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Comments on: Medical Costs of Obesity, Yearly, Per Person: $1,723 http://advancedmediterraneandiet.com/blog/2010/01/06/medical-costs-of-obesity-yearly-per-person-1723/ Ruminations on Weight Loss, Health, and Longevity Via the Mediterranean Diet Fri, 18 May 2012 08:50:01 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.1.3 By: Glenna http://advancedmediterraneandiet.com/blog/2010/01/06/medical-costs-of-obesity-yearly-per-person-1723/#comment-17472 Glenna Sat, 09 Jan 2010 15:16:49 +0000 http://advancedmediterraneandiet.com/blog/2010/01/06/medical-costs-of-obesity-yearly-per-person-1723/#comment-17472 I see these numbers live and in action every night during my work as a respiratory therapist. It's not just the diabetes that we hear so much about in the news. It's the folks we can't get off the vent following surgery, and the folks with chronic lung diseases and extra body fat (like me) who aren't doing their lungs any favors by carrying around extra weight pressing against their diaphragms, or the folks who get pneumonia, just pneumonia (that seems like it shouldn't be life-threatening in this day and age), who end up on mechanical ventilation, then with a tracheostomy, and then sometimes in a rehab hospital, all as a direct result of obesity. If it weren't for my job, I wouldn't be so acutely aware of how much and how little those numbers and those studies say. I see these numbers live and in action every night during my work as a respiratory therapist. It’s not just the diabetes that we hear so much about in the news. It’s the folks we can’t get off the vent following surgery, and the folks with chronic lung diseases and extra body fat (like me) who aren’t doing their lungs any favors by carrying around extra weight pressing against their diaphragms, or the folks who get pneumonia, just pneumonia (that seems like it shouldn’t be life-threatening in this day and age), who end up on mechanical ventilation, then with a tracheostomy, and then sometimes in a rehab hospital, all as a direct result of obesity. If it weren’t for my job, I wouldn’t be so acutely aware of how much and how little those numbers and those studies say.

]]> By: Steve Parker, M.D. http://advancedmediterraneandiet.com/blog/2010/01/06/medical-costs-of-obesity-yearly-per-person-1723/#comment-17474 Steve Parker, M.D. Sat, 09 Jan 2010 17:03:04 +0000 http://advancedmediterraneandiet.com/blog/2010/01/06/medical-costs-of-obesity-yearly-per-person-1723/#comment-17474 I see that reality every workday also, Glenna. Especially in terms of type 2 diabetes. I wouldn't be surprised if 40% of my hospitalized patients have T2DM. Thanks for your "real world" comments. -Steve I see that reality every workday also, Glenna. Especially in terms of type 2 diabetes. I wouldn’t be surprised if 40% of my hospitalized patients have T2DM.

Thanks for your “real world” comments.

-Steve

]]> By: isaac http://advancedmediterraneandiet.com/blog/2010/01/06/medical-costs-of-obesity-yearly-per-person-1723/#comment-17475 isaac Sat, 09 Jan 2010 18:13:15 +0000 http://advancedmediterraneandiet.com/blog/2010/01/06/medical-costs-of-obesity-yearly-per-person-1723/#comment-17475 The more I think about this issue, the more I've realized that it's choice, albeit unconscious that people make. Most people really would rather be given a pill down the road (future cost) in exchange for eating what they want and avoiding exercise (immediate gratification). It's a luxury that we're willing to foot the bill for, just like paying someone to mow your yard or cook your dinner at a restaurant. I don't think this will change much either until A) people start becoming more responsible for their healthcare costs (hitting people in the wallet is a great motivator) or B) healthcare begins to become rationed and patients have to choose between lifestyle choice or nothing. Unfortunately, we seem to be moving towards B. The more I think about this issue, the more I’ve realized that it’s choice, albeit unconscious that people make. Most people really would rather be given a pill down the road (future cost) in exchange for eating what they want and avoiding exercise (immediate gratification). It’s a luxury that we’re willing to foot the bill for, just like paying someone to mow your yard or cook your dinner at a restaurant. I don’t think this will change much either until A) people start becoming more responsible for their healthcare costs (hitting people in the wallet is a great motivator) or B) healthcare begins to become rationed and patients have to choose between lifestyle choice or nothing. Unfortunately, we seem to be moving towards B.

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