back into the agri business to lower/supplement the costs on healthy produce. It would also help the farmers and supporting industries.
There are a lot of people in the U.S. that are just plain stupid when it comes to eating. See it all the time in the check out line at the market. There’s a lot of high calorie, high sugar, high fat, high sodium crap that gets sold as………. food?
Just look around—our US population IS FAT
There were no fat people in the Nazi camps in WWII. The bottom line is, if you stop eating, you WILL lose weight. The rest of it is just a cop out. Even people with “genetic” conditions will lose weight if they actually COUNT the calories.
Seems that sense race, gender, ethnic origin, religion, have all been put off the bias list, we are left just to punch the living heck out of fat people. Bipartisanship lives on. Remember, the progressive movement pushed eugenics as a way to solve social issues. From what I see here, the revival of that vile idea is well and getting traction. My take, quit looking at everyone around you as a cost factor that you must demand be controlled. Cannabalism is also a way for some people to loose weight-any volunteers!
Also, don’t fat people live shorter lives, wow-a real plus on the SS side. Whatever happened to live and let live.
The most recent study I’ve read indicates that these multiple genes contribute to a difference of less than 5 pounds in the test subjects. I don’t think the tendency to hold a few extra pounds results in obesity. Obesity is caused by eating too much and exercising too little. Eating too much and exercising too little are caused by a lot of things: emotional and psychological problems like depression and sadness, social pressures, a lack of understanding about healthy diet and healthy weight. It’s both simple and complicated!
My how we have become my brother’s peeper rather than respecting people’s right to do what they wish as long as it doesn’t physically harm another.
Let’s not fall into the trap of cost calculating every human activity or lifestyle based soley on a nebulous belief that it costs me dollars and cents. If we go down that road then we seperate into pet peeve groups who righteously demand their neighbors yield to their diktats.
Gray hair indicates heart conditions-let’s tax them or dye their hair
Poor dental hygiene-could spell a future of medical costs-let’s tax them.
People with large hands, could be Marpfan’s syndrome-could cost me money, let’s tax em.
I think we’re getting off the subject here. The article was about the increase in medical cost for obese people. It’s here and we need to do something about it. Eating heathier is the best option yes but honey it ain’t working! Putting the band on some of these stomachs will do the work. They will lose weight have more energy to start excercising and teach their children portion control. I have two friends that had the procedure done they have turned their lives around plus they look great one of them is taking less medication now for their diabetes less money the insurance company has to pay out, see where I’m coming from? When I go out to lunch with them it makes me want to order something small because they are, but they have to only so much fits in that tightened stomach.
Like most things, it comes down to “who will pay?”. Are we, as a society, able to absorb the costs of treating conditions that are neither accidental or the result of a medical condition? I am not for socialism nor am I supportive of assuming responsibility for someone else’s bad decisions. That’s what life’s all about: making decisions for yourself. You F it up, you clean it up.
I think we are on point, the article mentions the cost as 17% of medical costs and nothing about the increasing cost. It also mentioned the “cost to society” and that got the ball rolling on how to control people. For those obese people with insurance, the market can help control the costs by making it more expensive but the real question revolves aroud those that the government pays for and what can be done. The gist of the response all point to controlling the person and not the cost, so it starts to become a political question. My point is that I object strongly to the government controlling personal choice “behaviors” for the sake of saving money. Maybe my attempts at prescience seemed off track, but they really aren’t.
Tom….you’re free to do whatever you please…..so long as you don’t expect me to pay for it. It’s just a money issue. ALWAYS FOLLOW THE MONEY. It’s distasteful to have to share the cost for some behemoth who doesn’t care enough to do anything about his/her situation. Nobody’s contributing to my single malt scotch dependancy nor do I expect them to. Anyone who let’s themself go so far that medical treatments are required for an otherwise preventable condition should foot the bill.
that quote could be applied to a lot of things…and it is one well worth remembering as we all seem to be in a point your finger and derogatorily label anything or anyone you don’t like or approve of…
Shall I dare to mention the hormones in beef that are to boost weight gain? Or the growth hormones in milk (thankfully being abated now), or the phthalates disrupting endocrine systems, or the pesticides that cause neural disruption…well, i could go on. Nothing is as simple as the marathon runners and salad eaters want to make it out to be.
As a non drinker, why do I have to pay for your alcohol rehab or the chronic conditions caused by such inbibing? Or for those that are promiscuous, why do I have to pay for your STD treatments? Or for those children born when parents knew they had possibilities of genetic disease before pregnancy (CF, Sickle cell, Tay Sachs, Huntington’s Chorea, etc., etc., etc) why should I be forced to poay for your life choices? Why should my premiums pay for infertility treatment?
According to the Director of National Center for Injury Prevention and Control with the CDC – injuries are the leading cause of death for Americans aged 1 to 44 years with an estimated $406 billion… Of that total, injuries among children ages 0-14 account for $51 billion.
So based on all the wisdom in these comments – cut out all high school sports, I don’t have children, so why should I have to bear the cost of injuries to someone else’s kid.
Recreational boating injuries is estimated at $3.6 billion a year. Tax the crap out of boat owners – I don’t want to pay for them either!
So all you weekend warriors that eat less and exercise more… you cost us billions in sports related injuries. So shut up and sit down!
In the non-nanny state of NH, Rep. Bob Clegg sponsored (and passed) state legislation requiring insurance companies to cover bariatric surgery for qualified people. At 378 lbs he could not lose weight. When he dieted & exercised his metabolism slowed to a rate where his body responded as though it was starving; a natural response. He paid $20,000 out of pocket for the surgery and dropped 150 pounds. Now he no longer takes medication for High Blood Pressure nor Diabetes. Ultimately, his out of pocket expense saved his INSURANCE COMPANY money as the long term medications were discontinued. The company would pay for the meds for his lifetime but not for surgery to stop the cost of prescriptions. Go figure!
I have been working in the trenches as a 25+ wellness professional. The cost to our health care system of obesity ARE great, but the researchers methods of cost estimating make no sense and are at best questionable and at worst –flat out worthless. ..”Cawley and Meyerhoefer tried to overcome that (causation)problem by also looking at the weight of study subjects’ relatives to determine if obesity ran in the family. If so, they labeled the medical costs of a fat person in that family to be caused by obesity. Huh?? This demonstrates cause by any stretch of the term?
We as a nation should be focusing our attention more on the erroneous public policy and wellness narrative of low-fat, high fiber and instead look at the research that demonstrates how the standard American diet, where 70% of calories come from: gluten grains, industrial seed oils and fructose (i.e. all sweeteners and even excess fruit consumption)are the principal behavioral roots of obesity with the secondary factors being inactivity, lack of strength training and the aging population and genetic differences. See the documentary Fathead for a humorous look at this or tackle Gary Taubes book, Good Calories, Bad Calories.
If genetics is the main reason 67% of the population are overweight or obese, why were only 5% overweight in the 1960’s? Genes don’t mutate that quickly. Yes, people may have a genetic predisposition towards obesity, but it’s lifestyle that makes it their destiny.
I think companies should approve the new Lap Band procedure so patients can lose weight and not have to spend all those billions of dollars in medical cost for obesity. I’ve read that the Lap Band has reversed diabeted is some cases. Much less expensive this way.
We need to cut the fat out of these costs!
to raise insurance costs onthose people whose genetics have left them unfortunately inclined toward gaining weight. I hope people remember this when they go to the polls in a couple of weeks. The Redumblicans will make the working class pay for voting them out in 2008 – I just know they will.
I don’t disagree that the lap band may be helpful for some. But it isn’t always effective long-term, and it doesn’t address the emotional and psycholgical reasons people get fat, or the lack of education about nutrition. I think a good place to start would be revamping education about nutrition and exercise.
Genetics my A $ $. Eat a salad and do some exercise. I hate the genetics excuse unless they do have a medical condition of some overactive gland or something.
This is such a cop-out. Can you direct us to any study that indicates that some people (who are otherwise not suffering from a metabolic or genetic disorder) are genetically pre-disposed to gain weight to the point that it affects their health, irrespective of other factors like over-eating and lack of physical activity? Gaining weight is simple math: you take in more calories than you burn.
Only the obese who suffer from a medical problem beyond their control should receive benefits. The weak willed, un-disciplined, lazy slobs with no self-control who make no effort to control their weight should pay for their own treatment. If they don’t care about their own health and well being, why should anyone else. People need to be held accountable and responsible for their own decisions in life.
You say you hate the “genetic ” excuse, and then admit that genetics is a factor. Another hypocritical post.
What does the president have to do with the scope of coverage under a health insurance policy?
Stop eating restaurant sized portions, if the meat on your plate is bigger than your palm, it’s too big. Also, your salad can’t be covered in bacon, croutons & ranch. It doesn’t count. Stop drinking carbonated beverages & go for the water. Take a jog or a bike ride 3-4 times a week. It’s not easy…but it’s not that hard either.
Quit stuffing the pie hole!
This is just moronic. It’s as out-dated and punitive as depriving alcholics and drug addicts of treatment because they’re weak-willed.
If you Google it, you will get over 100,000 hits!
100,00 hits on google? That’s your proof that people are genetically pre-disposed to being fat? Hmm. Will the president force carriers to cover Stupid too? I’m sure that contributes to your health problems.
Stop picking on the obese without knowing their specific issue. Genetics DO Play a part with some people. Others DO have food issues. Metabalism has a HUGE part in a persons weight issues too!
I just read an article this week about the genetics/obesity link. Guess what folks, there IS one…and multiple genes are involved…so don’t be so quick to condemn.
You can look at a lot of this reserach in any medical journal, and some of the not for profits that work on anti-aging as well as anti-obesity research.
This is not to say that personal choice as well as societal factors (those restaurant portions) and consumer habits (we are programmed to be fatty/salty carnivores and that is what our groceries provide so much of)but it isn’t all that simple as “eat a salad.”
Wow, I am glad that I recently reached my goal in weight loss. Now what will I do about this 2 pack a day smoking habit? Hmm……..
I agree with the nutritional education. I just don’t think it’s very effective people start taking it serious only after they develop diabetes or other disease that are even more costly and now you have a nutrition councelor and diabetes medication that insurance companies need to pay out more $$. Lap Band procedure seems to be safe, reversable and you will be forced to cut down on your food intake. Just my thoughts…
just like tobacco…………
Tax the heck out of chips, cookies,candy, donuts and soda pop. I mean like $10 a bag!! Plow the tax revenue back into the agri business to lower/supplement the costs on healthy produce. It would also help the farmers and supporting industries.
There are a lot of people in the U.S. that are just plain stupid when it comes to eating. See it all the time in the check out line at the market. There’s a lot of high calorie, high sugar, high fat, high sodium crap that gets sold as………. food?
Just look around—our US population IS FAT
Rosie – You need to get a life!
There were no fat people in the Nazi camps in WWII. The bottom line is, if you stop eating, you WILL lose weight. The rest of it is just a cop out. Even people with “genetic” conditions will lose weight if they actually COUNT the calories.
Seems that sense race, gender, ethnic origin, religion, have all been put off the bias list, we are left just to punch the living heck out of fat people. Bipartisanship lives on. Remember, the progressive movement pushed eugenics as a way to solve social issues. From what I see here, the revival of that vile idea is well and getting traction. My take, quit looking at everyone around you as a cost factor that you must demand be controlled. Cannabalism is also a way for some people to loose weight-any volunteers!
Also, don’t fat people live shorter lives, wow-a real plus on the SS side. Whatever happened to live and let live.
The most recent study I’ve read indicates that these multiple genes contribute to a difference of less than 5 pounds in the test subjects. I don’t think the tendency to hold a few extra pounds results in obesity. Obesity is caused by eating too much and exercising too little. Eating too much and exercising too little are caused by a lot of things: emotional and psychological problems like depression and sadness, social pressures, a lack of understanding about healthy diet and healthy weight. It’s both simple and complicated!
My how we have become my brother’s peeper rather than respecting people’s right to do what they wish as long as it doesn’t physically harm another.
Let’s not fall into the trap of cost calculating every human activity or lifestyle based soley on a nebulous belief that it costs me dollars and cents. If we go down that road then we seperate into pet peeve groups who righteously demand their neighbors yield to their diktats.
Gray hair indicates heart conditions-let’s tax them or dye their hair
Poor dental hygiene-could spell a future of medical costs-let’s tax them.
People with large hands, could be Marpfan’s syndrome-could cost me money, let’s tax em.
Coffee drinker, caffeine issue, let’s tak em.
I think we’re getting off the subject here. The article was about the increase in medical cost for obese people. It’s here and we need to do something about it. Eating heathier is the best option yes but honey it ain’t working! Putting the band on some of these stomachs will do the work. They will lose weight have more energy to start excercising and teach their children portion control. I have two friends that had the procedure done they have turned their lives around plus they look great one of them is taking less medication now for their diabetes less money the insurance company has to pay out, see where I’m coming from? When I go out to lunch with them it makes me want to order something small because they are, but they have to only so much fits in that tightened stomach.
All this arguing is stressing me out. . . I think I’ll have a twinkie.
Like most things, it comes down to “who will pay?”. Are we, as a society, able to absorb the costs of treating conditions that are neither accidental or the result of a medical condition? I am not for socialism nor am I supportive of assuming responsibility for someone else’s bad decisions. That’s what life’s all about: making decisions for yourself. You F it up, you clean it up.
I think we are on point, the article mentions the cost as 17% of medical costs and nothing about the increasing cost. It also mentioned the “cost to society” and that got the ball rolling on how to control people. For those obese people with insurance, the market can help control the costs by making it more expensive but the real question revolves aroud those that the government pays for and what can be done. The gist of the response all point to controlling the person and not the cost, so it starts to become a political question. My point is that I object strongly to the government controlling personal choice “behaviors” for the sake of saving money. Maybe my attempts at prescience seemed off track, but they really aren’t.
Tom….you’re free to do whatever you please…..so long as you don’t expect me to pay for it. It’s just a money issue. ALWAYS FOLLOW THE MONEY. It’s distasteful to have to share the cost for some behemoth who doesn’t care enough to do anything about his/her situation. Nobody’s contributing to my single malt scotch dependancy nor do I expect them to. Anyone who let’s themself go so far that medical treatments are required for an otherwise preventable condition should foot the bill.
History’s lessons sometimes go overlooked. This time the admonition about the rise of Nazi power. Here is the
statement, you be the judge.
“They came first for the Communists,
and I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a Communist.
Then they came for the trade unionists,
and I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a trade unionist.
Then they came for the Jews,
and I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a Jew.
Then they came for me
and by that time no one was left to speak up.”
I am trying to break that historical trend.
Tom
that quote could be applied to a lot of things…and it is one well worth remembering as we all seem to be in a point your finger and derogatorily label anything or anyone you don’t like or approve of…
Shall I dare to mention the hormones in beef that are to boost weight gain? Or the growth hormones in milk (thankfully being abated now), or the phthalates disrupting endocrine systems, or the pesticides that cause neural disruption…well, i could go on. Nothing is as simple as the marathon runners and salad eaters want to make it out to be.
As a non drinker, why do I have to pay for your alcohol rehab or the chronic conditions caused by such inbibing? Or for those that are promiscuous, why do I have to pay for your STD treatments? Or for those children born when parents knew they had possibilities of genetic disease before pregnancy (CF, Sickle cell, Tay Sachs, Huntington’s Chorea, etc., etc., etc) why should I be forced to poay for your life choices? Why should my premiums pay for infertility treatment?
According to the Director of National Center for Injury Prevention and Control with the CDC – injuries are the leading cause of death for Americans aged 1 to 44 years with an estimated $406 billion… Of that total, injuries among children ages 0-14 account for $51 billion.
So based on all the wisdom in these comments – cut out all high school sports, I don’t have children, so why should I have to bear the cost of injuries to someone else’s kid.
Recreational boating injuries is estimated at $3.6 billion a year. Tax the crap out of boat owners – I don’t want to pay for them either!
So all you weekend warriors that eat less and exercise more… you cost us billions in sports related injuries. So shut up and sit down!
In the non-nanny state of NH, Rep. Bob Clegg sponsored (and passed) state legislation requiring insurance companies to cover bariatric surgery for qualified people. At 378 lbs he could not lose weight. When he dieted & exercised his metabolism slowed to a rate where his body responded as though it was starving; a natural response. He paid $20,000 out of pocket for the surgery and dropped 150 pounds. Now he no longer takes medication for High Blood Pressure nor Diabetes. Ultimately, his out of pocket expense saved his INSURANCE COMPANY money as the long term medications were discontinued. The company would pay for the meds for his lifetime but not for surgery to stop the cost of prescriptions. Go figure!
I have been working in the trenches as a 25+ wellness professional. The cost to our health care system of obesity ARE great, but the researchers methods of cost estimating make no sense and are at best questionable and at worst –flat out worthless. ..”Cawley and Meyerhoefer tried to overcome that (causation)problem by also looking at the weight of study subjects’ relatives to determine if obesity ran in the family. If so, they labeled the medical costs of a fat person in that family to be caused by obesity. Huh?? This demonstrates cause by any stretch of the term?
We as a nation should be focusing our attention more on the erroneous public policy and wellness narrative of low-fat, high fiber and instead look at the research that demonstrates how the standard American diet, where 70% of calories come from: gluten grains, industrial seed oils and fructose (i.e. all sweeteners and even excess fruit consumption)are the principal behavioral roots of obesity with the secondary factors being inactivity, lack of strength training and the aging population and genetic differences. See the documentary Fathead for a humorous look at this or tackle Gary Taubes book, Good Calories, Bad Calories.
Thank You, Nan
If genetics is the main reason 67% of the population are overweight or obese, why were only 5% overweight in the 1960’s? Genes don’t mutate that quickly. Yes, people may have a genetic predisposition towards obesity, but it’s lifestyle that makes it their destiny.