Bariatric surgery curing Type II diabetes

[mikemurphy]

Jim,

You are absolutely correct in your assessment. It's about understanding and education and all that. That's what these people need. Unlike many of you, I can speak from some experience. I've always been heavy. Would I like to lose 50 lbs or so? Sure. But it will happen on my own time if I really want it. Bill is right. Life is about choices. But it is our choices, every individual out there who eats anything; every restraunt that sells junk food we all go to; every big corporation out there that puts all that refined flour and sugar and the rest of it in their products because it's about money, not the health of America. But it's not about Bill's choices! Call it "liberal thinking" or whatever, it's about concern and respect for every individual out there. I don't care if someone comes into my dojo weighing 150lbs over what they should. I'll give them exactly what they are looking for, NOT what I'm looking for. Bill's self-proclaimed facsism....oops libertarianism seems to wish everybody could be just like him. That's great. I'm happy Bill that you drive the right car and eat the right food and have the happiest marriage/family that anybody could wish for (I really am btw), but not everyone wants what you have. And just because they don't, doesn't make them wrong.

You are certainly a brilliant scientist, but you would have made a horrible psychologist.

Here's to everyone losing all the weight they want, and to everyone who wishes to put on an extra 50!

mike

[Bill Glasheen]

Bill's self-proclaimed facsism....oops libertarianism seems to wish everybody could be just like him. That's great. I'm happy Bill that you drive the right car and eat the right food and have the happiest marriage/family that anybody could wish for (I really am btw), but not everyone wants what you have. And just because they don't, doesn't make them wrong.

Two of my students have spoken in this thread, Mike. Their perceptions may differ from yours.

Perhaps you over-stated your case.

Oh and speaking of education, I thought you would enjoy this.

Libertarianism is a political philosophy or a family of related political philosophies based on support for individual liberty. Libertarians believe that allowing individuals to own, and be responsible for, their own property and their own bodies is a necessary aspect of liberty.

I look at the medical claims of tens of millions of people every day, Mike. Metabolic syndrome - the constellation of problems associated with obesity - is a dramatic and rising trend that costs society hundreds of millions of dollars a year. The severe problems of a few are borne by the many.

It is what it is.

Oh, and I'm not a psychologist, nor do I play one on TV.

- Bill

[Bill Glasheen]

Metabolic Syndrome - 'The Costliest Condition You've Never Heard Of' Afflicts Nearly One in Four Americans

Main Category: Diabetes
Article Date: 09 May 2005 - 0:00 PST

Individually, hypertension, diabetes, and obesity are taking a toll on Americans' health.

But according to a new analysis, the prevalence of metabolic syndrome -- a condition characterized by a combination of these and/or other risk factors -- is rapidly becoming one of the nation's costliest health concerns.

Data released by Medco Health Solutions, Inc today, shows that the average yearly pharmacy cost of treating adult patients over age 20 with metabolic syndrome exceeds $4,000 -- more than four times the average annual drug spend for all other patients. The analysis also found that the number of adults being treated for the conditions associated with metabolic syndrome increased more than 36 percent from 2002 to 2004.

"Metabolic syndrome, and its components -- diabetes and pre-diabetes, obesity, hypertension, and abnormal lipids -- will likely become the major public health problems we face in the 21st century," said Dr. David M. Nathan, professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School and director of the Diabetes Center at Massachusetts General Hospital. "Its long-term consequences, including heart disease, stroke, and the other complications of diabetes, can be reduced with aggressive treatment of risk factors, but at a substantial cost. Lifestyle approaches should also decrease metabolic syndrome and its long-term health and economic costs."

Patients with metabolic syndrome have three or more risk factors, which include excessive abdominal fat, hypertension, low amounts of "good" cholesterol (HDL), elevated triglyceride levels, and abnormal blood sugar, and are at a 3.5 times greater risk of death from coronary heart disease, as well as an increased risk of liver and kidney disease, and possibly cancer. Metabolic syndrome is closely associated with a generalized metabolic disorder in which the body is unable to use insulin efficiently. Although some people are genetically disposed, others can develop the syndrome due to excess body fat and physical inactivity.

***

- medicalnewstoday.com