Size 0, Healthy? Like obesity should the associated health problems be treated on the NHS?

Question

Last week I asked the question, should the 26st women be treated on the NHS. There was a mixed bag of answers; I suggested that a large coffin would be cheaper, but only to get ur attention. I feel that, like anorexia, obesity is a mental disorder and some treatment should be available to both. So what’s ur opinion, should size 0 women who fall ill through lack of eating receive help on the NHS?

I referred to size 0 women but men can also suffer from under eating problems too, than shouldn't be forgotten.

Answer 1

either way i think the NHS can be pretty bad at treating eating disorders..i have one and when i finally went to my gp she told me "its a phase, you'll grow out of it"..very helpful.

Yes I think anyone who needs help should be given it.. I hate the way food is seen as the unltimate weakness and that people who harm themselves, either by being, over weight, under weight, bulimic etc don't deserve help because it's thought they are "lacking in control"....

so should people who smoke and get cancer, respritory diseases etc not be treated? What about those addicted to drugs....alcohol..etc? What different about damage done through food related issues. Of those who put themselves in risky situations and get hurt? Is that not their fault....should we say they don't deserve help either?

People with Eating disorders of any type should be given help. Yes I am slightly biased as i have one...but i would honestly say this anyway....why should we decide who to help and who not to?

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Answer 2

I am normally a hard liner but on this one, I think it is a dangerous thing to stop treating certain people on the NHS - where do you draw the line? The perception is that an obese person has brought their condition on themselves and the anorexic is a victim however, both conditions can be a result of a mental disorder so how do you distinguish. It is bit like refusing to treat smokers which I believe is also wrong (particularly as smokers pay huge taxes on their ciggies).The NHS could always find an excuse not to treat someone. No, the NHS has to treat all fairly (although we all know this doesn't happen). The NHS do sometimes refuse to operate on either an obese person, too thin or a smoker on health grounds which is acceptable if they believe they will not make it through the op because of their bad health.

Answer 3

A lot of the time obesity is down to a poor diet and no exercise not because of a mental illness such as being an overeater or people who snack whilst sleep walking.

I feel that people should be better educated on cooking and preparing healthy meals - those overweight kids are overweight because their parents have fed them cr*p their whole lives and the same with the 26st woman.

Junk food is seen as the quick easy solution when a lot of people are busy but it is probably quicker to whip up a healthy stir fry. Some people are just plain lazy and that is why they are fat.

More people are size 0 through mental health problems than obsese people

Answer 4

Definately! It wasn't but a few years ago for me that I was a size 0, and still thaught I was fat. It took getting hospitalized and meeting with counselors and psych. that I realized I had a problem. Now I am a very healthy size 7 and my health has improved, my outlook on life has changed. I believe that anyone in this shape most likey has an eating disorder and deserves the same treatment and support as an obese person. Being that small can lead to death quickly, as overeating is a slow death.

Answer 5

Of course they should. It's the fault of the government that the NHS can't handle the volume of patients effectively not the patients. We either offer medical help to everyone or no-one. It's ridiculous. I've heard people say that smokers shouldn't get help on the NHS yet the government are more than happy to pocket the tax from cigarettes.

Answer 6

I am naturally a size 0, im not anorexic. I happily eat pizza, ice cream and i live on Dr.Pepper. But i do not understand people who deliberately loose weight in order to be a size 0. It doesn't look that great, ive just learnt to live with it (Its a pain buying jeans and tops aswel!)
People who are forcing their bodies to be around a size 0 should be treated if it is damaging their bodies to an extent that it could kill them. So yes, people who are strving themselves, through vain of wanting a smaller body should be treated as anorexix is a mental disease.....

Answer 7

They should be treated on the NHS.

Answer 8

Yes they should.