health costs increases????

[loves2laugh]

maybe this was spoken about on another thread but can someone please explain to me where this belief that fat people raise health costs came from? is there actually evidence to prove this?

[chickadee]

I'm interested as well.

I exercise more and eat better than my "thin" friends, and I have less health problems than them. But I'm somehow grouped into the "omg you're costing the nation millions of dollars because of your slovenly behaviors" category.

[SocialbFly]

for one, diabetes costs more, and weight is an increased risk for type 2 diabetes, more joint issues, mobility issues, more problems with heart disease, and i know some people would not believe this, but these facts are true unfortunately...i know as a nurse, i had the same thought, but it is true, unfortunately...

[Dr. Feelgood]

For what it's worth, the articles I've seen in the newspapers, magazines, and Internet news pages have not claimed that obese persons are costing the country money: so far, the claim has been that, in just a few years, these people's behavior is going to cost America a bazillion dollars. And I've been reading that claim on approximately a monthly basis for at least ten years. Draw your own conclusions...

[SocialbFly]

do you think?? i see lots of big people in the hospital, but i also know shame and lack of self esteem sometimes keeps us from going after the care we deserve and require??

i do think we will cost more, but so will the aging baby boomers too..

[SamanthaNY]

I believe we're sort of screwed coming and going on this one.

First and foremost, fat people are at higher risk for certain health complications, and while I *do* believe in 'fat and fit', sometimes I think people want to falsely cling to that concept and believe the risks aren't there. While being fit is wonderful - it doesn't mean that all risks are eliminated (reduced, maybe - eliminated, no).

Also... until medical record keeping and recording is made much more realistic (to say nothing of factual), fat and body size are going to continue to be blamed for a lot more health incidents and deaths than is correct. The health industry still toes the society line that "fat is bad!", and thus it's believed to be responsible for every health condition a fat person suffers. The most angering thing about this is that because of this bias, there will be no way to accurately tell what health costs obesity truly represents.

[Miss Vickie]

I believe we're sort of screwed coming and going on this one.

First and foremost, fat people are at higher risk for certain health complications, and while I *do* believe in 'fat and fit', sometimes I think people want to falsely cling to that concept and believe the risks aren't there. While being fit is wonderful - it doesn't mean that all risks are eliminated (reduced, maybe - eliminated, no).

Also... until medical record keeping and recording is made much more realistic (to say nothing of factual), fat and body size are going to continue to be blamed for a lot more health incidents and deaths than is correct. The health industry still toes the society line that "fat is bad!", and thus it's believed to be responsible for every health condition a fat person suffers. The most angering thing about this is that because of this bias, there will be no way to accurately tell what health costs obesity truly represents.

What you said. Every word. I think the problem in terms of blaming obesity is that it's in part a record keeping issue. When listing a patients' diagnoses, there might be several like 1. diabetes, 2. anemia, 3. obesity, 4. hypertension, etc. It seems like any time obesity is part of that equation (and it's a diagnosis itself, even if there are no co-morbids associated with it) then the other health problems are blamed on it. So even though I had normal pregnancies, in each of my charts was listed "obesity" as a problem and diagnosis, even though it had nothing to do with my pregnancy. So if I'd ended up with a cesarean for even iatrogenic reasons, my weight would have been blamed -- statistically speaking, at the very least.

I've been thinking about this lately, though. I agree with you, Sammie, that being fat can cause or contribute to some health care problems, and I learned in nursing school the mechanisms for those things, so it's not just doctors hating fat people. But I wonder if we could be minimize those co-morbids if we weren't so scared to see our health care providers regularly? I just wonder how much of this is a self-fulfilling prophecy, and when we do get regular, consistent, competent care, do those complication rates decline?

I know I'm not making much sense, but I'm tired. I'll try and clarify later.

[SamanthaNY]

I totally agree, Vicki - we contribute to our own health issues when we're afraid to see doctors, or afraid (or just too damn tired of it all) to go through the hell to find one who will treat us decently. It becomes a vicious negative cycle - but we're the ones that pay the price in the end, and in so many ways.

It seems like such a daunting problem, and I've been trying to think of ways to address it. It's one of the reasons I had high hopes for this board.

[loves2laugh]

thanks everyone for your thoughts:)

i still dont understand how my weight is increasing health care costs- i pay into my own health insurance no one is paying for me. i work for a doctor and you know what- the OLDER you get the more you cost - medicare, which my fat ass pays into every paycheck, pays the bill for those over 65 and here is another thought- not all those old people are fat. here is another thought- people without health insurance and cant afford to pay their medical bills increases health care costs- come on already- i know being fat has the potential for medical problems dont tell me it is the reason healthcare costs so much- you know what it sounds like- scapegoating- something is going wrong and someone has to take the focus off the problem so lets blame fat people and evereyone will be so busy looking at the size of their neighbors ass they wont realize the real problem. :mad:

grrrrrrrrrrr ok let me end this im sooooooo PMSing