What I have to say will probably offend some people or group of people, but
I felt the need to add my opinion to this discussion.
I had sextuple bypass surgery plus a carotid endartectomy(sp?) in June of
2000. I had been watching my diet closely and doing aerobics for almost 20
years, so my heart was extremely strong; that's why I'm still alive. I had
nine blocked arteries around my heart and a 90% blocked left carotid artery
with NO SYMPTOMS. But I digress from what I want to say ........
Even though I had watched my diet, I had been unknowingly eating partially
hydrogenated oils in almost everything I ate. It's in almost all baked
goods, peanut butter, margarine, shortening, and on and on. This trans-fat
is in fast food in extremely large amounts, so even though I eat out most
evenings and weekends, I still monitor what I'm putting into my body. If I
were to have eaten fast food, burgers and fries, and doughnuts, and most
brand-named peanut butter for the past five years, I would probably be dead
by now.
This is why I cannot fathom how a person who is severely over weight can go
into one of the fast food establishments for dinner, but they most certainly
do. If the Subway TV ads are true, one burger has more saturated fat in it
than a "healthy" person should consume in two or three days. If a person has
a weight problem, it is their responsibility to address it, not mine. When I
eat out, I go to restaurants that serve healthy foods which tend to cost
more than "fat burgers". I'm not expecting anyone to subsidize my choice of
restaurants, nor should they.
This same train of thought is applicable to people who smoke even though
they cough constantly and are frequently short of breath. (Your body is
trying to tell you something.) I know people who do this even though there
is a strong history of death from lung cancer in the family. I can't
understand that either. For the record, I smoked for 20 years before
quitting.
I don't know anything about the veracity of ANY set of statistics, but I do
know that I will do everything within my power to maintain my health through
exercise and a healthy diet. In my singular opinion, for me to do otherwise
would be a form of self destruction.
We are each responsible for our selves; if someone else helps us, it is a
pure gift. We have no right to inflict our personal choices on anyone else
by asking them to share the expense for those choices.
If I have offended you, I am sorry; that was not my intention.
Michel Holder
-----Original Message-----
From: UTC Staff E-Mail List [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of W.
Leroy Fanning
Sent: Monday, September 19, 2005 2:16 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [UTCSTAFF] Here's The Latest
Medicaid and health care costs continue to rise due to increased use of
medications and long-term care, as well as higher incidence of preventable
illness and disabling conditions. Cost-containment strategies are failing,
and policymakers are confronting the root causes of rising costs, namely
chronic diseases. Obesity is a primary cost driver, causing or complicating
many chronic conditions.
Overweight and obesity result from consuming more energy<or food<than is
burned through activity or exercise. Primary behavioral factors that cause
obesity are physical inactivity and poor nutrition. Lack of environmental
supports for healthy choices where we work, live and play contribute to
these risks.
Despite the proven benefits of physical activity, more than 50% (67% in
Tennessee) of American adults do not get enough physical activity to provide
health benefits (30 minutes of moderate physical activity at least 5 days
per week), and 24 percent are not active at all in their leisure time.
Obesity costs Americans $117 billion annually, including $61 billion in
direct medical costs for treatment of related diseases plus $56 billion in
indirect costs such as lost productivity.
Health care costs are 36% higher and medication costs are 77% higher for an
obese person compared to an individual at healthy weight.
If 10% of adults began a regular walking program, $5.6 billion in heart
disease costs could be saved.
................Source: National Institute for Health
Do your part! Get off your "Fatty-Acids" and join me and go play.
Leroy Fanning
Health and Human Performance
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