[quote=CA renter]I also have to address the notion that you can avoid health problems by “eating right and getting exercise.”
We’ve known a surprisingly large number of young people (under 50 years old) who’ve been diagnosed with cancer — just estimating, maybe ~20 people or so. The first overweight person is this group was a cousin of mine who died from colon cancer this year. Every single other person was young, fit, and very health-conscious, even to the extreme of only eating organic foods and running/riding bikes 15+ miles per day. Many of these people had the same arrogant attitude toward overweight people and sickness that I see here. I’m not saying it’s healthy to be overweight, and it’s certainly not healthy to be obese, but too many people seem to miss the fact that genetics are a much bigger risk factor than simply being overweight (and obesity is most certainly genetic, in many cases, BTW). Don’t forget accidents and illnesses that are caused by other risky behaviours like drinking, smoking, or having unprotected sex. Add to that the expensive surgeries required by athletes who are injured while participating in sports (we know a number of these, too!). Don’t forget those who get in car or motorcycle accidents, or who fall off a ladder when doing home repairs, etc.
Anecdotally, another good friend who has always exercised religiously and “taken good care of herself” had a stroke earlier this year. She was in her 30s. Another very fit friend in his 40s just recently had a heart attack…while exercising.
Trying hanging around a chemo room someday. You’ll see very few “obese” people. Sadly, you’ll see a surprising number of very young, very fit people in there.
People who think they control their own fate WRT their health are very naive. If you remain uninsured simply because you are young or fit, you’re asking for serious problems, IMHO.[/quote]
CA: I don’t disagree with your last statement, but I want to point out that, medically speaking, it DOES benefit one to eat properly and exercise.
My remarks about diet and exercise weren’t meant to single out overweight people. However, as a youth coach, I will tell you that kids nowadays ARE, generally speaking, more likely to be overweight and, more importantly, out of shape. They tend to be more sedentary than we were as kids (I’m 44, so we’re talking about growing up during the 1970s) and tend to eat more and more poorly, both in terms of volume and dietary choices.
Obesity in this country is endemic, and especially among the youth. Saying that is not a condemnation of overweight people, but it does underscore that, as a nation, we’re doing a pretty crappy job of looking after our health and our children’s health.
Add the reduction or elimination of PE and physical fitness programs at the elementary and middle school levels and you now have the whipsaw effect of overworked parents feeding their kids McDonalds due to time constraints and the kids not getting a decent amount of physical exercise as part of a daily routine.
The effects are pernicious, and a simple glance at the skyrocketing rates of juvenile diabetes supports this statement. When you look at the data and start targeting groups like kids from single parent families, or minorities, or lower end socio-economic backrounds/geographies, it becomes even more glaring.
