The Fatty McFatterson Disease

[Ddrak]

Doesn't sound like any of the PT's I've worked with. Maybe you work with assholes. I definitely wouldn't call being derisive a "decent" PT, are you sure you've actually worked out with personal trainers? They've always been very results oriented, serious, motivating and not at all demeaning about people.

/shrug. Maybe it's a cultural thing. I really didn't get as much "demeaning" from Minute's comments as you did. Then again, Aussies call each other "useless fat sacks of shit" as a term of endearment.

Dd

[Xican]

I'm with Dd (even if he is a useless fat sack of shit ). I didn't think it was overly derisive. The tone suggested he was mocking the decision more than the individuals to me. But that's just my interpretation. Minute, you should look at the positives here... Your business is about to go up. 95% of the people going to the doctor to find out how to 'cure' their disease are going to be told; "You're lazy and eat nothing but shit. Try eating better and working out." And that's where you come in.

I've lived my life at the apex of fitness. My family on the other hand has always been overweight. Of my entire family, I'm the only one over 6 feet and everyone is over 200lbs (and none of it is muscle tone). I have spent the last 3 months working with my brother (where I assure you, I was very derisive) to improve his overall health. He has lost 84lbs in that time and is under 200lbs for the first time in nearly 20 years. Equally, my mother is roughly 240lbs and suffers from multiple sclerosis, so her exercise options are very limited. She goes to aquafit classes 3 times a week, but is unable to shed weight, largely as a result of her medication and inability to regularly exert herself. So I feel I'm very familiar with obesity, overcoming it and being limited by it.

Having said all that, I still don't think it should be labeled a disease. I think it's a joke and just one more idea of how pathetically weak and politically correct our society is. Anyone with a pre-existing medical condition (whether mental or physical) is probably already in treatment. This doesn't do anything for them. The people who are obese because of their choices (diet, exercise, etc.) aren't going to gain anything from being told what they already know; You need to eat properly and exercise regularly if you want to maintain a healthy weight. Just seems like a waste of time to me, on an already over-burdened healthcare system.

[Harlowe]

This has nothing to do with political correctness and everything to do with a medical organization's findings. Labeling it a disease gives doctors the impetus to treat it and educate on prevention.

Here's a post that sums up why it's helpful...

http://www.boston.com/lifestyle/health/ ... /blog.html

In the end, the AMA’s decision was a necessary call to action given the need for preventive care. The debate over what the word “disease” means likely will continue, however the real task at hand is to prevent obesity from leading to chronic life-threatening conditions and reduce the spiraling health care costs fueled by a food environment that increasingly threatens our collective health.

[Arkaron]

Thanks for bringing up the food system. It is a staggering problem, especially in more rural areas.