As I was reading The New York Times I came across an article written by Denise Grady entitled Weight-Loss Surgery, No Cutting Required. (http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/21/health/21weig.html?ref=science) This immediately caught my attention, surgery without cutting? I read on, and discovered that this groundbreaking surgery entails the surgeon feeding a stapler down the patient’s esophagus and stapling the stomach from the inside.
However, what I thought about more is what exactly made this patient need the weight-loss surgery in the first place. The obesity epidemic in this country is truly disheartening. The fact that, as a country, we are creating “ground breaking” surgeries to make people less fat is a little pathetic. According to the article, “About 15 million Americans are morbidly obese, meaning their body mass index — a type of weight/height ratio — is at least 40 (overweight begins at 25).” Why is America eating itself to death?
There needs to be something done with this epidemic. The news talks about all the plans of action that are creating better gym classes and healthier meals yet seems as though the only thing that is being created is more life saving surgery for the increasing number of obese people in America.
2 comments:
I also think it is really sad that so many people are gaining so much weight. For some people obesity is hereditary which is sad because only so much can be done for them to lose weight, but then there are those who do not take care of their bodies. I am by no means completely dedicated to going to the gym everyday, but I do usually make it there at least two to three times a week which is not very hard. I do not see why some people are not willing to do a few 30 minute exercises here and there to keep themselves healthy. Exercise does not only keep people in shape but it also good for your heart and helps people live longer lives. I worked at a restaurant last summer and it amazed me the number of people who would come in at 11:00 and eat full meals. If people would be willing to make a few changes in their lives by either working out more, eating healthier, or ideally both, it would be pretty easy to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
Here's the answer (written with an inflated head, of course): make fast food incredibly expensive and fresh vegetables, fruit, and lean meats bargain basement prices. The government could subsidize the healthy food availability so that less wealthy can eat well.
Fast food is cheap and deadly. The poor and lower middle class eat it, and feed their children it. The children's metabolisms are screwed up from an early age. Anyone who goes shopping at the grocery store and buys healthy foods knows that eating unprocessed foods (on the perimeter of the store, not in the aisles) is expensive, even for those making around 30k a year.
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