Obesity Poll

I am going to go with the first option, but I do believe that the person should have to show that they are making an effort to lose weight the healthy way before any drastic treatments are covered. Obesity IS a disease, but often it's a self-imposed disease. Our culture has made it easy for people to become obese, and stay obese!

I also think it would be lovely if my health insurance covered a certain amount toward a gym membership.... but that's a pipe dream! :laugh:

A poll came out on Yahoo! Finance today:

How do you feel about the American Medical Association's decision to classify obesity as a disease?

The government and private sector should support the fight against obesity (8216) - 31%
Employers shouldn't be required to cover obesity treatments (5796) - 22%
Policy makers need to stay out of people's personal lives (12824) - 47%

I find it ironic that the highest percentage is a defensive response, and the lowest is the one that requires personal responsibility.

So, MFP world, what do you think? (I voted for the second one)

I find it interesting that none of the options have anything to do with the AMA's decision, the data on which it was based, the rationale for making it now, etc...the closest one probably has to do with insurance policies (employers).

AMA doesn't make policy.

One.


Jobs that make you sit on your asss for 9 hours a day should help pay for obesity treatment/help.

If you have a job where you sit all day, most employers will allow you to have a standing desk if you'd like, which keeps you more active. If you can't have a standing desk, eat less food and don't eat over your TDEE, it's pretty simple, not the employer's responsibility, because if you make the argument that they should have to pay because you are obese, then by that logic, they should have a say in what foods you eat and how much...

I go with 2 also. Saying obesity is a disease is giving some people an excuse to say "not my fault, it is a disease". Most of us on this site KNOW how well all those expensive treatments really work. It will only increase the number of get thin quick schemes that do NOT work.

I'm for all 3 to varying degrees....

The government and private sector should support the fight against obesity (8216) - 31%

In the sense that they promote health and wellness programs, and that employers provide incentives for employees. Lots of companies have their own gyms, or start groups that go walking on their lunch breaks, etc...
Not in the sense that they tell me what to do.
My company has a small gym upstairs.
We also have a woman come in 1x/week to teach a yoga class. If you want to take yoga, you sign up and pay for the class. The company provides the space. But they aren't going to pay for your class. Besides, you are more inclined to go if you are paying for it. If it's free, then it's no big deal to you if you skip.

Employers shouldn't be required to cover obesity treatments (5796) - 22%

Agreed. In the sense that it's not THEIR fault someone gets obese. It's due to laziness, OR other emotional problems in that individual's life. They should seek help on their own in the form of therapy, if needed, and/or joining a gym. There are plenty of programs out there.
Also, one should define "obesity treatments". What exactly falls under that category?

I don't believe they should pay for things that aren't necessary. For example, they shouldn't have to pay for your gym classes.

You know where the gym is. Get a membership.
Can't afford memberships? Go buy a $5 workout dvd and follow along. I got my nifty little hand weights for $6. 2 sets of hand weights. Cheap. Also, jump ropes are not that expensive. You can get a good one for $7 on amazon.
Can't afford that either? You know where youtube is. Go use one of the 354318461438 videos there.
Don't have internet? GO OUTSIDE. There is grass, side walks, HS track fields, roads, etc. Go walk, jog, run, skip, whatever.

Policy makers need to stay out of people's personal lives (12824) - 47%

I do believe that GENERALLY speaking, people get obese on their own. Telling people that they can only buy certain things, or drink certain things, or that you are only allowed to buy sodas in 20 oz cups but no bigger than that, is not cool.
I take personal responsibility for letting myself get fat. And it's my responsibility to get healthy.
Taking away that personal responsibility TO ME is like telling me that I don't know how to do it myself. For me personally, it's a slap in the face. It is telling me that I am fat and I obviously don't know how to take care of myself.
I need that personal responsibility and I need the policy makers to let me have it.




Those are just my thoughts on all that....... :flowerforyou:
Granted, its what would work for me, but for others who have more issues with obesity than I do, they might feel differently.

I'm for all 3.

I was just about to post basically the same thing. The three choices are not mutually exclusive.

I choose number 3. Quit trying to legislate my live to death!

I hate the idea of treating alcohol abuse and food abuse as a disease in and of themselves...

Though, if this could potentially lead to helping with discriminatory hiring / firing of people with weight problems or potentially allowing for treating of underlying issues that might be contributing to obesity (outside of mouth stuffing problems)... then... maybe...

I don't understand.

How is "Policy makers need to stay out of people's personal lives" a defensive response? That's my general response to anything. I also agree with "Employers shouldn't be required to cover obesity treatments" These are in no way mutually incompatible.

Because it doesn't answer the poll question. The question is, "How do you feel about..." and the most commonly picked answer was, "Stay out of my life!"

I think that means it's a bad poll, not that people are being defensive.

I don't understand.

How is "Policy makers need to stay out of people's personal lives" a defensive response? That's my general response to anything. I also agree with "Employers shouldn't be required to cover obesity treatments" These are in no way mutually incompatible.

Because it doesn't answer the poll question. The question is, "How do you feel about..." and the most commonly picked answer was, "Stay out of my life!"

There are many people who think they should be able to drive without seat belts and without child seats while carrying unlicensed concealed weapons, among many hundreds of possible examples of government regulation that could be given. Everyone could come up with a regulation that they think is silly.

Toughsky. If you don't like it move to the Republic of Onyourown.

I would vote 2 as well..

Classifying obesity as a disease is obscene. It's a willful decision, not a disease.

I am going to go with the first option, but I do believe that the person should have to show that they are making an effort to lose weight the healthy way before any drastic treatments are covered. Obesity IS a disease, but often it's a self-imposed disease. Our culture has made it easy for people to become obese, and stay obese!

I also think it would be lovely if my health insurance covered a certain amount toward a gym membership.... but that's a pipe dream! :laugh:

Some insurances already do. My husband's work insurance would pay 100% for a family membership if we actually lived in Tennessee, where he works.

Unfortunately, the policy for certain state employees in Mississippi (i.e. teachers) does not. Apparently, it really doesn't pay for much of anything since my emergency room visit and ICU stay for anaphylactic shock was turned down due to lack of pre-authorization, but I digress... :grumble:

One.


Jobs that make you sit on your asss for 9 hours a day should help pay for obesity treatment/help.

If you have a job where you sit all day, most employers will allow you to have a standing desk if you'd like, which keeps you more active. If you can't have a standing desk, eat less food and don't eat over your TDEE, it's pretty simple, not the employer's responsibility, because if you make the argument that they should have to pay because you are obese, then by that logic, they should have a say in what foods you eat and how much...

Its not the employers decision when you have heart disease, diabetes, and other health related issues, and lets face it, we can take better care of ourselves for those diseases too. I do not choose to be obese, but I am. My friend and I have the same eaqting habits, exercise habits and similar lifestyles, and she is not obese. It is not always about choices, it is also genetic. I do believe that i am responsible for change, but it doesn't hurt for employers to offer incentives and motivation for being healthy...not just about obesity but blood pressure, diabetes, heart health and other issues.

I wish i lived in the black and white world where getting off the couch would solve my problem!