Obesity is an illness, says government

It's a mental illness.

--
Most people are dumb as bricks; some people are dumber than that. -- MFW


"Ignoramus22273" wrote in message
...
Medicare Scraps Old Policy on Obesity

Thu Jul 15,11:15 PM ET
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By ELIZABETH WOLFE, Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON - Medicare is discarding its policy that obesity is not a
disease, potentially throwing open the door for millions of overweight
Americans to make medical claims for treatments such as stomach
surgery and diet programs.



"Obesity is a critical public health problem in our country that
causes millions of Americans to suffer unnecessary health problems and
to die prematurely," Health and Human Services (news - web sites)
Secretary Tommy Thompson told a Senate panel Thursday. Treating
obesity-related illnesses results in billions of dollars in health
care costs, he said.

"With this new policy, Medicare will be able to review scientific
evidence in order to determine which interventions improve health
outcomes for seniors and disabled Americans who are obese," Thompson
said.

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.

Some detractors of the change said it is based on unsound science.

"We have a tremendously exaggerated fear of higher than average weight
in this culture," said University of Colorado law professor Paul
Campos, author of "The Obesity Myth."

"What's partly baseless is this notion that the government needs to
intervene to make Americans thinner," Campos said.

HHS said the policy change is not expected to immediately alter
Medicare coverage, and no figures were provided on potential costs to
taxpayers. The Medicare agency said it may meet this fall to review
scientific evidence on various surgical procedures related to obesity.

"JC Der Koenig" wrote in message
m...
It's a mental illness.

--

You should recognize your mental illness, for being here! What a sad and
lonely person you must be? What in god happened to you that gives you
pleasure in being meanspirited behind your anonymous keyboard? Get up, take
a walk, smell the air, and have a salad. Maybe you'll fall in love and come
to your senses?

--
JK Sinrod
Sinrod Stained Glass Studios
www.sinrodstudios.com
Coney Island Memories
www.sinrodstudios.com/coneymemories

"JC Der Koenig" wrote in message
m...
It's a mental illness.

--

You should recognize your mental illness, for being here! What a sad and
lonely person you must be? What in god happened to you that gives you
pleasure in being meanspirited behind your anonymous keyboard? Get up, take
a walk, smell the air, and have a salad. Maybe you'll fall in love and come
to your senses?

--
JK Sinrod
Sinrod Stained Glass Studios
www.sinrodstudios.com
Coney Island Memories
www.sinrodstudios.com/coneymemories

So everyone here is mentally ill?


(what happened to your killfile again?)

--
I wake up every morning and remember that I get to spend all day with me. It
doesn't get any better than that. -- MFW


"jk" wrote in message
t...

"JC Der Koenig" wrote in message
m...
It's a mental illness.

--

You should recognize your mental illness, for being here!

"JC Der Koenig" wrote in message
m...
So everyone here is mentally ill?



You should recognize your mental illness, for being here JC! What a sad
and
lonely person you must be? What in god happened to you that gives you
pleasure in being meanspirited behind your anonymous keyboard? Get up, take
a walk, smell the air, and have a salad. Maybe you'll fall in love and come
to your senses?


--
JK Sinrod
Sinrod Stained Glass Studios
www.sinrodstudios.com
Coney Island Memories
www.sinrodstudios.com/coneymemories

"JC Der Koenig" wrote in message
m...
So everyone here is mentally ill?



You should recognize your mental illness, for being here JC! What a sad
and
lonely person you must be? What in god happened to you that gives you
pleasure in being meanspirited behind your anonymous keyboard? Get up, take
a walk, smell the air, and have a salad. Maybe you'll fall in love and come
to your senses?


--
JK Sinrod
Sinrod Stained Glass Studios
www.sinrodstudios.com
Coney Island Memories
www.sinrodstudios.com/coneymemories

So everyone here is mentally ill?

Is that what they call an "artist's perception"?

--
I wake up every morning and remember that I get to spend all day with me. It
doesn't get any better than that. -- MFW


"jk" wrote in message
.. .

"JC Der Koenig" wrote in message
m...
So everyone here is mentally ill?



You should recognize your mental illness, for being here JC!