I do feel sorry for individuals who are unhealthy because they are obese

I was getting my flu shot yesterday at my doctor's office, and I observed a terribly obese man much younger than I shuffling in short from the check-in desk to a seat behind me. He then engages a women in conversation, then gives her a litany of his medical woes. Multiple bypass surgeries, heart attack, bad knees, etc.

I then went to choir practice last night where we have a couple of singers who are really overweight. Nice people, but... One, who was there last night, has been in our city about 12 years, having moved here from NO after Katrina. He was pretty healthy as I recall when they arrived, but started to put on weight. He then had a heart attack, and then a bypass. He loves to eat, and he does. If there's a table with fruit, veggies, and pastries and fatty sandwiches, he loads up on the pastries and sandwiches. He is 10 years or more younger than I am, and in his 60s, walks at a slow shuffle. He falls all the time,and a lot of it has to be a stomach that protrudes forward 18" or so. I can't begin to count the times he has been in the hospital for extended periods with his heart, pneumonia, etc.

I know I'm being judgmental, but diet related issues are at the root of a lot of our medical cost problems. Diabetes and being overweight can lead to heart and kidney disease, with very expensive long-term health costs. If people won't take care of themselves, why not do something like place a $0.20 per bottle tax on sugared drinks, and dedicate it to treatment of diabetes?

(In response to this post by KCHoo)

Posted: 10/19/2017 at 11:12AM

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UK Health Service proposes refusal of surgeries to smokers, obese (link) -- JMHoo 10/19/2017 10:27AM

My Aunt in Ireland was refused Heart Surgery -- ConnHoo 10/19/2017 8:48PM

I love this line from the column you linked -- 111Balz 10/19/2017 10:53AM

One simple step we could take to help alleviate the obesity crisis... -- Joey Wahoo 10/19/2017 3:18PM

How magnanimous of you. How about drinkers? How about mountain climbers or -- Hoodafan 10/19/2017 2:09PM

That is actually an interesting argument from you -- 111Balz 10/19/2017 10:23PM

Telegraph link and text. Where do you see the part about anesthesia? -- JMHoo 10/19/2017 10:59AM

From this - link -- 111Balz 10/19/2017 11:13AM

I had a surgical disaster last year -- NJHoo 10/19/2017 11:19AM

Nm** -- JMHoo 10/19/2017 11:19AM

:>) You weren't quite quick enough! ** -- 111Balz 10/19/2017 11:23AM

Yeah, missed the word "local". : ). Still a crappy policy, as the -- JMHoo 10/19/2017 11:27AM

The British model isn't close to optimal. They haven't figured a way to -- KCHoo 10/19/2017 12:07PM

But it makes for such a good "socialized medicine" straw man. -- WahooRQ 10/19/2017 12:55PM

Need or want? ** -- 111Balz 10/19/2017 11:35AM

We're not talking about cosmetic surgery here. These are surgeries -- JMHoo 10/19/2017 11:57AM

I assume a hip replacement for a 5' 10 man who smokes and weighs 300 lbs -- NJHoo 10/19/2017 1:24PM

Surprised you don't like the free market aspect of it. -- KCHoo 10/19/2017 10:42AM

I do feel sorry for individuals who are unhealthy because they are obese -- NJHoo 10/19/2017 11:12AM

It really does degrade one's quality of life. My mother-in-law -- BocaHoo91 10/19/2017 12:14PM

Like all conservatives he now believes bad behavior should be rewarded. -- HowieT3 10/19/2017 10:57AM

You're kidding yourself if you don't think we would have this sort of -- JMHoo 10/19/2017 11:05AM

There SHOULD be rationing. And you're -- BocaHoo91 10/19/2017 11:46AM

Or choose a private insurer that doesn't have such a policy. ** -- JMHoo 10/19/2017 12:01PM

Agree 100%. Although good luck with the pricing -- BocaHoo91 10/19/2017 12:05PM

You mean pay for ** -- KCHoo 10/19/2017 12:03PM

Well given the impact on EVERYONE's health care costs -- 111Balz 10/19/2017 11:19AM

We have discounts on health insurance premiums here at work based -- KCHoo 10/19/2017 12:03PM

Oooh! I see what you did there!!!!!!! -- HowieT3 10/19/2017 11:32AM

We have it now for Medicaid. Remember the Death Panel stuff? -- HowieT3 10/19/2017 11:17AM

Do the rich fat people and smokers get to opt out of the taxes? ** -- JMHoo 10/19/2017 10:53AM

Why should they be able to do that? Reward for bad behavior? ** -- 111Balz 10/19/2017 10:54AM