It's official: Obesity is now an "illness".

[Fausto]

Revised Policy Treats Obesity Under Medicare

"Obesity is a critical public health problem in our country that causes millions of Americans to suffer unnecessary health problems and to die prematurely," Tommy G. Thompson, secretary of Health and Human Services (news - web sites), said at a Senate subcommittee hearing where he announced that Medicare officials were removing the statement that "obesity itself cannot be considered an illness" from the Medicare manual.

Under the new policy, Medicare beneficiaries would be able to obtain coverage for treatments ? such as gastric bypass surgery ? if "scientific and medical evidence demonstrate their effectiveness in improving Medicare beneficiaries' health," the department said in a statement.

 

[Legendary]

Next on the list - stupidity, laziness, and falling down the stairs.

 

[Chronoshock]

Originally posted by: Legendary
Next on the list - stupidity, laziness, and falling down the stairs.

Lol :laugh:

 

[m2kewl]

:Q

OMG! that is just plain sad.

 

[Aharami]

Originally posted by: Legendary
Next on the list - stupidity, laziness, and falling down the stairs.

yea. i dont believe that any fat person cant lose weight by eating right (amounts) and exercising regularly. just that they see no results after they start and give up quickly. but there is no gain without any pain

 

[Scarpozzi]

I eat because I'm unhappy and I'm unhappy because I eat.. it's a vicious cycle

-Fat Bastard

 

[maziwanka]

bah

 

[Vic]

Everybody with their goddamned hands out... :|

 

[halik]

repost look in P&N

 

[NathanBWF]

Great. Another excuse for fat people to be fat. "OH I CAN'T LOOSE WEIGHT...I HAVE AN ILLNESS!"

:roll:

 

[So]

I'll advocate obesity being a disease, so long as the only treatment that medicare will cover is a shotgun blast to the gut.

 

[Fausto]

Originally posted by: halik
repost look in P&N

I make a point of not looking in P&N, thanks.

 

[Bulk Beef]

Originally posted by: Fausto

Originally posted by: halik
repost look in P&N

I make a point of not looking in P&N, thanks.

Smart man.

 

[PingSpike]

Originally posted by: So
I'll advocate obesity being a disease, so long as the only treatment that medicare will cover is a shotgun blast to the gut.

I would like to subscribe your newsletter.

 

[PingSpike]

Originally posted by: Fausto

Originally posted by: halik
repost look in P&N

I make a point of not looking in P&N, thanks.

P&N is like heroin, its hard to stop once you start. And if you ever go back, even once, it starts all over again.

 

[lobadobadingdong]

why the fvck should my tax dollars be spent helping people who refuse to lose weight and develope a healthier lifestyle?

 

[Electric Amish]

It depends on the cause of the obesity.

There are lots more causes than just being lazy and eating too much.

 

There are other causes for obesity than just an unhealthy lifestyle.

I find it funny how you moral warriors jump all over this.

 

[Heisenberg]

So now in addition to busting my ass at the gym, I have to pay for somebody to sit at home and eat Cheetos all day. Great, that's just great.

(While I do realize there are other causes of obesity in some cases, the vast majority is from lifestyle choices.)

 

[Bulk Beef]

Originally posted by: SampSon
There are other causes for obesity than just an unhealthy lifestyle.

I find it funny how you moral warriors jump all over this.

Got any percentages on how many people live healthy lifestyles and weigh 400+ lbs? Serious question. Every time the issue of obesity comes up, the issue of "glands" or "big bones" comes up with it, but I really have to wonder how many of these people become morbidly obese while eating 2500 calories/day and getting a little exercise.

 

[andylawcc]

truely a sad day for America... (no, not for Martha going to jail)


so I have to pay more tax dollar because you can't stop eating?
sh1t, let's get fat and get paid!

 

[Fausto]

Originally posted by: sward666

Originally posted by: SampSon
There are other causes for obesity than just an unhealthy lifestyle.

I find it funny how you moral warriors jump all over this.

Got any percentages on how many people live healthy lifestyles and weigh 400+ lbs? Serious question. Every time the issue of obesity comes up, the issue of "glands" or "big bones" comes up with it, but I really have to wonder how many of these people become morbidly obese while eating 2500 calories/day and getting a little exercise.

My sentiments exactly. It's not like there's some virus going around altering people's genetic makeup causing the massive (heh..pun) upswing in obesity in the last 20-30 years. Sure, some people have a problem, but I'd wager the vast majority just eat a lot and don't work out. Hardly a "disease".

 

[SuperTool]

Who was that republican on Charlie Rose yesterday saying the growth of medicare, along with long term taxcuts and social security was going to bankrupt the country?

 

[SludgeFactory]

Originally posted by: lobadobadingdong
why the fvck should my tax dollars be spent helping people who refuse to lose weight and develope a healthier lifestyle?

well our health insurance dollars (govt and private) already are.

it seems to me that the govt has finally decided that paying to chop stomach capacities down to nothing is cheaper than supporting decades of obesity-related cardiovascular/orthopedic/cancer/etc healthcare per individual.

Looks like right now is a good time to be a bariatric surgeon.

 

[Fingolfin269]

I think it's laughable that I have to pay tax money that goes to Medicare which happens to cover fat people while also shelling out ~$40 per month for my gym membership.

HMMMMM, maybe the government should pay for my gym membership since I'm avoiding becoming fat by going there? Then again, rewarding proactive behavior might have a negative effect on something.