CNN article - weight loss surgery funding cut

lizziebeth1028

Here is an interesting article that will definitely start a debate......read if you have the time, especially the commentaries at the end.

http://www.cnn.com/2011/11/02/health/obesity-surgery-cuts/index.html?hpt=hp_t2

Justjoshin

Much more so than a weight loss topic, this is a political topic.

I won't even voice my opinion.

MissFit0101

I could only read a few of the replies... it really pissed me off!

lindalee0315

I saw this earlier in the day. I didn't read the comments, though. What floored me is that Medicare pays for this. Heck, I have major medical insurance only. I pay for everything for myself, my husband and my toddler out of pocket until we reach $7500. I can't imagine complaining that something like this isn't paid for by private insurers, particularly when so many people simply go through this surgery (which is incredibly invasive) and revert back to the habits that got them there in the first place. I know about 8 people who have had bariatric surgery. All 8 are close to or at their pre-surgery rate.

ElizabethRoad

Especially the comments at the end? Yeah, this was one of my favorites:

yo yo... phat beats fo'my phat rhymes n' fat beets fo' fat times, whilez I kick phat tracks fo' knick'knacks an fat chicks kick cats' fo' big macs, I make phat stacks o'cash whilez fat peeps stack a fat'aass into a pants as big as mat'rass, then the fat rat wants da' gov'ment to cut da fat back whit my phat tax that gets taxed' to da max and cant out last the elastic on da waist band, stretched out by a fat hand wit'fat fat feet that can't stand... to all dat I says... Got'daaaaaam!.... Go buy my CD. Fo'real.

Seriously, don't you know better than to read the comments section?

BeautifulScarsWECHANGED

Especially the comments at the end? Yeah, this was one of my favorites:

yo yo... phat beats fo'my phat rhymes n' fat beets fo' fat times, whilez I kick phat tracks fo' knick'knacks an fat chicks kick cats' fo' big macs, I make phat stacks o'cash whilez fat peeps stack a fat'aass into a pants as big as mat'rass, then the fat rat wants da' gov'ment to cut da fat back whit my phat tax that gets taxed' to da max and cant out last the elastic on da waist band, stretched out by a fat hand wit'fat fat feet that can't stand... to all dat I says... Got'daaaaaam!.... Go buy my CD. Fo'real.

Seriously, don't you know better than to read the comments section?

Bwaaaahahhahaaa!! Flippin' awesome.

ckmama

I think the benefit should be allowed.
I think there should be an agreement that says if you gain the weight back you have to pay the insurance company back.

A dear friend of mine has the lap band last year and she almost died. It sent her into a tailspin of many other medical issues, blood clots, pain pill addiction, 4 extra surgeries, and now blood transfusions....while I know that isn't the norm it does happen.

This is what she says "I'm so excited to weight 125 lbs, it's the lightest I've ever been." then she laughs and says "I wouldn't recommend weight loss surgery to anyone." She follows that with "I have to get injections now just to have the strength and energy to fold clothes."

I'll pass. I'll just keep trying to lose weight until eventually I get it right or die trying. I'm in no rush for the latter.

getitamb

Weight loss surgery is not a necessity. Yeah is it harder to get up and moving if you are morbidly obese. Is It hard top change eating habits? yes. But when u have the surgery you have to do all of that to keep it off anyway. So I don't see anything wrong with them cutting funding. That money can go somewhere else.

bcattoes

I'm more curious to know why the woman thinks this will work if nothing else did. Sure, with the surgery you have no choice but lose weight. But if she can't lose it now, what reason is there to believe that she will be able to keep it off? It seems clear that she is unwilling to make the changes to her lifestyle required to maintain a healthy weight.

sryan8408

I think the benefit should be allowed.
I think there should be an agreement that says if you gain the weight back you have to pay the insurance company back.

A dear friend of mine has the lap band last year and she almost died. It sent her into a tailspin of many other medical issues, blood clots, pain pill addiction, 4 extra surgeries, and now blood transfusions....while I know that isn't the norm it does happen.

This is what she says "I'm so excited to weight 125 lbs, it's the lightest I've ever been." then she laughs and says "I wouldn't recommend weight loss surgery to anyone." She follows that with "I have to get injections now just to have the strength and energy to fold clothes."

I'll pass. I'll just keep trying to lose weight until eventually I get it right or die trying. I'm in no rush for the latter.

I love that idea that if you gain the weight back, you have to pay the insurance company back! Fabulous idea. Its honestly motivating for people. I realize that there are people out there that NEED this surgery but after seeing so many successful people on here, I find it hard to believe that she stuck through every last one of those diet programs and didn't lose a thing. But again I may be biased because of all the success stories on MFP, I see women in their 60's on here dropping 100 lbs. I may be being rude but everyone is capable of doing this because its been done before, except for a small percentage of people.

bzmom

This!!

I understand that there are individuals with medical conditions that make it hard or nearly impossible to drop weight. However I do believe that not all the individuals getting the surgery have these conditions. I think they should have an evaluation and only those with medical conditions qualify. Everyone else needs to get into gear and do what many wonderful MFPers have done and work for their goal. Plus the idea of paying back the insurance if you gain the weight back is brilliant!

I think the benefit should be allowed.
I think there should be an agreement that says if you gain the weight back you have to pay the insurance company back.

A dear friend of mine has the lap band last year and she almost died. It sent her into a tailspin of many other medical issues, blood clots, pain pill addiction, 4 extra surgeries, and now blood transfusions....while I know that isn't the norm it does happen.

This is what she says "I'm so excited to weight 125 lbs, it's the lightest I've ever been." then she laughs and says "I wouldn't recommend weight loss surgery to anyone." She follows that with "I have to get injections now just to have the strength and energy to fold clothes."

I'll pass. I'll just keep trying to lose weight until eventually I get it right or die trying. I'm in no rush for the latter.

I love that idea that if you gain the weight back, you have to pay the insurance company back! Fabulous idea. Its honestly motivating for people. I realize that there are people out there that NEED this surgery but after seeing so many successful people on here, I find it hard to believe that she stuck through every last one of those diet programs and didn't lose a thing. But again I may be biased because of all the success stories on MFP, I see women in their 60's on here dropping 100 lbs. I may be being rude but everyone is capable of doing this because its been done before, except for a small percentage of people.

poisongirl6485

While I think that for some people weight loss surgery can be considered 'necessary' or recommended, I think that most people that get it probably don't actually 'need' it.

My mom has the lap band. She's lost weight the old fashioned way, but due to multiple health issues with her knees, arthritis, lung function, etc, it's hard for her to work out beyond just walking (which she did, and still does, even when her knee is messed up). She's lost 100 lbs with the lap band and I think it's great that she's gotten it.

My friend, however, doesn't even try to work out, eats out nearly every meal, guzzles soda like it's going out of style, etc. And she's getting I think the 'sleeve' procedure done in a few months. She claims to have tried 'everything' but in reality has tried nothing. She still smokes, even though she should have stopped by now per her doctor's orders. She is someone who I don't think 'needs' the surgery as she really has nothing preventing her from doing it the old fashioned way aside from sheer laziness and excuses.

Raihaanah

Thnx for the article..its crazy how cruel ppl can be without knowing the other side of the story