If only they knew......

[aap1966]

Busy day today. Attended a few acute emergencies on the wards. In one, the patient's obesity made airway management a real issue. It was surmountable, but made my life more exciting than I like.
In another, the emergency arose entirely from the patient's obesity, and again, the obesity meant the usual management options were not practical.
People know obesity increases the risk of heart disease, stroke, diabetes, cancer.......they don't realize that it makes every aspect of their medical treatment more difficult, and on occasion simply removes therapeutic options .

Rant over.

[onewhippedpuppy]

But it's a disease!!!!

[widgeon13]

And they just keep getting bigger. They just don't seem to care.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

They don't have to pay for it so why should they give a damn?

[recycled sixtie]

It is tough for you docs to do your job when folks are like that. All you can do is your best. It must be frustrating though....

[widgeon13]

As an EMT it is tough as well. Try getting a 280 pounder through a narrow door while giving CPR and having them hooked to an AED all the while hoping you don't drop them and it's 2:13 AM and you just climbed out of a warm bed and still have to drive 1 hour to the nearest trauma center.

At sixty-six I decided to let my certification expire. I figured if I didn't, I would be on the backboard next. It was fun while it lasted.

[masraum]

"if only they knew" - wouldn't matter. I believe it's mostly a psychological thing whether it's because they are unhappy or compensating or just a habit due to how they were raised. I'm sure that some folks do have biochemical differences that make it easier to be big, but I don't believe that would make you huge. Eating too much is what makes anyone huge.

[Rick V]

Because a big mac meal is two bucks and a salad is five-fifty................

[recycled sixtie]

Originally Posted by Rick V

Because a big mac meal is two bucks and a salad is five-fifty................

And the big mac meal tastes a heck of a lot better than a salad......to many of us.

[doug_porsche]

John Penette Talks About Salad - YouTube



I also blame serving size. I laugh when I see an "All You Can Eat" sign. on a regular menu item I need a to-go box. All I can eat, that would be a 1/2 serving please.

[R K T]

There's a local "all you can eat" place here that advertises a 100 FOOT LONG BUFFET....that means 20 people will fit because they are all 5 feet wide!!!!

[widgeon13]

Originally Posted by Rick V

Because a big mac meal is two bucks and a salad is five-fifty................

Now wait, it's usually three quarter pounders and a large fry and don't forget the extra big freakin GULP!

It wouldn't be bad if it was just one Big Mac.

That will be $10.59, thank you.

[RWebb]

Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy

But it's a disease!!!!

Close. A genetic disorder is more accurate. We think of as a self-inflicted problem, which it is, but it is very very difficult for many people to maintain a reasonable wt. in modern society.

[Erakad]

Maybe, it's their way of voting themselves off the island. They know the risks, or at least confirm affirm it's an at-risk behavior, and continue with that same behavior....voting themselves "off the island".

[beepbeep]

Originally Posted by Rick V

Because a big mac meal is two bucks and a salad is five-fifty................

I don't get it. Nobody forces the fatties to eat the whole Big Mac. Heck, if they eat just one half and save the other half for next meal they could eat for ONE BUCK and be in better shape

[RWebb]

Nobody forces the addicts to smoke the whole cigarette.

I saw a newspaper article on sugar-brain effects a few days ago - will see if I can find it.

[livi]

Even more frightening, obesity is creeping down to my little patients too. And most parents don´t seem to care. Probably because they often are on the large side themselves.

[BlueSkyJaunte]

We had to search for a while to find a pediatrician that wouldn't give us grief because our kids are skinny. What they don't realize is that being in the 5th percentile for weight is a GOOD thing these days--all the lardass kids have skewed the data upwards.

[RWebb]

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/28/opinion/sunday/the-brain-our-food-traffic-controller.html?gwh=B5A7C6D11A369954A8C4A92E4D3522 2A

[widgeon13]

I think the brain can evolve and adapt. There is also the concept of self discipline to consider otherwise we would all experience the same reaction as is reflected in the second to the last paragraph in the above article. Our brain was not designed for a specific point in time. If that were true, we wouldn't be where we are today.

"Our brains were designed for a time when food was scarce and starvation was a common cause of death. While too much hunger remains in modern times, most people in the United States face a challenge opposite to what our distant ancestors faced. Natural selection has not wired us for a scenario in which food is abundant, relatively inexpensive and often high in calories."