I just don't care about the 'obesity epidemic'

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Obese people cost 40% more a year in health care related expenses than a "normal" weight person. As a rule they do not pay more for health insurance than a "normal" size person, i.e., there is a cost that is spread to people who can push away from the table. Statistically obese people call in "sick" to work more often and file more workers comp claims (not to mention health care workers who are injured taking care of obese patients-happens all the time), so again, money.

It isn't about aesthetics, it's about money.

I'm morbidly obese, have been for 15 years, and I've been to the doctor twice, once for strep and once for a UTI. I'm not costing you a penny. And come to think of it, I was living in Canada at the time.

My skinny husband has been to the doctor far more than I have, and we've always paid out of pocket. So neither one of us are costing anyone anything.

(I know the argument to follow will be future based, but none of us are guaranteed a "future" so it is moot in this case.)

You've been a member since 2011, so I presume you are not targeting your rant, if you will, to those who frequent MFP. Here I certainly have not seen any judgment toward people who have extra weight. In fact, it's quite the opposite.

What is your point?

I have to slightly disagree here. I have seen MANY people on these message boards with snarky, nasty attitudes towards obese people. I have been on this site on and off for a year or so and have tried to just skim thru boards instead of actually commenting because some of the extremely fit and healthy hold themselves on a pedestal and are hurtful. as much as there are helpful, caring, motivational people here, (just like everywhere else in the world) there are also...well...*kitten*.

And as it may be taken a little too personal, or maybe someones a bit too sensitive that's pretty common with weight issues big or small. Theres pretty much always a reason for weight problems and of course someone might be sensitive about it. We should be supporting each other, not attacking or belittling someones feelings. Everyone has a right to a rant.

and mines done. lol

I kind of have an issue with hearing about the 'obesity epidepmic' is that BMI is used to determined who is obese and who isn't. Have a look at mybodygallery.com

I am 5ft2.5 for someone my height 75kg(165lbs) is obese.

You can enter those stats for comparison. There are clearly people in that size who look to have a lot of fat around their middles and look like they probably don't do exercise. But there are (quite a few) who are obviously fit and active and probably quite healthy.

So there should be a better measure that classifies people who are overweight to a point of compromising their health.

BMI is a measure for populations, not individuals. As we are talking populations here, it applies.

There has also been a study recently showing that people who are overweight have a lower mortality rate than those with a healthy BMI and those who are underweight. (Mostly due to the preponderance of people who are overweight but fit). There are also studies showing that overweight people deal with stress better (and most of those who pay tax dollars would be put under a reasonable amount of stress in their workplaces.

The study you reference is no basis for argument. It is the basis for further study as to what is going on. Unfortunately the media likes to publish studies that generally have no meaning. You can find a multitude more studies that show being overweight/obese is worse.

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To the OP:
Everyone's life is affected by society as a whole. If those around you are unable to function, or function in a reduced capacity it affects you.

You're taking this way too personally. I don't care about specific people being obese (except about their health) but there are plenty of reasons to care about the bigger picture of such a big proportion of the population being obese.

I'm sorry, but what are those reasons exactly?

caring about the obesity epidemic, and caring about the feelings of people who are obese are not mutually exclusive. If you really care about other people, you care about their quality of life. That includes good physical and mental health. Obesity can be detrimental to both of them, it can also affect people's mobility and prevent them from doing things that they may enjoy and be beneficial to them. You can respect someone's humanity and feelings and treat them with respect, and care about their health and quality of life at the same time.

Just because someone wants to prevent and treat obesity, doesn't mean they want to kill off or ostracise obese people.... it usually means they want obese people to have the opportunity, knowledge and support to overcome obesity and have better health and a better quality of life. I don't want to be obese because I have better health and a better quality of life for not being obese (and yes I was obese in the past, so I'm comparing myself now with myself then). So surely wanting everyone to be able to make that choice is the compassionate thing to do, rather than not caring and not trying to do anything to help people avoid or treat obesity....?

Obese people cost 40% more a year in health care related expenses than a "normal" weight person. As a rule they do not pay more for health insurance than a "normal" size person, i.e., there is a cost that is spread to people who can push away from the table. Statistically obese people call in "sick" to work more often and file more workers comp claims (not to mention health care workers who are injured taking care of obese patients-happens all the time), so again, money.

It isn't about aesthetics, it's about money.

Old people are a real pain the a** too then.

Lets not forget the anorexics/bulimics/smokers/iv drug users and raging alcoholics lets talk about the drain these normal sized citizens have on your pocket...

again, where is the accountablitly.. Most (not all) of these people have no concern for the burden that they are placing on society. They drive around in their rascal scooters double fisting 3lb burritos and expect everyone to pat them on the back and say good job for just being you.. meanwhile everyone else has to work 14hr days to cover the rising taxes and increased healthcare because they have to buy heavy duty chairs for the waiting room, or extra strength gurneys for the hospital and replace the ambulances because they don't have enough capacity.. that's how we are affected by it, and it continues to other areas as well.

where's the social services investigating that 200lb kid because his parents don't feed him healthy or make sure he gets enough exercise. the problem is we've become so pc now, even the doctors can't tell these people "hey, your way heavy, you might want to lose some weight, it's not good for you" they get offended and run to the med board to complain.. seriously??

we've Pc'd ourselves into this problem. Not saying shame them, but when you can't tell someone the truth for thier own good, what have we become. the US is such a young country in comparison and we think we have the answers for everything. everyone is so damn sensitive now about everything, you can't even have a conversation without someone crying foul.

you have your rights to be how you want to be until it affects everyone else, and then i have my right not to agree with it.

meanwhile everyone else has to work 14hr days to cover the rising taxes and increased healthcare because they have to buy heavy duty chairs for the waiting room, or extra strength gurneys for the hospital and replace the ambulances because they don't have enough capacity.. that's how we are affected by it, and it continues to other areas as well.

It's easy to tell the people that get their information from the evening news...

Do you really think that taxes are going up as a result of the "obesity epidemic"? Do you know anything about geo-political economics?

Trust me.. it aint bariatric healtcare equipment. Here is a little link for you, check it out http://www.usdebtclock.org/

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Our tax dollars do pay for welfare, food stamps, medical care and disability for the people who are so grossly overweight they can't get up and go to work anymore. It does fall on the rest of us...

In the UK, we have the NHS which is free (Or tax funded).

If you were to look at it in a 'fat people cost more health wise' kind of way, then the same would go for people who smoke, or people who drink in excess, or do drugs. Or what about the people who live off benefits and don't contribute taxes? Or people with dangerous recreational hobbies?

Unfortunately we live in a world of excess, and if I had a problem with everyone that had the potential to cost the Government more money than 'normal', I'd be a very sad and unhappy person.

again, where is the accountablitly.. Most (not all) of these people have no concern for the burden that they are placing on society. They drive around in their rascal scooters double fisting 3lb burritos and expect everyone to pat them on the back and say good job for just being you.. meanwhile everyone else has to work 14hr days to cover the rising taxes and increased healthcare because they have to buy heavy duty chairs for the waiting room, or extra strength gurneys for the hospital and replace the ambulances because they don't have enough capacity.. that's how we are affected by it, and it continues to other areas as well.

These are your personal stereotypes and issues at work. Most people with a BMI over 30 are working, paying taxes, getting their kids off to school, trying to solve problems and attempting to enjoy life when possible. Interestingly, that about covers what most adults are doing on a daily basis around the world. Most adults, obese or not, are perfectly capable of walking and are not eating 3 lb burritos at any time of day.

Hospitals are replacing equipment to be able to deal with people getting larger. If you are in the US, let's be very clear...it is most likely that the hospital that is closest to you is owned by and insurance group, is affiliated with an educational institution, is paying no taxes and is running at millions in profit (see: University of Pittsburgh Medical Center). Affordable Healhcare as proposed in the US, is not a traditional National Healthcare System. Any implication that they are the same is fairy tale talking point math. NHS is funded completely by tax dollars, the US system is a for profit model with a number of loopholes allowing the parent companies to use the names of not for profit institutions to essentially turn hospital groups into tax shelters. The financial complications of making changes to facilities under these two systems are not the same. A traditional NHS has less money to upgrade facilities. Us hospitals are not in the same crunch.

where's the social services investigating that 200lb kid because his parents don't feed him healthy or make sure he gets enough exercise. the problem is we've become so pc now, even the doctors can't tell these people "hey, your way heavy, you might want to lose some weight, it's not good for you" they get offended and run to the med board to complain.. seriously??

we've Pc'd ourselves into this problem. Not saying shame them, but when you can't tell someone the truth for thier own good, what have we become. the US is such a young country in comparison and we think we have the answers for everything. everyone is so damn sensitive now about everything, you can't even have a conversation without someone crying foul.

you have your rights to be how you want to be until it affects everyone else, and then i have my right not to agree with it.

Unlike the US hospital system, social service agencies are underfunded. Just like school sports, physical education, community centers, public parks, public pools and most truly non-profit institutions that serve to keep communities healthy, family service agncies have had their budgets slashed. Social service agencies in the last 20 to 30 years have been consistently having to have less people do more work. The statistics are clear all over the US. So in the context of this conversation if a caseworker is called to a school because of the numerous feeding issues in US society, he/she will be dealing with the 12 year-old with the low BMI. The undernourished child is at greater risk for illness, injury, cognitive disorientation and truancy. Point blank, a child with access to food is more likely to be awake in school than a child going without. Socialwork agencies have limited resources and most are at critical mass. Agencies tend to work with people closes to or at crisis point. Those are the choices that must be made when the agency does not have enough money to hire adequate staff to serve to the population.

The idea that doctors in the US can't tell people to lose weight is made up. Almost all major insurance providers require doctors to weigh their patients every time they are seen if the patient exceeds a normal range BMI. As most doctors like to get paid, they are fairly diligent about recording weight and letting people know that being overweight is an issue. Insurance companies started keeping these metrics to justify pre-existing condition claim denials, rate increases or outright coverage losses/denials.

The notion that political correctness has anything to do with the US healthcare system is frankly laughable. Political Correctness is a term born out of Soviet Russian cultural critique that became part of the study of identity politics in other nations. Somehow in the US people are unwittingly going back to the original Soviety pejorative usage without knowing it...basically parroting to rhetoric of those with political power so as to appear patriotic.

I care which is why I'm in a Wellness Center. Obesity never brings out the best person they could be nor helps them achieve goals they may long for. It's preventable and treatable which is why I help people overcome it for a living. And the gratitude you get from people would trump any feelings about not caring. That's my take on it anyway.

A.C.E. Certified Personal/Group FitnessTrainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

Obese people cost 40% more a year in health care related expenses than a "normal" weight person. As a rule they do not pay more for health insurance than a "normal" size person, i.e., there is a cost that is spread to people who can push away from the table. Statistically obese people call in "sick" to work more often and file more workers comp claims (not to mention health care workers who are injured taking care of obese patients-happens all the time), so again, money.

It isn't about aesthetics, it's about money.

Old people are a real pain the a** too then.

There ya go...I'm a fat person and I am not costing more to anyone in health care releated expenses. I've been to the clinic sick a couple of times, but I cost no more in those instances that a "normal" weight person. And the sickness was not because of my weight. So that does not apply across the board.

It effects me by costing me more money on my insurance premiums.... I wouldn't care one bit if a person ate themselves into an oblivion if they didn't get type 2 diabetes and then not take their medicine or monitor it in anyway. Not to mention the costs of bariatric surgery and the slew of other health problems that inflict more obese people than reasonably weighted people. The company I work for's medical costs have gone up 3 million dollars per year to $28 million because people aren't taking care of themselves... obesity related issues included... it's costing me and the company I work for more money... money that could be used for raises instead of taking care of people too damn stubborn to go see a doctor and do what they say.