Taxpayers shouldn't have to pay for what people could and should do for themselves. Still, my heart goes out to all the people who can't seem to get a grip on their diet and exercise habits. A lot of this is caused by depression, ignorance and low self esteem. I'm in favor of seeing my tax dollars go toward encouraging people to adopt healthy lifestyles.

It was government agriculture policies that helped promote production of high-fructose corn syrup and palm oil that are used to produce the transfats and high-calorie foods that have helped lead to the country's obesity problem. Read "Fat Land: How Americans Became the Fattest People in the World" by Greg Critser. It's an easy read and provides good perspective on how the government has contributed to the nation's obesity problem. And the poor seem to be hit especially hard, because the cheapest food is often the worst nutritionally.
Our tax dollars are wasted in all kinds of ways. I have no problem with spending tax money to help someone who can't afford to join a gym and knows little about nutrition get on the road to health.
I am concerned about the popularity of surgery to battle obesity, whether Medicare pays for it or not. It's so risky.

So 30 pounds over is the definition of obese? But is a number enough? There was a time in college when I weighed about 30 pounds more than I do now. I was a pudge, girlfriends, though I wouldn't have called myself obese. At the time I did 2 hours of yoga a day. I could do a handstand, sit in full lotus position and more. It seems to me that you could be a very healthy, somewhat fat person - or a very unhealthy, very skinny person.
Medicare is going to provide much-needed coverage for more preventative health care, like weight-loss programs, and a preventive focus always seems like a good thing to me. But at the same time, we can't be so quick to label people based on a less-than-perfect appearance. Determining your health solely by your weight seems deceiving.

I agree with Laurie. I once did a story on whether it's possible to be fit and also obese, and here is what I was told:

"Thin people do not have a monopoly on fitness," said Glenn A. Gaesser, author of "Big Fat Lies" (Fawcett-Columbine, 1996). "It's kind of a myth.
"I'm not saying it's OK to be fat," said Gaesser, who has a doctorate in exercise physiology and teaches at the University of Virginia. "I just think you can't measure health on a scale. It may give you maybe a rough idea that someone's lifestyle may be less than heart-healthy.
"We weigh what we do largely because of genes and genetics," he added. "The body is not intrinsically malleable...We can't mold it and reshape it into any shape we want. That's a major fallacy."

Dr. John D. Kelly IV, an assistant professor of orthopedic surgery at Temple University, said people have to get over the notion that to be fit, they have to have very low body fat.

"There are many of my patients who work out every day but they still have love handles," he said. "They're still fit. They're still running six miles.

"The key is self-acceptance," Kelly added.

Dr. Moe Lerner, a Canada-based physician referred by the National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance, agreed.

"This business of being fat is a very complex issue," he said. "It's not just that this guy eats too much, he's lazy. It isn't their own fault . . . And that's why 98 percent of diets fail."

One theory is that millions of years ago, the human body the human body was programmed to store fat because it was uncertain when it would next get food. But now that food is abundant and can be obtained without a lot of physical energy, more people than ever are overweight.

"Fat people are at the top of the evolutionary chain," said Lerner, who weighs more than 400 pounds. "They are the people who would have survived" back then.

Still, in these modern times, as Dr. Joseph Bernstein, director of sports medicine at the University of Pennsylvania pointed out, "being overfat is a risk factor."

People who weigh more than their recommended weight are at a greater risk of heart disease, diabetes, some cancers and other health problems, he said.

"You can definitely carry around some extra around your waist and still be fit," Bernstein said. "You're not going to necessarily lose any fitness, but it's probably not healthy in the long run."

I've got one more thing to say and then I'll shut up. We can't expect the government to really lead the way in terms of developing or promoting good health practices. Too many politicians are so indebted to certain industries that we can't expect them not to promote certain foods or practices.

Hear hear, Jenice!! I am concerned about turning this into something for the government to "fix," when it should be an important part of people taking care -- of themselves.

Medicare pays for heart surgery, treatments for diabetes and stroke, and all kinds of other expenses incurred because of obesity. I do think it's cost effective to spend some of that money on prevention.

Here's another question: Has anyone heard what they will be paying for? Surgery? Health club dues? And does that kind of support actually work -- in other words, does it make a bit of difference if we get $100 back for a year's worth of gym fees from our insurance company? I don't think it does; I think Daniel would go anyway, and God knows nothing's getting me to the gym. Is there a way for an insurance program to encourage healthy habits, and what's the success rate?

It sounds like patients will have to pass a review process before getting help to pay for diet or exercise programs. Here's what CNN's story says: "With the removal of language in Medicare policy that said obesity is not an illness, beneficiaries will be able to request a government review of medical evidence to determine whether certain treatments for obesity can be covered.
Though Medicare and Medicaid programs cover sicknesses caused by obesity -- including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, several types of cancer and gallbladder disease -- the previous policy meant that weight-loss therapies have often been denied coverage.
"The medical science will now determine whether we provide coverage for the treatments that reduce complications and improve quality of life for the millions of Medicare beneficiaries who are obese," said Mark McClellan, administrator of the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, which oversees health insurance programs for the elderly, disabled and poor."

Jenice, I think I must have remembered that story when I wrote my comments! But I do disagree that it's bad for the government to subsidize weight-loss programs, under circumstances where a physician has found health problems related to a person's obesity.

I fear what sorts of astounding inequities we'd discover peering under the rock of insurance coverage and whether what we pay for does any good... ARE there any stats out there?
At least now more companies that cover Viagra are paying for birth control pills!
How about dental care - we get coverage for preventative exams and cleaning. Does that cut down on cavities?

The debate as to whether "obesity" is a disease rages on. However, the bottom line is personal responsibility more than medical treatment. Each of us has to decide the quality of life we want and JUST DO IT! That is eat smart and exercise daily.

I totally agree with Theresa's first comments. One of the reasons why obesity hits the poor at a statistically higher rate is because cheaper food is usually the worst choices when it comes to nutrition. The poor are usually lacking when it comes to being educated on proper nutrition and accessibility to exercise facilities. I think that the government must lead the way to do something about the obesity problem in America. The alternative is the increased strain it will put on the medical system due to increases in heart disease, diabetes, hypertension and some forms of cancer. All directly related to obesity.

Well Wendy you must have never had a problem with your weight or maybe only had to loose "10" lbs. Well im glad to see the government realize that obesity is a serious problem. Being "obese" my self it is a big struggle to get the help i need. I do work, and i do have insurance but they do not cover weightloss programs,but im hoping by the government stepping up to the plate they will too.
People need to realize that being overweight is not something alot of obese people choose to be. There is a lot of misconception that we are overweight because we eat high-fat high calorie foods..WRONG!!!!!! I have four children who i make sure eat right so they dont end up like me. Personally i think someone who has never had a serious problem with being overweight should comment on something they know nothing about only think they do.

correction: I dont think people should comment on soemthing know nothing about,only think they do.

And I do take care of myself.

Oh please give me a break, society has ditacted what is the idea weight, so why not let society pay.

People know what they are eating and they are what they eat.If they don't care! Why should we have to pay the price. No one over 150 lbs is allowed in my car. My weight is 120 I am 5ft3inches

I am 215 lbs, 5'9" and I am training for a marathon. I will run 18 miles tomorrow as part of my training. I wonder judith if you could do the same. I wouldn't want to ride in your car or be anywhere around you as you are obviously ignorant.

Thanks

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