Not much on the telly tonight, so I ended up watching "My 600 lb. Life" --- the show where folks go to Houston for bariatric surgery… some successful, some not so much.
After watching a couple episodes, I'm left with some mixed feelings.
Is super morbid obesity:
1) a disease along the same lines as alcoholism and drug addiction?
2) a lifestyle issue (poor food choices, lack of exercise, laziness)?
3) a mental health issue (poor self esteem, depression, etc.)?
What have you seen in your practice re: number of super morbidly obese admissions, bariatric surgeries, disease processes related to super morbid obesity, difficulty caring for super morbidly obese patients.
I, too, battle against the unhealthy influences of my sons father.
Me too, in more ways than just food. Not that we eat the healthiest, but my kids often "complain" that we eat dinner at the table and at dad's "we get to eat by the TV". I tell them that this family eats together.
There was some advertisement I saw for a prototype airline seat with readjustable armrests which, for a price, could be widened to accommodate larger people. Wall-E might actually have been an accurate depiction of our destiny as humans.
I'm in agreement that it's all of the above. I think the scale tends to tip more in the direction of laziness/overreating though personally. I mean....it takes effort to get that big. You have to be eating crazy amounts of calories, doing basically no physical activity. And somehow you're mentally ok with your body image or truly just don't care whatsoever. Most people make lifestyle changes when they start noticing their clothes don't fit anymore....these people just keep going. And you have to have people around you enabling the behavior, because let's face it.....a 600 lber can't exactly go grocery shopping or even wipe their own butt, much less prepare their own meals. Family is giving them what they want, otherwise they would start losing the weight....
I'm sure there is probably some metabolic/genetic issues as well, because some people would never get that big even if they tried. These types of people may always be somewhat overweight, but when you delve into the category of obesity....it's because you're making poor lifestyle choices.....which is why I find it hard to have much compassion for the morbidly obese.
I hate obesity the way others hate cancer, I hate the condition and I hate to see people keep doing the same thing and not willing to try something new, and to not make it their number one priority (aside from their moral and legal responsibilities) but I disagree on two of your statements.
No, most people do not make lifestyle changes once their clothes stop fitting. 2 out of 3 adults are overweight or obese. I don't think there is an immoral weight line, it's a unsuccessful struggle for 2/3rds or our population not just the super obese. It's not a simple xyz plan.
I've been blessed throughout my life, even when I've made terrible decisions I've been able to land on my feet and have a very good life. I'm healthy, my kids are healthy and happy, both iof my parents loved me to death, I've never had an opportunity denied me and I have amazing friends and family. I have compassion for anyone who hasn't had my good fortune. Doesn't mean I don't want everyone to dig deep and do the hard work it would take to turn their health around or that I think obesity is no big deal, but I can feel that way as well as compassion and it really bothers me when others can't or won't.
I think that kind of extreme obesity should be treated as more of a mental disorder than a physical one, for sure. It's just really unfortunate. I've always struggled with my weight, have to consciously try pretty hard to keep it in a healthy range, and part of that is some emotional eating. I can't imagine it going that far though. I absolutely do think it's up there with other addictions. Bariatric and other treatments won't do anything if you don't get to the root cause and if the patient doesn't desperately want to change, and if family isn't on board as well.
Spideys mom, you are a mom after my own heart!! Just had to shout out on AN to a like minded nurse!
I, too, battle against the unhealthy influences of my sons father.
He eats crap at his house. Can't change that. But I try to teach him.
I am overweight right now as I type this. But because I know the negative outcomes, I am on a diet right mow.
I'm married to Spidey's dad! He's a great guy but a terrible role model when it comes to eating. He has the attitude of many folks with diseases and that is there is a magic pill to cure everything!
No changes to diet or exercise though.
As a school nurse, I see so many kids who start out in Kindergarten, who are overweight. On FB last night a local photographer was showing his recent photos of our local high school cheerleaders. There are 8 of them and 7 are quite a bit overweight. I walk the hallways at elementary and high schools here and the percentage of overweight kids seems more than when my oldest were in high school.
We have to add in technology - they spend so much time on their iPad and iPhones and video games getting immediate sensory satisfaction and don't get out and do anything physical.
Spidey bought an iPad but it is limited to music only - approved by mom of course. No internet. No phone. And he can't take it to school. And he can only use it if his homework is done and then only for an hour. Every night he walks up to the elementary school and shoots hoops for a hour. He plays baseball, soccer, flag football, and basketball.
We also go on hikes together. I'm working hard to keep him healthy.
I'm married to Spidey's dad! He's a great guy but a terrible role model when it comes to eating. He has the attitude of many folks with diseases and that is there is a magic pill to cure everything!
No changes to diet or exercise though.
As a school nurse, I see so many kids who start out in Kindergarten, who are overweight. On FB last night a local photographer was showing his recent photos of our local high school cheerleaders. There are 8 of them and 7 are quite a bit overweight. I walk the hallways at elementary and high schools here and the percentage of overweight kids seems more than when my oldest were in high school.
We have to add in technology - they spend so much time on their iPad and iPhones and video games getting immediate sensory satisfaction and don't get out and do anything physical.
Spidey bought an iPad but it is limited to music only - approved by mom of course. No internet. No phone. And he can't take it to school. And he can only use it if his homework is done and then only for an hour. Every night he walks up to the elementary school and shoots hoops for a hour. He plays baseball, soccer, flag football, and basketball.
We also go on hikes together. I'm working hard to keep him healthy.
What a mean mom.
Same with our schools, and cheerleader team. Middle class country California kids. Which makes diet so much more the primary issue as these girls are active everyday if not working out like athletes.
On FB last night a local photographer was showing his recent photos of our local high school cheerleaders. There are 8 of them and 7 are quite a bit overweight. I walk the hallways at elementary and high schools here and the percentage of overweight kids seems more than when my oldest were in high school.
Isn't chunky cheerleader an oxymoron?
It goes against all things right, normal and for f***'s sake, all things American!
After all, shouldn't all women aspire to such great heights?! Or least to be a beauty pageant contestant?
He's a great guy but a terrible role model when it comes to eating. He has the attitude of many folks with diseases and that is there is a magic pill to cure everything! 
kidzcare
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Me too, in more ways than just food. Not that we eat the healthiest, but my kids often "complain" that we eat dinner at the table and at dad's "we get to eat by the TV".
I tell them that this family eats together.