Obesity causes 100,000 U.S. cancer cases a year

Debi, assume you are right and they do not know what causes cancer. Now assume that everyone who falls into a certain catergory (like obersity or smoking or whatever) gets cancer more than the average, why would you want to fall into that category?

If you are obese, why would you want to remain so when a preponderance of evidence indicates that a higher rate of cancer and heart disease and diabetes and just about every chronic disease happens to this group of people much more than others?

The Direct link folks is what has been for a long time put into our food supply. Chemicals given to cows, farm pond fish, name it and cancer causing chemicals are there...however the American people have for over 50 and more years did not believe corp want harm them let along give a rats butt and the medical field are aware and have been. It's like that big Pink elephant in the living room...don't see anything here.

To the I'm so thin I eat properly and exercise "watch what you brag about,I have seem many "thin" I exercised everyday die from cancer. There is so much more to what is "hidden" than talked about or seen in news reports

Ok - so if we want to directly correlate BMI to disease and medical spending, over 90% of medical spending is directed towards people who are not overweight or obese.

Sooooooo, it's safer to be fat?

These "studies" crack me up. Great headlines, and then at some point later we learn that well, really, uh, we're not sure the data is accurate, other factors are involved, etc...

It's like there is a whole industry that does nothing but feed BS to the masses day in and day out for profit. Oh wait, that would be the "old media" companies who are financially dying on the vine. Huh.

You are absolutely full of @!$%#. In 2010 cancer is expected to be the leading cause of death around the world, vegetarian nomads to urban cheesesteak eaters.

And as far as the medical field (whatever THAT means) "are aware and have been", again you're full of crap. Your'e saying they've hidden the real effects of "food additives". Sure. Name one or shut up.

 Everyday some new discovery has been researched, as to what causes this or that. It would seem to me that this article is just another way for the insurance companys and government to scare people into there so called health reform bill. If they really wanted to actually do the people a favor they would actually release a cure for some of these diseases, that is if they do exsist, than again if there was a cure they wouldnt release it, it dosent follow there agenda.

Actually, Looking at studies and statistics, there is a correlation (and not too strong at that) between obesity and cancer. Not a causal relation... a correlational. There has never been a study proving obesity causes cancer. It only says "out of our study groups" there was more cases of cancer amongst those who were overweight. Note, that they never tell you the numbers? For all you know (seriously - go look at the numbers) it could be 1 more person got cancer in the obese group (not the case, but unless you know they won't tell you) than in the "slender" group. There are so many compounding factors that it is impossible to say "obesity causes cancer". Here's why:
Amongst sample groups there is no equal representation of genetic background nor predisposition to cancer. So one group could be slightly more prone (or less prone) to cancer.
Diets amongst groups are not the same. The fact is, in order to prove it is obesity (as opposed to complex factors) all study groups would have to eat the exact same foods, quantities, brands, etc.
Exercise amongst groups is not the same. See above.
Smoking, drug, and alcohol intakes are not regulated. Many people who are obese are also smokers. The fact is that what is being taken in by these people normally relies on self-reporting and/or is completely ignored. The lengths of these studies are over years (otherwise they are irrelevant) and it is impossible to keep a large sample population (a necessity for accurate statistics and comparisons) regulated perfectly.
The fact of the matter is, it is just as likely that the increase in cancer cases is caused by:
Car exhaust
Air pollution
Food additives
Household and/or Industrial chemicals
Genetically altered food
Exercise
Drug habits
etc...
Show me a scientist who claims he has precisely and empirically proven the link between obesity and cancer... because there isn't a legitimate scientist that can.

Is there any disease that has been cured by science?

Hey! let the tabacco kill them all! don't worry about the rest, it's just B.S.

Bobyoung, there hasn't been a disease that has been completely cured by science, but I would rather live in a world in which the prevalence of such diseases is much lower. Or would your rather live in a world in which scores of people die from malaria, polio, MMR, chicken pox, and on and on.

I know this is going to sound anticlimactic, but many, if not most, cases of cancer can be thought of as a disease of old age.

Let's think about it. Most cases of cancer strike people age 55 or older. Obviously there are cases of childhood cancer, but the odds rise from 1/2000 children age 15 and younger to 1/3 people who live to age 80. In the past, relatively few people lived to be much older than age 60.

The longer a person lives, the greater the chance one of our many trillions of cells will incur enough genetic mutations to turn that cell into a malignant neoplasm, a.k.a. cancer.

That said, the incidence of many cancers (lung, throat, kidney, pancreas) are lower in non-smokers. Similarly, people who consume little or no alcohol are less likely to end up with pancreatic or liver cancer.

Obesity is a general threat to a person's health. It definitely raises the risk of high blood pressure, diabetes, stroke, and heart attack. As far as cancer goes, it is an indirect risk factor compared to known carcinogens like tobacco, asbestos, or certain viruses.

A small percentage of cancers demonstrate a hereditary pattern, and many of the genetic mutations have been elucidated, for example, familial breast cancer (BRCA-1), retinoblastoma (Rb), polypoid and non-polypoid familial colon cancer (FAP, HNCC, p53), renal cell (VHL), multiple endocrine neoplasia (RET, NF-2, others).

Hope that puts the cancer epidemic in perspective.

moooooooooooooo

This article lacks a lot of information. It just sounds more like a promotion for fat-phobia or sizeism, or another excuse for people to bash people for being "bigger" than the average person.

You have options in your life...like eating properly and exercising.

Obesity is not always food related. Obesity can be genetic, some people are just genetically predisposed to gain weight, some people can also just have big bones. Some people can also eat properly and exercise and not lose weight. People can also gain weight as a side effect due to certain medications they're taking.

No one wants to kiss that massive @ss of yours....no body....

That kind of talk is a form of sizeism and or fat-phobia, and that kind of talk also doesn't help to combat the "obesity epidemic." You just make people feel worse about themselves and that doesn't motivate them to lose weight or feel good about themselves enough to lose weight or to change their life.

I love it...everything causes cancer. Who knew?

My favorite statistic was "1.47 million people will be diagnosed cancer this year and 562,000 will die of it" That means almost 1 million will NOT die of it this year. And further along the same line...100% of all people will die of something at some point in their lives.

Shocking really, we should do something about all these people dying. Let's outlaw life.

Now, who in the world could possibly be behind this sort of propaganda? Maybe the insurance companies who stand to benefit by billions of dollars by denying claims to "obese" people? Or maybe their politician buddies who's political campaigns are made possible by the insurance companies' contributions of millions of dollars? Think about it for a while.

So explain to me why the most famous cancer patients are thin!!! Do the reseacher think we are idiots? The researchers lose a lot of credibility when they publish papers with weak correlations like this. They should quit wasting their time and our dollars. They don't know what causes cancer so they maybe should wait to find out something before they try to grab the headlines. It really is irritating that they keep publishing this stuff when it is so unconvincing.

Farrah Fawcett.

Susan G Koman, the tennis star, and her sister Nancy Brinker.

Nancy Reagan, size 0 zero!!!!

Betty Ford, pencil thin model who was first lady.

Patrick Swazey.

Let me give the researcher a clue. It is genetic and exposure to toxins such as tobacco smoke. The researcher need to come up with SOMETHING a little more believeable and useful.

The researchers need to come up with treatments that don't kill people. And they need to find a CURE!!! and quit forcing people to take treatments that are worse than the disease. The treatments that are too damn ineffective and expensive and dangerous.

I quit listening to that crap when they said Mother`s milk causes cancer. The truth is they don`t really know what causes canter and in 3 years they might even say that the swine flu shot causes cancer.

DNA damage causes cancer. If the damage occurs in somatic (body) cells, the cancer will most likely occur later in life. If the damage is in genetic cells, it will be passed on to children.

Most of the damage to our DNA is caused by metabolizing the food we eat. The rest is caused by background radiation from outer space and decaying uranium in the earth.

We all be getting more exercise once gasoline prices rise again.

I'm with you, these studies are pure crap!

I am a skinny gal, 98 pounds since 9th grade (I am now 39) and I got cancer when I was 34. Explain that with your fat studies!!

Also, non-drinker, non-smoker and shopped at Whole Foods, spending way more than I should have for Mo$%^r frakkin organic crap and I still got cancer.

They need to find a freaking cure for cancer and stop trying to blame the victim.

How do you explain Christina Applegate getting breast cancer at 36? She was skinny and healthy.

How about Cynthia Nixon, skinny and healthy.

Maura Tierney, skinny and healthy.

Hello!!! Just cure the damn thing already.

There are numerous reasons, not least of all being genetic, for reasons for being afflicted w/ cancer....

However, none can deny precursors, lifelstyle habits, personal health choices that exacerbate and contribute to cancer. Obesity and overtly high BMI's not only contribute to cancer, but other health problems... no different from smoking and drinking to excess.

It is probably a modest estimate that obestiy, the chemicals in high fat foods, the lack of excercise and abuse of one's body lead to 100K worth of cancer or other health care preventables. If doing math, this tranlsates to an average of 300K worth of treatments, at the modest 100k per year, that ARE preventable, at a cost to insurance and med professionals of 30 BILLION DOLLARS PER YEAR.

And again, this is a modest estimate. Morbidly obese doesn't just cause direct correlative diseases, it exacerbates others. Considering that very few cases are of genetic or primary causation, this means the vast majority could be curtailed and avoided.

But, sure... let's just continue the discussions about why we need government and tax payer subsidized insurance, no concerns about unemployment and underemployment numbers, and no responsibilities for one's own health condition. Thirty billion is certainly an understatement.

We don't need to have jobs to care for ourselves, and no one needs to be responsible for their own choices.... we just have to be politically correct, and overtly tolerant of Big Pharma... "just be yourself; not everyone is meant to be Barbie"...

Isn't there something more than choice A or B, black or white?

I think we need to get the government more involved with healthcare.

So why aren't obesea maericans ostrisized like smokers? i can't smoke at the restaurant, concerts, airplanes, malls, etc. but i can get stuck being sandwiched between two people who spill over their seats into my space, pay more at buffets because the FAT family of six next to me is eating enough for 115 average people my insurance premiums pay for them not only to get bariatric surgeries, but then plastic surgery as well to remove all the excess skin their self-imposed obesity caused. but hey, let's let them blame everyone but themselves and keep on ignoring the fact that being fat is no better than a self imposed smoker. I am the reason I smoke, I am aware of the risks, and I am treated like an outcast in public. Hmmmmm quit ignoring the problem and go on a diet and exercise program or shut up. maybe you should be banned from public places too. oh yeah, that would be discrimination - because their are so many obese lawmakers.

Frankly? These guys lost all credibility when they linked it to BMI.

BMI?! REALLY?!

Geez! That load of crud's been floating around since it was developed by a sociologist with no medical training in the 1800's!!!!!

Oh yeah, that's science.....

These guys should go back to their blood-letting and leeches and leave the real medical professionals alone.

As Bill Hicks so eloquently put it "Healthy people die every day."

Cancer is big business today...With all the money raised, I find it hard to swallow that they have not been able to create some treatment, outside Chemo or Radiation, to treat this disease...

As far as obesity...Well, think about it...How many people allow or at least encourage their kids to go outside and play to get some exercise...I don't think many do, instead they buy computers and gaming consoles so they can sit and play, thus get no exercise...

On one side, you have people crying for more healthy food, but continue to allow their kids to become couch and computer potatos...Kind of ridiculous...So here's a suggestion that will not require any out of pocket cost...Get your kids off their butts, make them exercise or at least take part in some extra curricular activity that will keep them active...there's a start..

As far as obesity...Well, think about it...How many people allow or at least encourage their kids to go outside and play to get some exercise

How many people may also be born with a conditon or contract some illness or take some medication that causes them to gain weight? Some people do exercise and eat right but they don't lose weight.

Auteur...I used to take Depakote, which causes weight gain to treat a seizure disorder...despite the side-effect, I did not use it as an excuse...This has everything to do with how you live your life...eat healthy, sit on your butt and do nothing...eat crappy, exercise your butt off...or just moderate your diet and exercise regularly...anyone can do this, its not rocket science...

This has everything to do with how you live your life

No it doesn't. Do some research on obesity and weight gain before you start bashing people.

Auteur, I'm not bashing anyone, I addressed your point, which actually applies to me...If the answer does not please you and your position, that's your problem...

You imply that obesity is self-induced by immediately going right to talking about food and exercise. There's a lot that contributes to obesity besides overeating such as illness or chemical imbalance or lack of sleep or certain medications.

Who says people are starving??

What I think needs to happen is we need to have the government mandate that everyone become vegetarian to cut down on healthcare costs; the side benefit being that intelligent animals like cattle and fish no longer will be slaughtered to satisfy the gluttony of man. That being said, the farms raising those vegetables in California are putting a serious strain on the Colorado River and endangering animals such as the Delta Smelt so it might be better to put everyone on a diet strictly comprised of corn and grain. However, corn is an important commodity in the ethanol movement which is of paramount importance when it comes to reducing our carbon footprint. However, it's a proven fact that the tropical cocoa tree does so much better if its fruits are harvested regularly; it is actually ecologically beneficial for us to harvest these plants. Well there we go, the answer to the obesity problem is to mandate that all Americans be placed on a diet of chocolate. See we thought through that and came up with a great solution; and we did it entirely with the use of liberal logic. Fantastic.

The diseases of ignorance, fear and inflated ego are by far the worst diseases of all.

Not to mention all the injuries caused by idiots.

There are mechanical lifts made for the purpose of lifting bedridden people. There are also a whole lot of lies and vicious rumors about people with disabilities. Seems that one of those rumors is that such people cause injury to others. It sounds like blatant disabiliphobia to me.

I wonder what all the perfect people die from.  Hand sanitizer toxicity?

CANCER IS A VIRUS, you moron. What kind of doctor are you? It's one thing to say something contributes to a condition leading to an illness, it's quite another to say it CAUSES the illness.

And then explain why cancer is expected to become the leading cause of death around the world in 2010--vegetarian nomads to meat eaters alike. And of course the logical extension of "lose weight to avoid cancer" is that lots of people who have cancer lose prodigious amounts of weight and still have cancer.

Bottom line: Maintain a healthy lifestyle by eating a well-balanced diet (no fast or processed foods); supplementing with the right vitamins, phytochemicals, etc, and exercise (cross-train). Keep your waist circumference (measured at the belly button) less than half your height in inches. Not smoking and easing up on the alcohol is a given.

Dr. Sardone

Avoid processed foods? Have you even been to a supermarket in the western world? Or had to live on a budget? Seriously? Btw... nice plug... good to see a doctor backing other doctors that give his own book more desirability on the market!

CANCER IS A VIRUS, you moron.

Roger, you obviously never went to medical school.

A few forms of cancer have been linked to viruses. I'll list them for you. Hepatitis B and C viruses dramatically raise a person's risk of liver cancer. Some strains of HPV cause cervical cancer. EBV (which 90% of adults have been exposed to) is a risk factor for the relatively rare cancer Burkitt's lymphoma. HTLV can lead to certain forms of leukemia. HIV opens the door to leukemia and Kaposi's sarcoma mainly because it annihilates the immune system.

And that's pretty much it.

If the most common forms of cancer like breast, lung, colon, and prostate were caused by viruses, as you seem to believe, we would have ample evidence by now.

But we do not.

The explanation is pretty straightforward. Most viruses never integrate their genetic material into our DNA. The main exceptions are the viruses that can cause cancer: HPV, HepB, HepC, HIV, HTLV, and certain members of the herpes family like EBV and CMV.

CANCER IS A VIRUS, you moron.

So if a dude with cancer sneezes in an elevator a good portion of the people on said elevator are going to get cancer?

Cancer is caused by moonbeams filtered thru purple glass.  Avoid walking near purple glass at night and live forever.

drsar, I have noticed that all people who are anti-obesity have an interest in promoting that point of view, such as yourself (selling a book). There are the fitness centers, the health food peddlers, etc. The advertising is overwhelming. It's a multi-billion dollar business. We rarely hear the truth about how obesity can be genetic, a result of thyroid problems, etc. The general public is brainwashed by commercial interests.

Wow...someone said that cancer is a virus and then called people who don't believe that a moron.  I can't believe that someone that lives in 2009 seriously posted on here that cancer is a virus.  I hope they are being facetious.

What's the matter? Someone take away your cookie Scott? It must be nice to be so biased by a healthy metabolism that it is virtually impossible for you to comprehend other people's real health problems. The fact is, some people have worked with multiple dieticians, stuck to strict diets, exercised regularly and still barely nudged their weight (and waistlines) down. The fact is, while I believe that 85% of the obesity present in America is by choice but that does not give anyone the right to punish those who do have legitimate health problems... actually, it doesn't give anyone the right to punish people for personal choices either. No matter how you slice it, everyone is costing America equally when all things are considered.

you're an idiot. not everyone is costing america. Think about that statement and I hope you sleeep well. EVERYONE is costing america?

Obesity is a disease CHOICE. You choose to be obese.

Do your research. Obesity is not always self-induced.

It seems that ignorance and hate mongering go together like a hand and glove. Destruction of diversity is the nazi way. It also seems to be the way of some people today of "taking back the country". What a shame.

Obesity USUALLY is a choice. Not too many people become obese by eating healthy foods and exercising. It's common sense, which apparently most of this country seems to think they are entitled to ignoring.

Processed foods are unhealthy. Eating ridiculous amounts of them will not only make you fat, but increase your exposure to the chemical crap that's in them. Duh.

Anyone who thinks they can justify being obese is clearly in denial. Maybe when they are diagnosed with type 2 diabetes they'll have their little reality check.

First of all, no one is perfect, not even you. As far as I'm concerned, we as a society are being set up, just like a set of bowling pins to be the fall guys for yet another insurance scam and for pressure to be taken off of the food industry. The additives in our foods are not really neccessary and are big contributors to the fattening of America. High frutose sugar is one of these additives. You cannot even buy a box of regular, unsweetened corn flakes or beverages without having this fat bonding additive in the food. Also, the lack of grass fed cattle and other livestock takes the DHA out of the diet which helps to balance the amount of Omega 6 and Omega 3. We now get more of the Omega 6 in our diets which helps to maintain or gain weight and is an agent in the hybernation process of many mammals. The Omega 3 does the opposite function and assists in the weight loss process, but, we do not get a balance of these two elements in our American diet anymore. Then, of course, there is the whole fast food industry and the processed foods that are sold in plastics that make us sick. So, there is more to this story and it needs to be looked at from all angles, not just some issue over which to institute gestapo tactics and to trample on peoples's rights. Most parents are doing the best that they can by and for their children. The food industry and the insurance industry need to be dealt with in a harsh manner. It serves no purpose to take away children from their parents because they don't fit in on some chart. There is more to this life then just someone's size.

And it is a rarity if the media ever reports on the studies done that expose the food industries practices and their contribution to our ill health. Educate yourselves people - a good start is at the non-profit Weston Price Foundation online.

Ewilby... yes, everyone is costing America.

We all use household chemicals

We all in some manner put pollutants into our environment

I think it's safe to say that at least 90% of Americans use some form of public service

We each have some manner of bad choices, habits, etc that cost others...

Get the picture? Trying to pick on one group who most likely are adding costs (this does not prove does) is ridiculous. People abuse systems in all manners and add unnecessary costs to others. The fact is, it is possible for someone with a high BMI to not cost more than someone who is the "ideal" BMI. It is a lot like saying: "We should take away everyone's guns because more people who possess guns shoot people.". Not everyone who possesses a gun actually kills someone, but, from this arguments standpoint - that doesn't matter.

I won't even go into how the dieticians and med students I've talked with on a regular basis have shown me numerous studies proven the fallacy of using BMI alone to judge obesity and health indicators.

But hey... what do medical professors, doctors, med students, and hard facts know?

Btw, thanks for wishing me good sleep... I hope your day goes well.

Obesity USUALLY is a choice.

In what case? How much research have you done on obesity and the causes of obesity?

Good idea... or just kill the fat people

Handgunner, it's truly amazing that some political fanatics find a way to blame everything on our president. Get a clue.

No let's treat it the Republican way: "Huh? What cancer?"

Outw/, You're in a time lapse. You're thinking of the old guy, George Bush.

Would you put diesel gasolilne in your Mercedes if it didn't have a diesel engine? That's what we do when we eat S.A.D. (Standard American Diet).

The gold standard for nutritional excellence is a plant based, whole foods diet with vegetables, fruit, whole grains, legumes, nuts......this is the premium gasoline to put in our Mercedes

Any other diet is lower in grade gasoline analogy.....

The villain, which no one has discussed is ANIMAL PROTEIN. T. Colin Campbell has shown that the most common cancer promoter in our diets is an excess of ANIMAL PROTEIN......

The ideas that we are fed by commercial interests are for the purpose of filling their pocketbooks. They prey on the public's fear of death and anything that might have anything to do with it, like illness and disability. Unfortunately, instead of facing reality and their fears/ignorance, the public believes the BS- hook, line and sinker. Trying to place blame is a con game. Ignorance + Fear = Violent Hatred.

Then again, sometimes you take great care of that mercedes-spending tons of precious time and energy on making it sparkle and purr only to find that it suddenly goes CLUNK! and dies for no apparent reason; while the guy next door tools by in his 20 year old, rusty, baby-puke green pontiac bonneville. The very same one that you have rolled your eyes in disgust at and made derogatory comments about and said, "If he would be like ME, he'd have a better car and would eventually get to really go places like ME.

Just a look at the flip-side

where i live....iowa cornfed......1000 to one, and the skinny ones are methheads.

Gary, I doubt that public (government) insurance would try to get into your personal business any more than what private insurance companies do now.

You are naive.

Gary, if you had my insurance they would reduce your premium when you proved you lost weight. Put the pounds back on... your premium goes up. Keep gaining, keep paying more.

Screw that! I am not going to buy any insurance.

Paul, you've just about got it! Good one!

The real problem is most people have failed badly at understanding science, including the good doctor sardone above, and the "science reporters" in newspapers and radio/tv are absolutely idiots, no exceptions. How many times have you seen the headline " X (pick one) causes cancer", completely unsupported by science. Remember hair dye causes cancer? Aluminum cans? Silicone breast implants? Agent Orange? Gulf War Syndrome? Genetically modified crops? All reported breathlessly and extensively and passionately. All completely wrong.

Even people who should know better are idiots: witness Dr Oz on tv the other day, pointing out the "triangle of death" around your nose, in response to a woman who asked if it was OK to pick a pimple. The clear implication was that you could die from picking a pimple. Absolute BS--please have him cite even one death in the last 50 years resulting solely from picking a pimple around your nose. It's all BS and hysteria.

And it extends to the anti-everything people, you know the ones: eating broccoli cures cancer, the drugs companies don't want you to know (whatever)....., blah, blah,blah. Again, Complete and total idiots. Take cancer advice from Suzanne Sommers. Sure, good move. See you on the other side, sooner than you think.

The reality is that our society and world is poisoned with judgmental educated ninnies with their ridiculous opinions based on their twisted facts.

Hey now... some of us educated ninnies are trying to show people that the judgmental "supposed" educated ninnies are full of B.S. ;)

"Educated ninnies"?

Educated usually means better informed. I'll take educated over uneducated any day.

However, common sense (or lack of it) knows no educational boundaries.

Some of us have lived both ways (doing everything we reasonably can to protect our health, and not), and we have seen firsthand the huge difference that choice makes in the state of our health.

Sorry Sherri... couldn't resist the humor. My biggest stance is after being about 300 lbs in 9th-10th grade and now being thinner (still struggling with weight) I know first-hand how difficult it is to maintain a healthy lifestyle sometimes. The fact is, most of the obesity "epidemic" (I use the term loosely) falls within realms of the poor to lower middle class (with exceptions). The fact is healthy eating and drinking is expensive and planning a diet takes time that many working class do not have. Some people are working 2+ jobs to scrape by so they get hit by a double whammy... no time to eat properly and not enough money to buy the healthier choices. In order to lose weight I have to be able to plan all three meals out (and any snacks), have time to look up or total all "nutritional information" and record it in order to keep myself between the 1,500-1,800 calories per day it takes me to lose weight. I walk all day (up and down stairs as well) but barely have time get to a gym. When I'm done working for the day I have children who need me (though this can lead to physical games which is a good way to exercise with your kids). After several months of "planning to live" it can be overwhelming. Watching calories, carbs, fats and proteins all the time (only way I can lose weight) and having to make sacrifices every day... trying to figure out how to keep track of my calories on the go... it all wears on you mentally. I did this for over a year and while calorie "guessing" became second nature, the rest didn't. You get worn out. I really don't expect those who don't have to fight with weight to understand but I am healthier... I have more energy, it feels good, but it has been harder to keep up with than it was to quit smoking!

In the end, these "educated" experts want to tax, burden, fine, or reduce insurance to people who often are struggling mentally and financially to begin with. If we really cared about the obesity problem we would start by limited the chemicals and processes going into our foods (corporate limitations), limit costs of healthy food choices (non-profit), and increase minimum wage to wear it should be. But that would be too costly to Americans... wouldn't it? And we don't want the government "in our business". But someone says "John Doe might be costing you money" and you want them to slap John with fines, kick him off government money and anything else you can do. In reality, you understand John Doe's plight because you don't want the government in your business... but by saying you want it in John's business you are giving John permission to put the government in your business. It's stupid, worthless and won't solve the problem.

One pet peeve: Taxes are monies and goods owed the government. It is not your money. It is everyone's money. I am fine with someone saying I shouldn't owe the government that much money (or more money), but what you do owe is America's money. There is a difference.

Thomas -

The obesity epidemic in America is puzzling to me, especially with regard to someone like you who struggles with weight regardless of good eating habits. It is easy to understand why people who eat processed and nutritionally empty foods all day end up obese (and ill), but harder to figure out why people like yourself find it so hard to lose weight.

Aside from "faux" foods, junk food, and processed food, I think there are a lot of possible culprits that play a part in this epidemic. Constant exposure to toxins in the environment, hormones and antibiotics in meat and chicken, and numerous other questionable food additives, for example. Of course, the prevailing sedentary lifestyle doesn't help. No one seems to cook anymore...everyone works and no one has time...so we eat ready-made foods and we eat out. Restaurant food is almost never as healthy as food you prepare yourself, and the portions are ALWAYS too large, so that's a trap.

I wonder if we're not becoming "genetically modified" ourselves due to our dietary habits, and then passing on those "fatter" genes to our children.

Although I've been slightly overweight at times, I've never struggled with weight because I am inclined to be thin. But as age creeps up, so does the scale.

I have hit on a couple of small tweaks in my eating habits that seem to be working for me. Most nights during the work week, instead of having a true dinner (some protein, a carb and a vegetable or salad), I have been eating only fruit or a salad plus a cup of soup (my favorite is organic roasted red pepper soup, which comes in a carton). I have also cut down a bit on bread, which I love. And I have added two cups of green tea to my daily routine (I hate tea, but I discovered that I enjoy it if I add a little fruit juice to it.)

To my surprise, I find that I am not hungry, ever, and I am losing weight. I am also finding that on the weekend, when we eat breakfast out, I am eating less food than previously because I'm just not as hungry. When I do want to indulge in something decadent, I have just a small amount of it. I've been doing this for about 6 weeks now, and I have lost about 5 pounds now.

(Interestingly, I also notice that my complexion seems somehow more "luminous," and I wonder if that isn't due to the decrease in protein and starches and the corresponding increase in fruits and vegetables.)

I suspect that most of us actually require less food than we eat, but since there's always plenty of food to eat, we simply get used to eating more than we need. I also don't think adults need as much protein and starches as most of us typically eat.

In general I think that the more fresh, organic foods you eat and the less of everything else, the more in balance your body will be, weight included. But you are quite right, it isn't easy to achieve that.

Ignorance + Fear = Violent Hatred.

ejb, the same could be said for hypothyroidism.

jasperrark-1270934 is disgusting, he tries to convince others that he is more than the pitiful piece of crap he sees in the mirrow. He tries to find faults in everyone he sees hoping others will agree and not notice how pitiful a person he is!

I think jasperark was being sarcastic. Lighten up :)

What's a "mirrow"? You might study composition -- and especially syntax -- in your spare time. I hope that you get the therapy that you need.

ANd yes, I was being sarcastic. Liberals always go after fat people unless, of course, they are one of their own.

therapy? sarcastic?

I rest my case!

jas, I notice you didn't mention Rush Oxycontin Limbaugh.

Exactly- I was thin until I was 19, when thyroid hit. I've NEVER been able to go more than 3 months without having some type of change in the medicine, up or down. No matter if I eat like crazy or diet, exercise, whatever; I weigh within 5-10 lbs of where I am now.

I absolutely have the same feelings about the self-righteous jerks that we've raised in this latest generation of "Ameri-jacka##es". Very depressing!

Thyroid disease encompasses several different things including 'hypothyroidism'...which I was officially diagnosed with in 2003 at age 22. My TSH level was 16.66...but I am fairly certain my TSH level was way above normal YEARS before my official diagnosis. So of course I also went years without being treated for it as well. It runs in my family so I guess I inherited it.

Anyway, the most I ever weighed was 142 pounds, but that was when I was weightlifting in high school. I shed the weight when I moved to college and hovered between 125-132 at 5 foot 6 inches. I take Synthroid to stabilize my TSH levels (which have been slightly erratic the past year and a half because I stopped the BC pill) and I STILL haven't gone past 132 pounds.

When I inform people I have a thyroid problem they automatically assume I have hyPER thyroidism...and I quickly correct them. No, I have the one that supposedly makes you FAT... They don't believe me. The next question they ask is how I stay thin. Well, I answer, I don't eat like a pig, I usually stick to healthy foods, and I haven't had any kids yet...but if I'm anything like my mom I will shed the weight and baby tummy right away.

My point - Don't hide behind the 'I have a thyroid problem' reason/excuse to explain your weight problems.

Flame away.

And everyone experiences life exactly the same way you do, and has your metabolism, and your height (um, sorry I'm 5'4 so don't THINK so!); wait until children. You could very well find yourself on the side of life that I was on: irregular periods due to polycystic ovary syndrome, months of no period, then months of period, getting pregnant unexpectedly and having morning sickness that causes drastic weight loss- resulting in medication to assist and being encouraged to eat whatever I could handle. Then, finding out at 30 weeks that I had a birth defect- a bicornuate uterus (which means a split uterus), and the entire first month of my third trimester swelling until nearly no shoes fit me, and then at 32 weeks passing out at work, going to the doctor, and having a 2.14 lb baby boy two days later and not knowing if I was going to live to see him grow. While recovering after that severe pre-eclampsia/eclampsia while my son spent the next TWO MONTHS in the NICU (doctors could never agree - my blood pressure was high enough to be called eclampsia but I luckily did not stroke out or convulse)....I visited a cardiologist doctor who looked at me and told me, flat out, that I was already dead- the weight that came on from retained fluid had not gone away yet. He said that no one who ever wants to lose weight succeeds at it long-term, so I might as well not even try and walked out the door suggesting I make final arrangements immediately.

Flash forward just a few months; by now those words from that doctor still haunting me, I began hating myself, that the weight would not come off. I tried a couple of times half-heartedly, but the doctor's voice...so I went to my family doctor (paying for the visit myself- weight loss of ANY kind is not covered by my insurance), I was able to obtain his help through a medication and my own determination to lose the excess weight from the pregnancy. I worked out for 6-8 hours per day, and ate one small meal per day in the evening, for about 8 months. I lost about 80 pounds and was still overweight at 135 lbs, but miserably "happy".

Then, when I got to my smallest size, I found out I was pregnant again. I was forced to go off the diet, I did continue exercising but that wasn't enough. On a strictly controlled pregnancy diet I gained so fast it was scary.

After a healthy, normal pregnancy I found that the doctor who originally wrote the prescription for the medication had left the area. No doctor since has been willing to discuss the medicine with me because I "failed" on it. I FAILED by having another child!!

My current doctor suggests a cookie cutter "program" like Weight Watchers or the South Beach Diet. He says that I won't succeed either but that's all he's suggested. My thyroid is off the charts bad, and it wavers every month or two and drives me out of my mind. Besides the pcos, thyroid, and whatever else, I have severe nerve problems that have resulted in multiple surgeries on my arms that cause severe pain even when walking.

So, allmighty anonymous one, you just go ahead and judge everyone by YOUR experience. Have fun with your childbearing.

I have in the past made it a rule to not discuss my story with pregnant people. Sorry to be cruel here, but I hope my story haunts YOU during yours!

So it's ok for a woman to choose if she gets pregnant? Can you stomach that?

I agree totally AUricle. I am not really fat, even though I implied that I was above. I said that I was to stand side by side with fat people and to defend their right to eat what they want and make their own choices. I have never smoked, but I did the same thing when they were passing the anti-smoking laws. These young people are gung ho to limit everybody's freedoms, because they never experienced America when it was a free country and don't realize how fun and wonderful freedom is. They will enslave the next generations, and it will have to be our great great grandchildren that spill their blood to reestablish freedom in America.