Obesity is an illness, says government

Obesity is an illness, says government


No, surely what was said is.....

"Obesity is a critical public health problem in our country that
causes millions of Americans to suffer unnecessary health problems and
to die prematurely,"

A health problem.... Because something poses a health risk that does NOT
mean it's an illness! It may be a cause of illness..... BUT......

Obesity is an illness?

I thought "obesity" was defined by committee? Who gets to decide if someone
is obese? Ig? The government?


Ignoramus22273 wrote:
:: Medicare Scraps Old Policy on Obesity
::
:: Thu Jul 15,11:15 PM ET
:: Add White House - AP Cabinet & State to My Yahoo!
::
:: 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.

Ignoramus22273 wrote:

In article , Lee Rodgers wrote:

Crosspost alert

alt.support.diet,alt.support.diet.low-carb

Please don't crosspost. Crossposting always leads to cross cultural
bickering and is damned rude.


Well, it is relevant in both newsgroups and is not in any way opposing
any dieting style to another.

The groups of people are different - on purpose. Get a clue.

Dally

Crossposting removed:

One dark day on Usenet, Ignoramus22273
said:
Medicare Scraps Old Policy on Obesity

Thu Jul 15,11:15 PM ET
Add White House - AP Cabinet & State to My Yahoo!

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.

Well, that's both bad and good. I'd love to see Medicare funding
nutrition and exercise education...


--
J.J. in WA * 275/231/225 (mini)
(COLD to HOT for e-mail)

Ignoramus wrote:

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.

So it's a disease? and we've been curing ourselves right here.

Must be voodoo.

--
Walking on . . .
Laurie in Maine
207/110 60 inches of attitude!
Start: 2/02 Maintained since 2/03

"Lee Rodgers" wrote in message
...
Crosspost alert

alt.support.diet,alt.support.diet.low-carb

Please don't crosspost. Crossposting always leads to cross cultural
bickering and is damned rude.
Lee Rodgers

Here! Here! Bravo! Yes, it is extremely rude.

Martha

Is this the same government that supports agricultural lobbies and the
oh so healthy food pyramid that is blowing our kids up the size of
floats in the Macy parade--the government that can't give Americans a
decent health care plan?

--
Diva
*****
The Best Man For The Job Is A Woman