fat-friendly doctors? Need suggestions!! (quality, commercial, white)

[ionlife]

Originally Posted by Charles

I think you look great.

haha... thanks charles... smoke and mirrors / smoke and mirrors.

[BigDGeek]

Originally Posted by tammie2

Cancer?
Somehow I don't think you are being honest with yourself if you believe that one. Every person I have known with cancer has been thin. Not saying there aren't choices that can improve your chances, but weight has never been linked there....to my knowledge anyway.

Sorry to burst your bubble but obesity is a known risk factor for breast cancer in addition to colon, endometrial, kidney, and esophageal cancer. There is also correlation between insulin resistance, commonly found in overweight/obese people, and certain types of cancer (such as pancreatic cancer).

This is nothing new; this is common knowledge. Being thin does not mean you will never develop cancer, but being overweight or obese does increase your risk.

[ionlife]

But being too thin carries its own risks. We know of a family held hostage by their anorexic daughter--it's awful. She is literally one windstorm away from blowing to Kansas. That is equally as hard, if not harder, on the heart for the body literally eats its own muscles to survive. Now she is so thin, painfully so, that I fear she might suffer permanent heart damage.

[BigDGeek]

Originally Posted by dramamama

But being too thin carries its own risks. We know of a family held hostage by their anorexic daughter--it's awful. She is literally one windstorm away from blowing to Kansas. That is equally as hard, if not harder, on the heart for the body literally eats its own muscles to survive. Now she is so thin, painfully so, that I fear she might suffer permanent heart damage.

Anorexia carries its own risks but it is disingenuous to say that people of a normal body weight are anorexic, or face the same health risks that anorexics do. I weigh 136 pounds and am 5'6", my blood pressure (checked today at the dentist) is 111/74, and my resting heart rate is 69 bpm. Basically those vital statistics are a doctor's dream. My BMI (21.9) is within the healthy range and I have a healthy cardiovascular picture. My cholesterol is in the healthy range too, as is my blood glucose (neither have ever been high).

Not all "thin" people are knocking at death's door. I am certainly not.

On the other hand I have several friends who are obese. Having been obese myself (and lost the weight normally, not through surgery), I do not nag them or bring attention to their weight, there is no need, they know how big they are and it is not my place.

However there is not one of them who does not have a major health complaint related to their obesity. One is diabetic at 35, all are hypertensive, a couple have sleep apnea, several have gastrointestinal complaints like constant heartburn, acid reflux, etc.; none of them have any stamina and all of them become winded from walking up a flight of stairs. All of them are under 50 years old, most of them under 40.

I was once hypertensive and suffered from gastritis, but the weight loss fixed that. You cannot convince me that these complaints were not related to my own obesity. I used to have constant pain in my ankles, knees, and hips. My ankles were constantly swollen. I got headaches all the time. I got out of breath from walking up a flight of stairs. I do not have any of those problems anymore. I do not think this is a coincidence.

[tammie2]

I think we need to agree to disagree bigd. I will never say that obese is healthy, just that it isn't the be all end all. My father had a similar health profile to yourself about 10 years ago, he passed away a short year later after succumbing to cancer. Any person can be healthy, any person can be unhealthy, there are a miriad of choices, and even more reasons that factor into a full health profile-other than just weight.

[tammie2]

I also congratulate you on your weight loss and I wish you continued success.

[BigDGeek]

Originally Posted by tammie2

I think we need to agree to disagree bigd. I will never say that obese is healthy, just that it isn't the be all end all. My father had a similar health profile to yourself about 10 years ago, he passed away a short year later after succumbing to cancer. Any person can be healthy, any person can be unhealthy, there are a miriad of choices, and even more reasons that factor into a full health profile-other than just weight.

Originally Posted by tammie2

I also congratulate you on your weight loss and I wish you continued success.

I'm sorry about your father. I have said before that being thin is not a 100% guarantee that you will not die young, or that you will not develop cancer. However, being overweight or obese does increase your risk of developing not only certain types of cancer, but various other life-shortening health problems as well. Some of it is just bad luck, some is due to chemical/industrial exposure to various carcinogens, and some of it scientists have not figured out yet. But what they have figured out is that obesity shortens average lifespans, impacts productivity, and raises healthcare costs for everyone. Those are indisputable facts.

Thank you for your kind wishes; some people are genetically predisposed to gain weight, like me, and keeping the weight off will require the lifestyle changes I have made to be permanent. It takes discipline and willpower. Losing weight is easy. Keeping it off is not.

[ionlife]

I think the important thing is to be sensitive and kind to other people who have issues with their bodies. Today's society just makes it so hard, especially for young girls. If we can be nice, just plain nice, and respect people for WHO they are rather than their body size, their poster names, or their whatever, then I think the world will be a much better place.

[Charles]

Originally Posted by dramamama

Today's society just makes it so hard...

It seems like 90% of the time I see a female between 16 and 30 reading, she's reading a magazine it has something to do with glamor, movie stars, gossip, or "lose 20 pounds in 3 days".

[ionlife]

There is a great DOVE commercial that shows how PHOTOSHOP really distorts even beautiful women to be more so... it's amazing the standards that are out there for young women to look up to...

As a mom of a beautiful young teen, I can say it's a fine line -- glad to say she's got a healthy attitude and a healthy body, but this didn't happen by accident.