Health reform idea: Put down the doughnut

I do not mean to be rude, but if what you say is true... you are only thin because your metabolism has not slowed yet, it will, before you are 35-40 I assure you... and then the people who have been trying will be the ones that are said to look good... the very few who are fortunate to have good metabolisms and still try... the rare exception... well that is why older men and women that look exceptional have such a high sex appeal to younger people... Everyone should take care of them selves despite what they look like. Thinking long term is the key to everything...

What tells you that you’re overweight? A too high BMI? I think it’s a scale, but whatever. We are not complaining about all fat persons. It is actually good that you know plenty of overweight people who workout and eat healthy. They are looking after themselves, which is a good sign. But there are a lot of people, unfortunatley the majority, who simply don’t care or are too lazy to workout. These are the ones which are causing wastefully high expenses, by not working out and instead live from expensive treatments and meds, which we all paid for through our premiums.

It would certainly reinforce the idea of you need to pay for your share... obesity puts people more at risk for health problems, just like cigarettes, they would be prepaying for there health problems down the road with taxes... I do not see a problem with that, that would be the government saying, sure, do what you want, and when you fail yourself we made sure we have a way of taking care of you... it is certainly a lot better than what national cigarette taxes go toward now.

Very good point sir, let us tax saturated and trans fats... that way it will extend into the unhealthy foods in grocery stores as well as restaurants.

Nice to say I agree with you on this one JohnA

Yeah, John wants a BigMac offset! We could have Big Mac tax credits where BM and tobacco credits float a mean value ceiling.

BM eaters and tobacco users could compete for trade subsidies on an exchange (that can be invested to) dictating the world price for both BM and tabacoo.

It's conceivable a prudent smoker could become rich. Even non-smokers could play!

Yup... and then we encounter the next health problem with America... the eat to freakin much. It would cost about as much for 3-4 boxes of mac and cheese as it would cost to by those vegetables... and the vegetables do to the quantity they come in... would last your family for 2-3 meals assuming a three to four person family. One head of lettuce makes at least 5 or 6 salads... you start adding stuff in there with it... don't want to be a lard a$$ then don't eat to much... go pick up a book on nutrition, give it a good read, try it for a week, and see how easy and inexpensive it really is.

I suggest this book
http://www.amazon.com/Total-Nutrition-Guide-School-Medicine/product-reviews/0312...

But any book by a host of MD's works really.

Spot on, one quick problem with a much more difficult solution, we are short psychologists to help out the crazies already going to shrinks.

Every person I've ever known who has gotten into psychology has had a burdensome emotional problem they couldn't see their way through.

Besides, it's foundations were early forms of nerdophiles trying to be "scientific"

02,

a psychologist might say your remarks reveal a fear of,and/or anger with, psychologists.

Your reply says more about who you are, than it says about psychology.

I would have to agree with you unimatrix, unfortunately he is also right, there are quite a few emotionally disturbed psychologists out there... it on the other hand does not effect what they do on a daily basis at all, if anything it makes them better at it because they understand what it is like. Screw it, another personal tid bit about the MilchMann, both of my parents are psychologists... and I nearly became one... thought better of it at the last minute though... thankfully, it is a stressful thing to do.

"Besides, it's foundations were early forms of nerdophiles trying to be 'scientific'" name me a field that has anything to do with science that this is not true for. In other words, what is your point?

What are psycologists going to do? It is like treating an addict of any kind. You can give them all the help in the world, but you can't help someone who doesn't want to help him/herself. Obese don't hit rock bottom until it is way too late.

No, really, every person who has "a problem" gets into psych. It's their 'groove' - where they find home.

You got no problems, you don't care.

Besides, also - most of the specified problems look like childhood and childish fears - and the whole field says there's something to cling to. Like most of their problems would otherwise simply be outgrown.

It's like religious people who pray to avoid the devil all the time and all they're actually doing is making the whole stupid, irrational and unreal fantasy, real for them.

There's a devil because they bring it up all the time.

But really, there's no devil.

And really, you got no problems. You only got so long to be happy, might as well stop wasting your time and throw off all the baggage.

It's just kid stuff anyway.

Oh dear god, here we go with stupid generalizations again...

You were diagnosed with bipolar disorder or schizophrenia were you not... those are the two who like to deny people have problems so I am just going to go ahead and label you... kind of like you label all psychologists.

I usually do not respond to you on general principle, but I stopped by this time to say... You are a very confuse individual... either that or very sarcastic, and never break character.

don't forget yourself!

If you take away the profit there will be no health care coverage, and at current it looks like the government is only going to give 5k coverage, that will not go far in an emergency. Regulating health care (since it appears that is all we are going to get to do) to where they are only making reasonable profits... well, that might be good, except they are going to keep trying to screw more and more people to get higher profits again.

...

Do you mean kind of like the way Nancy Reagan straitened up on the stem cell research when Ronald acquired Alzheimer's? I think these people are to jaded and far gone, they would just say that the government would have chosen to put whom ever the subject in question was down like a sick dog... its umm, a sick and sad state of affairs we have going on with all of these lobby groups and money grubbing corporations.

They simply need to make less.
I went to the emergency to get antibiotics on the weekend. The guy looked in my direction and left. I got a Bactrim pill - the weakest antibiotic made - worth a penny maybe.

They charged me $1800. $100 was for the Bactrim.

When you charge $100 for a dime's worth of goods, you make $100 worth a dime. Everybody's $100 - the whole money base becomes eroded.

They should charge what their services are actually worth. Five minutes of a doctor's time is worth no more than $50.
A Bactrim is worth no more than one dime.

If they charged good money for good service - if everyone in the country charged good money for good service - no gouging; if we got back into manufacturing quality products and stopped with the Chinese knock-offs, our country would get back on it's real feet - and you could go to the doctor again.

The insurance companies need to be out of the medical business. We don't have to put them in jail - or electrocute them like they deserve - and they really, really do deserve it, we just need to get them out of the health-care business and out of stealing the wealth of the country.

Maybe electrocute a few of them.

err, no. Just tell them to do something worthwhile with all the money they stole. They'll be happy in productive pursuits and so will we.

I would not like to see them loose it personally, unless it was to a single payer health care system that is.

Of course I don't want people to lose their insurance. No one should. I did, and it's horrible. I'm just saying it as an example.

The prescription drugs in the drinking water is a misnomer, they are there in such low trace levels they are barely detectable, and that is mainly in areas that have high levels of water cycling like when the sole water source is an aquifer... like deserts... why do people live in deserts? Pretty to visit... but... I duno, to each their own, I do some weird stuff too.

"Whatever happened to riding a bike??"

lol. I guess staying healthy is seen as so complicated that the idea of riding a bike has been overlooked.

Also parents need to teach their children about money & healthy eating habits. But I realize it's a sin these days to blame parents for anything.

But yeah, I agree, people need to learn this stuff. People need to learn how to take care of themselves. I think it has to be in a person's upbringing though for it to become deeply ingrained.

From what I have seen most kids do not really have parents these days... never mind ones that will teach them anything... or would be capable of it. No, we really need to get back to social reform and start really focusing on personalized education and in general taking care of our citizens... the fending for your own thing did not work.

I like the cooking and balancing checkbook thing, I think maybe one class per grade level including college (which I really think should be free... admission standards yes, tuition, no), maybe personal budget balancing would be better... but regardless, I think I am going to try bringing that up, it is a good idea.

Yes, yes, and yes. This is a no brained decision and it is being scoffed at, I simply do not understand it. We NEED a single payer health care system.

I, they guy who owns his own business and has half his family in the health services industry support this (they support it as well)... why wont other people wake up and explore the facts?

Ehh... I take care of myself and I still like my Budweiser... or better yet Shiner Bock... but fast food makes me feel a little sick when I eat it because I am not used to the grease these days... if you get the gears rolling toward real health care these things will take care of themselves... this is done by contacting senators and congressmen, asking them real and relentless questions, and supporting lobbyists (I hate lobbying, but in practice they get stuff done).

Ya, and those of us with a legitimate thyroid problem who are too physically exhausted on a daily basis to digest the food we eat are SUCH stupid people. I mean, I sleep 12 hours a day because I'm an ignorant person. How silly of me.

way to take things personally when my comment was directed at those who don't take care of themselves and rely on metaphorical "crutches", not at those with a genuine problem and are doing their best to cope....

Rush Limbaugh comes to mind... unfortunately he has enough money to save his own life... very unfortunate.

that last paragraph reminds me of the other current article today about the town hall man who got beat up and must now ask for donations....because he lost his job and health insurance!

http://current.com/items/90652043_uninsured-conservative-town-hall-activist-hurt...

Indeed, if we touted a real health care plan, and saved all of that money we could potentially include nutritionists and personal trainers onto what health care covers... who would not go to a nutritionist or personal trainers if it was already payed for by your health insurance... ladies all of you put your hands down... I see more women batting there eyes at muscular personal trainers a week than I care to think about right now.

The healthies way to eat is to eat fruits and raw vegtables mixed with 3-4oz of meat and an egg white or other small serving of protein daily. Pastas, and rice... you throw it in the rice cooker and forget about if for 15 minutes, far less time than you spend sitting in the drive through.
So you go and spend 30 minutes in the grocery store for 45 minutes once a week, and you open the fridge door a few times a day... how much time do you spend in drive through lines wasting gas every day? It is cheaper, healthier and more expedient to eat at home.

I mean I spend about 80-100 dollars a week on food, and I eat twice what most of you should, I am on a 4000 cal diet because I run and work out on a daily basis. You can eat for a week on 40-60 from the grocery store and it will be a very healthy week at that... and when you start loosing weight you will be a confident person again that does not feel bad about themselves or there appearance.

That's assuming that the grocery store is accessible, and you have transportation to get there.

There are neighborhoods--generally in poor urban areas--where the nearest grocery store is miles away. The only options are convenience stores or liquor stores, of some very small markets that sell mainly prepackaged food. If you don't have a car, you're stuck with a very long bus ride. Which, okay, you can take the bus but how do you carry a week's worth of food back, especially if you've got a whole family to feed. So, if you can't carry a week's worth at once, that means more than one trip, let's say 30 min-1 hour each way, per week. Then add to that a couple of kids to take care of, or the fact that you've just worked long hours at a physically demanding job, or that you're squeezing this trip in between your first job and your second. Oh, and then you have to find time to cook the food, too.

I'm not saying personal responsibility doesn't play a role here, because it does. But we should also be extending a hand up to people who want to take better care of themselves, but find themselves in a situation where they face huge obstacles.

Also, for the record, I don't think that government intervention is the only way to accomplish this; but I do think that without a push from the top (be it intervention or incentives) or a huge shift in societal attitudes pushed from the people, companies aren't likely to change.

I think that person should open their eyes and realize they are not the only one suffering, and open a grocery store in their area, even if it is a very small one. It is their ticket to not being to poor to afford transportation. Apathy is a disease of choice in most cases... thinking is the cure.

"But we should also be extending a hand up to people who want to take better care of themselves, but find themselves in a situation where they face huge obstacles."

I absolutely agree with that... I am guilty of being one of the people that helps sometimes.

You mentioned a push from the top... better public transit should be included in this...

"If you are more intelligent and more wealthy than average you can find a Trader Joe's or a Nature's or even a big supermarket with decent organic food. But then you need to take the time to prepare it, and it is more expensive."

Obese burger stuffing people don't need to switch to organic food in order to see great improvements in their health. It's not as if fast food & organic food are the only choices.

No, they could choose to eat healthier foods regardless of whether it's organic. Instead of the double burger combo meal they could buy some potatoes, greens, & meat & prepare those foods at home.

And it doesn't cost more. If you glance at the menu of a fast food restaurant, you'll notice these fast food meals can cost around $4 to $8.

A person can get much more food at a grocery store for what they pay for fast food. Obese people are not fat and unhealthy because they can't afford organic food.

As far as the time needed to prepare food, as somebody pointed out, it doesn't really take very long. I sure like that I can prepare meals without leaving my house. It doesn't take long to put a salad together, steam some potatoes, or put some chicken breast on the George Foreman. It's not difficult.

And for families. It can take a bit of time to get kids loaded in the car before even leaving for a fast food drive through.

People are just fat and unhealthy because of the decisions they make. It doesn't cost much in time or money to be healthy.

of course its not thier fault...its SOMEBODY elses fault..your right..

that is why corporate america OWNS you..

"Does not big business bear some responsibility?"

Big business owes you nothing. You owe big business nothing.

Don't like MacDonalds, don't visit them. Eating there is like casting a vote to allow them to stay. Not eating there is like a vote against them staying. If MacDonalds doesn't get enough votes, then they lose and they have to close down their store.

Then no more MacDonalds.

But people seem to like MacDonalds very well. MacDonalds is going to stay - because enough people want MacDonalds to stay.

In terms of their business, all MacDonalds owes to people is more of the food they want. All that people owe MacDonalds is money for the food.

It's not MacDonald's fault that people are fat. It's people's fault that people are fat.

Close the MacDonalds and Burger King will cater to the people. Close the Burger King and Wendy's will serve them.

Close down all "big business" fast food stores and "small business" fast food restaurants will be happy to serve the fast food demand. Maybe some of the "small business" fast food restaurants will grow into "big business" fast food restaurants.

It's just supply and demand. People want fattening food & they're going to get it.

And I'd bet that a good amount of people's fatness can be attributed to not just fast food restaurants, but to greasy fatty stuff that they get from their local grocery store. Chips, frozen dinners, breaded chicken wings, corn syrup drinks, bacon - They're going to get fat no matter what you do. They're not going to stop it, even if you cut off their biggest food sources.

The face needs fed, and it will find the fattening treats no matter where you hide them.

Ignorant.

Actually I know if I overindulge regularly in unhealthy foods, without proper exercise, I will gain fat.

Oh really, what about people with MS that eat right but can not exercise, women who go through menopause and put on weight uncontrollably no matter what they do... the list goes on.

My statement stands, that was ignorant.

Unfortunately, obesity for the most part is self-induced. Yes, there are special circumstances, but that is definitely the minority...

People who resort to name calling are not worth taking seriously.

Such small, petty minds have nothing of value to offer.

"Unfortunately, obesity for the most part is self-induced."

Absolutely true. People here are trying to bring up all kinds of exceptions and special circumstances. Sure, some people have a "glandular" problem, but in most cases, people's obesity is the consequence of their own choices.

Here's an activity for any doubters. Go to a grocery store. Look around at some of the obese people and take note of what's in their shopping carts. You aren't gonna see a bunch of carrots, apples, whole grains, etc...

Come on people, get a clue here.

Of course we understand that... all encompassing derogatory statements on the other hand are incorrect and lead to further discrimination... it is just like not speaking out against racism or sexism... it is not right and there for should not go unchecked.

"it is just like not speaking out against racism or sexism" Sorry Milchmann, Last I checked Fat People are not a race. I'm also sorry if my choice of vocabulary offended you. I believe we have a serious problem in this country with obesity. I do not believe that this has much to do with the diseases you mention or one possibly found on "the list that goes on." Americans are driving their own culture to shit. I find it disgusting so many people let themselves go, adding themselves to the stats. Now our children are the fattest in the damn world. Fat people are dumb and the people who feel sorry for them are too. Few of them may have some legitimate problems but MOST of them just EAT TOO MUCH FOOD. (and dont get off their fatasses to exercise.)

You know... I agree with everything you say... except the generalization that fat people are dumb... sick might be a better word, it encompasses those who can not help it without being derogatory and degrades those who can help it. Words are powerful things, and the way in which you use them effects more than you will ever know... in other words you never know what little thing you say is what a person will choose to latch onto, and the verbiage (that's a joke) you have chosen thus far conjures feelings of unrelenting hate... there are people who can not help them selves and will be caught up in it if that mentality spreads... saying someone is sick brings the feeling of wanting to help... and that is what we need to do, we need to help make these people better.

PS menopause is not a disease... everyone goes through it if they live long enough, including men

You are more compassionate for them than I am. I believe in survival of the fittest and my sympathy is minimal for drunks, drug addicts, the gluttonous and whoever sells their lives to their vice.

The apple corer, cores and slices an apple in literally less than a second. core a few apples stick them in the fridge, takes 2 minutes and the kids have a healthy snack. There are a ton of things that are easy to do like this.

http://www.amazon.com/Oxo-Grips-Apple-Corer-Divider/dp/B00004OCKT

That one is expensive, you can usually find them a the grocery store for $2-3.

Easy mac... blah, if you have to go with premade for what ever reason... making a sandwich is not that hard, nor does it take much time, but if you must, go with something like a lunchable, much healthier and takes even less effort.

"making a sandwich is not that hard, nor does it take much time"

Yup, making food is not hard. It's an easily acquired skill that's good to have. And it does not take a lot of time to cook. I like using a slow cooker which is also called a crock pot for cooking. In the morning in, I can put the ingredients in, set it on high, and by dinner time, I've got a great meal.

It's funny, and kind of sad, that people are less and less likely anymore to know how to cook meals for themselves and their families. It's really not that hard & it saves time and money.

I disagree with that, a lot of people want to change, they just do not have the support to keep it up, or they set their goals to high at first and fall off their wagon... knowing is only half the battle. People need to stop ignoring the cliches and being so quick to judge.

Here's a start: Don't eat processed food.

HAHAHAHh... neobunny, that just makes to much sense to be true.