Bill Maher on obesity

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Specializes in ER.

This makes so much sense. 5 minute video. 

 

1 Votes

Non-nursing related; thread moved to Lounge.

Specializes in Med-Surg, Trauma, Ortho, Neuro, Cardiac.

Maybe not "nursing related" but certainly medical related.  

I didn't have time to listen to it all but but I got the gist and looking at my covid patients other than one older lady the other five were morbidly obese.  

It's a touchy subject because we have to address the situation.  Then we have influencers and celebrities criticizing "fat shaming" and "loving your body just the way it is".  I agree that we have to stop fat shaming, we have to allow people freedom of choice to be obese and must encourage body positivity because we all have to start somewhere and need to accept ourselves.  On the other hand obesity as a health care crisis has yet again become front and center because of covid.  

On the other hand, I'm one of the cowards Mr. Maher is talking about because I have given up trying to encourage anyone to loose weight because it's "how dare you judge".."fat shamer"  "you don't know what's it's like". blah blah blah.  

Also there's the complication of privilege and food desserts.

So just like trying to get an anti-vax person to get the vaccine, I've given up trying to encourage the obese to loose weight because it's 2021.  I especially cringe when an obese obviously not healthy person spews anti-vax stuff, knowing they will get real sick if an when they get covid.  

I think like the huge amounts of obesity related deaths from other causes adding covid to the mix isn't really going to change people.  I'm done.  

 

 

4 Votes
Specializes in NICU, PICU, Transport, L&D, Hospice.

Poverty and Obesity in the U.S.

Once upon a time, obesity was mostly an affliction of the prosperous. Now is often a reflection of high calorie low value food sources that are more available and affordable than nutritious choices.  

1 Votes
Specializes in Med-Surg, Trauma, Ortho, Neuro, Cardiac.
9 minutes ago, toomuchbaloney said:

Poverty and Obesity in the U.S.

Once upon a time, obesity was mostly an affliction of the prosperous. Now is often a reflection of high calorie low value food sources that are more available and affordable than nutritious choices.  

Yes.  Funny before I saw your post I edited my post above to add a sentiment about privilege and living in food desserts, areas where there are no healthy lower calorie options.  

I'm not sure if you remember a discussion here several years ago about food stamps and how they can be used to purchase things like chips and sodas and that I was against that. I told the story of me standing behind a very obese family in Walmart with a cart full of processed foods (we are not a food dessert) and high calorie foods and her bill came to just a couple of dollars because of her food stamps.  The conservative members here blasted me for "telling people what they can and can not eat".  Which really wasn't the case it was more of me wanting to control how my tax dollars are spent.  

Another big problem is food and agriculture industry is against mandating what foods can be bought with food stamps.  They have scientists figuring out the exact amount of refined carbs, salt, sugar and fat going into our foods to make it addicting and good tasting.  

It's all complicated.

2 Votes
Specializes in OB.

I have to say, this is why I loathe Bill Maher.  He tackles a topic I agree with him on, but as such a condescending *** that I still end up wanting to punch him.  If only it were so easy for a problem that took decades to develop (the rising rates of obesity in the U.S.) to be solved in a few months of lockdown during a pandemic!  If it were that simple, it would have happened.  There's no empathy for people, no critical thinking into WHY we got to where we are and how to change the root issues.  Is obesity a horrible problem in this country?  Of course.  Could it have improved our COVID outcomes if we were less obese?  Of course.  But making fun of people isn't going help people want to change.  His disdain for the majority of humans is such a turn-off.

4 Votes
Specializes in Emergency Medicine.

You have to ignore him on anything science or medicine based.  He is a classic Dunning Kruger and profoundly does not understand what he doesn't know.  I literally mute him when he goes off on his fat screeds.  It just makes you dumber for listening to it.

1 Votes
Specializes in Med nurse in med-surg., float, HH, and PDN.

Yes. I think Bill Maher has a big FAT ego in his skull.

Specializes in retired LTC.

Cloris Leachman used to go off on fat-shaming rants. On TV talk shows, she'd start spouting off.  Very vocal.

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