Why is it that so recently people are becoming so obese?

Question

I dont mean overwieght or fat. I mean obese. I work in a building with 400 people and I would estimate that close to 100 of them are at least 100 pounds over weight, and several of them are cruising 375 and 400 mark.

What is the problem with the healthcare system?
Why arent these people's doctors doing more to come up with radical weight loss strategies, such gastric bypass and doctor prescribed liquid diets?

I blame the medical professionals and the medical insurance companies for not being more agreessive about this problem.

As someone that has to pay a monthly fee to have health coverage, I blame these types of people for not being aggressive because the people that are obese are making my healthcare costs higher, because they are a drain on the system.
The obese people have more health problems as a result of their obeseity. Obeseity contributes to high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, leg and hip problems.

Please tell me your thoughts on this.

Answer 1

O_o Well, it's nice to see someone concerned with obesity for health's sake, for once.

But there are a lot of factors that are leading to the obesity problem, and very little of that blame actually rests on doctors' shoulders. Blame parents, likely overweight themselves, for teaching their children bad habits early in life. Blame food companies for the addictive, malnutritious, and other junky substances they put in their food, and for the way they specifically target children in advertising of unhealthy foods, leading to bad food choices later. Blame society as a whole for being too fast-paced and individual-oriented, which has caused fast-food trips, dinners out, and pre-processed meals to be the norm rather than the exception. Blame television, movies, and video games for encouraging a sedentary lifestyle. Blame the obese people themselves for not having the willpower to get their butts off the couch and get exercising- ANY MOVEMENT IS GOOD FOR YOU!

But really, if it wasn't obesity, the insurance companies would find plenty of other people to raise your costs for you. The insurance companies, the pharmaceutical industry- it's just that. It's Business. They're out to make money like everyone else, so they're going to charge you no matter what the problem is.

Answer 2

Obesity is a multifaceted problem in this country. Life is increasingly sedentary....more people sitting at their computers than are out and about and excercising. Fast food....the rise in clinical depression...blaming the healthcare system is like blaming firefighters for not preventing an arsonist from doing his thing, and makes about as much sense. In many areas, it simply isn't safe to leave your house. There are a lot of reasons why the weight averages are climbing. Primarily, the blame has to rest with the individual, if you just must place blame anywhere. Each of us makes a conscious choice to overeat or not. Very few insurance companies will cover the cost of bariatric treatments, like gastral bypass surgery....or physician supervised diets for that matter...you might blame them too. I would suggest that lobbying your government to force adequate healthcare coverage at an affordable price might be one way to be part of the solution, instead of just sitting and pointing your finger.

Answer 3

I think people today are eating way too much fast foods. Life is really fast paced these days. Also, no ones getting the exercise needed to get rid of that fast food. I think Doctor's are more aware of this, their just not sure how to handle it. There's diet, exercise, gastric stapling. etc. I wish all the overweight people good luck in losing. All that excess weight is no good for the heart.

Answer 4

I couldn't disagree more...
Our society is responcible for the obecity that you see, not our doctors. Doctors are suposed to cure everything, even peoples problems with weight, overeating, slotheness... ok. Why do people go shopping with motorized shopping carts, drive everywhere and loop endlessly in parking spots waiting for the best spot. Why do they walk out to thier car and drive 500 yards to get to the next store? I won't even get into the healthy American diet.
My mom was overweight for most of my life untill recently where she decided to change some very unhealthy habits on her own.
Exercise is esential to healthy life and the american way of life is not very conductive of movement of any kind except in a car, escalator, or conveyor belt. Many areas of the US don't even have sidewalks.

Answer 5

I think its the things that we eat......some right now we are on hard times.....its like this why buy Orange Juice for $2.74 when you can get two 2 liter pops for $2.00.......I try to eat healthy but it cost so much more....when you can get great deals on the unhealthy things because of it being cheaper.
Another this is the exercising, it costs nothing to walk around your neighborhood a few times a day, but that's not appealing to the eye.
Parents are not teaching their children good eating habits......instead of having them to explore different fruits and vegetables they are not taking the time to cook its fast food....
The average child can point to a McDonald's logo and say McDonald's and they cant read yet....
Steroids and things is in our food that can affect our health.
Every one wants results for weight loss but they are not willing to give up and sacrifice old eating habits to make it long-term....
Tell my what you think of that.....
You cant just blame the medical professions....every one in that situation is at fault..