Obese people a strain on the medical system?
By whywiki
@whywiki (6066)
Canada
November 21, 2007 11:22am CST
This debate hits home with me. I am fat. I know lots of fat people. We go to the doctor a lot less then a lot of people I know. I haven't had a hospital stay in 35 years since I had my tonsils out and that was definitely not fat related as I wasn't fat then. I work with this guy who thinks that he isn't fat when in reality he is about 40 pounds overweight. He goes on a rant this morning about how fat people are a burden to society and the medical system and that all fat people should pay for their own medical treatment. This guy smokes and chews nicotine gum on a daily basis and has for 5 years or more. He goes to the doctor and a clinic at least 2 times a month. How can he point a finger at us fatties when he poisons his body on a daily basis. Why shouldn't smokers pay for their own medical? I don't see the difference. Do you think that obese people should be singled out to pay more?
2 people like this
7 responses
@Sillychick (3275)
• United States
21 Nov 07
No one should be singled out to pay more. Except maybe smokers. And cancer patients and diabetics. And definitely hypochondriacs. How can someone say that one group of people should have to pay more? That is so subjective and stereotypical. People who are overweight sometimes need more medical care than people who are not overweight, and sometimes they don't. But I do agree that smoking is much worse for your health than being overweight. I have done both, and I can tell you that smoking has more negative effects on health. Plus, I can tell you from experience that it is easier to quit smoking than to lose weight. So who is the real burden to society. Oh, and also, you can't get sick by being around overweight people, but you can from being around smokers.
1 person likes this
@Sillychick (3275)
• United States
21 Nov 07
I think it's harder to lose weight because you can't just quit eating food. You can quit smoking, stop being around it, stop doing the things you associate with it, at least at the beginning. But you need to eat to live, so you can't just quit. And eating can all too easily lead to overeating.
@piasabird (1737)
• United States
21 Nov 07
It's a fact that obese people are more susceptible to certain diseases and such. Diabetes, cancer, heart attacks,etc. That's just a few of the big ones that can be linked right back to heavier people.
However I think this guy has no right to complain if he smokes. And especially if he smokes, is 40 pounds overweight and doesn't exercise regularly.
1 person likes this
@StrawberryKisses (2833)
• Canada
22 Nov 07
OMG How rude can some people be??? I used to be over 300lbs so I know what it's like and for someone to say that we are a strain on health care is just plain ridiculous. I rarely go to the doctor as well even when I was bigger so I don't see how he can justify his reasoning. and ya know I am a smoker and I totally agree with you. If overweight people have to pay their own health care than so should smokers. Grr I hate people like that.
@StrawberryKisses (2833)
• Canada
22 Nov 07
well exactly. What about people with cancer and people who have kids that have cancer. They are seeing doctors on a weekly basis usually. I would have gotten into this debate with the idiot that said this geesh what a geek! LOL
@acuityplague (763)
• United States
21 Nov 07
I've heard people spout off this kind of garbage before. I'm a fatty and I'm sick of it!
Deny overweight people medical care, but continue to pay for the medical needs of drunks and junkies. I don't see how that makes sense.
Fat or not I work to make a living. The last time I checked; junkies on the dole, do not. Nor do liver challanged drunkards. They live off the system, yet fat people are the target? Ha! Sometimes I really hate society.
*sigh*
@whywiki (6066)
• Canada
21 Nov 07
I know where you are coming from. One day society will wise up and realize we are people too. I too go to work each day and have to pay my own medical premiums yet I see people that live off welfare and get free medical and dental and don't even try to get a job. Burns my A%SS!
2 people like this
@acuityplague (763)
• United States
27 Nov 07
It burns my A%ss too!
There are already so many misconceptions about heavy people, and junk like this is only going to re-enforce them and make things worse. Why can't society grow up!?...crap..hold on my washer is going nuts!
Sheesh, my washing machine just tried to take off into outerspace. Grrr@kidswhooverloadwashers.ack
Well; being the genius that I am, I've forgotten all the indignant and sage tidbits I was about to overwhelm the mylot universe with, all because of an unbalanced washing machine lol.
I guess I'll just shut up and read what other's have to say until my spark of "answers to life the universe and everything" comes back!
@estherlou (5015)
• United States
21 Nov 07
What a guy! What a hoot! I am like you...he's just a complainer. I thank God quite often for being blessed with good health! I never miss work despite my excess pounds. Did he manage to say how fat people are a burden to the system? What a bunch of hooey!
1 person likes this
@aquajules4 (583)
•
22 Nov 07
I cannot believe how shallow your collegue is. I hope he gets to read all these comments.
I think that weight has nothing to do with how much you go to the doctors. My mum has really high cholestral, which is not down to being over weight but hereditary, she has to go to the doctors to have her cholestral tested regularly. So she is just one statistic that cannot be helped.
The only thing i think about being over weight which i am myself. I hate diets and exercise. But i know i should lose weight, i am adopted and i found my birth family a couple of years ago. I am not on my own most of my family including my mum were short and dumpy. So i've decided that if i lose weight i do or i think i will just except that it's how i've been made.
Please don't let his comments make you feel bad as it will cause stress which will kill you more than the fat.
Take care and have a good day
@acuityplague (763)
• United States
27 Nov 07
Hehe! It's so true..seats ARE getting smaller!
Theatre' seats have definately shrunk over the years! I thought I must be growing wider and wider by leaps and bounds, then I found out...nope! The seats ARE getting smaller so that they can fit more people into the space. How silly, fat customers are still paying customers! Shouldn't we be atleast slightly comfortable in normal size seats, instead of these microscopic flip downs they have now?! You have to be no bigger than a size 4 to go see a movie these days! The poor men at the movies are all scrunched up and looking miserable. Geesh
I'm pretty sure the "normal" sized guy next to me doesn't enjoy me invading his space as I scarf down popcorn and slurp on regular pepsi..yes regular, not diet! lol
Bring back normal sized theatre seats!!!!!
@aquajules4 (583)
•
27 Nov 07
You are very correct about seats at the theatre and cinema. Even on planes as well.
It does not help that i am the world's worst fidgit as well. I now take 2 pain killers before i go to anything that might have little room to move. So that way i sit still more.
This discussion was so good.
@whywiki (6066)
• Canada
22 Nov 07
Thats right, fat kills but stress kills more. I long ago accepted I will never be a size 2 I just wish society would accept people that were size 14 and up. It seems that with more and more large people in the world that society would be more accommodating but seats keep getting smaller and portions bigger. It is a crazy world.
