Yesterday evening the wife and I watched, hands down, one of the most disturbing television programs we have both witnessed in a long time. We happened to run across “Worlds Heaviest Man” on Discovery Channel, which covers the story of Manuel Uribe Garza – the worlds heaviest man. At his peek, Manuel was 1,316 pound and hand not left his bed, or his mother’s apartment, for almost six years. The documentary goes on to cover the options available to Manuel in order to assist him lose weight, progress he made, and what his life was like during the process. Once we finished watching the almost freak show-esque program I had to ask the question: When did obesity, or being fat, become acceptable let alone an epidemic?
Before you go off half-cocked on me and my seeming inability to be sensitive to other people’s problems, hear me out. I understand there is a segment of population that has no control over their weight; no matter how hard they try. Genetics may simply not be in their favor or, perhaps, they are facing medical or mental illness that increases obesity risk. I am not talking about this portion of the population; I am talking about the Manuel Uribes of the world… The people who don’t stop eating… The people who pork up to 350 pounds and think nothing of it until they have a stroke. I’m talking about, roughly, 25% of the United States populous.
There is a difference between overweight and obesity. To be considered overweight, as defined by the CDC, and individual would have a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 25% to 29.9%. If you have a BMI of 30% of above you, my friend, are obese.
Here is where things get really scary. In 1985, of the data available, obesity topped out at roughly 14% of any given states population. Ten years later, 1995, roughly 15% to 19% of the population in half of the U.S. was considered obese. By 2007 the population of three states had a 30% obesity rate while 28 states had an obesity rate between 25 and 29%. (source – CDC)
As a nation we need to wake up. Obesity causes so many of the health issues the population faces today – High Blood Pressure, Diabetes, Heart Disease, Stroke – and all we would have to do is lose some extra weight and eat a little less in order to prevent the continuation of an unhealthy nation.
Take it one step further.
People are concerned about a health care crisis within the United States. The reality is that healthcare is available but the cost is increasing greatly. What better way of avoiding high healthcare costs than being healthy, keeping somewhat in shape, and losing weight? You can easily reduce your risk, and healthcare costs, by taking better care of yourself.
Even if I put this entire discussion aside for a second, I still do not understand how people can do this to themselves. What makes an individual wake up and think that it is ok to look like this, this, this or this? How does one wake up and think “God, I look good today – there are no consequences for my actions” and simply go on living life as if there is nothing wrong.
Again, I understand there is a segment of population that has no control over their weight; no matter what they do and I am not suggesting government intervention or telling people how to live. I am simply pointing out the major challenges we are facing because of our choices.
If you want to be overweight, and you want to kill yourself slowly, that’s fine by me but don’t expect others to pay for your decisions. Simply because you didn’t take care of yourself shouldn’t mean you get special, preferred treatment (cough – handicapped parking sticker) or are first in line for that liver transplant. You made a choice, live with the consequences.
FYI – Don’t know your BMI? You can use this calculator to determine. For the record, my BMI is 22.6.
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