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Senior Member
Registered: 03-19-06
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the food they eat in order to become so fat. Most people on the show do not look like they are people of means. The amount of food they eat must cost a small fortune. And another thing, why do their caregivers give them all this food. I just don't understand where the money comes from. And also with the US health care system, who pays for these surgerys, these people also look like they can't afford high insurance periums. When some have been in bed for 5 or 6 years they obviously can't work, so where does the money come from?????
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Junior Member
Registered: 07-15-07
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I might be able to answer the food part, although my answer is grossly simplistic.
Processed food is infinitely cheaper than healthy food. I could buy 5 cases of Ramen noodles for what I would spend in making a healthy meal of grilled chicken breast, steamed veggies and a baked potato. Sugary bagged cereals are cheaper than Kashi or whole grain cereals. A bag of chips requires no effort to prepare, as opposed to a bag of potatoes. The convenience factor I'm sure plays into that, as well.
When you're on public assistance or disability, you're going to buy food that is cheapest and lasts the longest. The better food choices unfortunately just COST too much.
As far as the health care and paying for surgery, I would hazard a guess that medicare pays, and probably more readily and efficiently than most privatized insurance companies. But that information I've received second-hand, so I could be dead wrong on that one.
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Junior Member
Registered: 07-14-07
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I could ask this same question of alcoholics, drug addicts, smokers, etc. You don't have to be rich to have a bad habit. And you're right that better food cost more money and takes more time to prepare.
I also want to address the issue of people not working. While many, many people who have this surgery have jobs and insurance through work, I don't see why this should matter in paying for WLS. If the government pays the bill then they inturn get a break. If a disabled person has weight loss surgery and turns their life around they can inturn become a productive member of society. Would all you tax payers rather that people who are disabled atleast in part to their obesity stay home? How long do you want to continue to pay the bill? I would rather see Medicare/Medicaid pay the bill and get these people off to work. Not everyone on the government dime is lazy and just wants to sit home all day.
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Senior Member
Registered: 05-16-07
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[QUOTE]Originally posted by enjoyingspring:
Most people on the show do not look like they are people of means. The amount of food they eat must cost a small fortune...And also with the US health care system, who pays for these surgerys, these people also look like they can't afford high insurance periums.QUOTE]
As someone who has been on the show and who has friends also on the show, I find your comments to be highly offensive. What does a "person of means" look like? I'm pretty sure there is no set "look" that a person has whether they have or do not have "means". For the most part, the television viewers have NO WAY to know whether or not the people on the show work or not or what kinds of jobs they have if they do work. Sure, we can assume that people who are bed bound (or nearly so) don't have jobs, but that accounts for three of the people who have been on the show.
I also find the assumption that the people on this show regularly gorged themselves to be ridiculous. Whether we like it or not, genetics does have an influence on how a person carries weight and how easily weight can be gained. As for the cost of food, it is cheaper to eat junk than it is to eat high quality, nutrient-filled foods. But that doesn't mean that is what those of us on the show ate before getting surgery to get healthy.
Finally, what does a person who can afford high insurance premiums look like? As for me, I pay my "high insurance premiums", yet my policy didn't cover gastric bypass surgery. I had to find a way to come up with the cash on my own, which I did.
The kind of judgmental comments that you made in your post are exactly the kinds of issues that people with the disease of obesity have to face on a regular basis. It is this very kind of prejudice that I hope the show will somehow dispel.
Please understand that I am not wishing to attack you, as a person, enjoyingspring, I just want to let you know how offensive your statements were, whether you intended them to be or not.
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Senior Member
Registered: 07-25-07
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I 2nd what Kim says!
The majority of the people on the show have been working people. Most importantly these people, of any financial background, are doing what it takes to have a better life.
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Senior Member
Registered: 07-28-07
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Enjoyspring - I'm curious ... are you overweight? Morbidly so?
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Senior Member
Registered: 06-14-06
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Don't feed the trolls.  |
Senior Member
Registered: 11-19-06
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quote: As for the cost of food, it is cheaper to eat junk than it is to eat high quality, nutrient-filled foods.
i don't agree with that at all. good, nutritious food doesn't have to be expensive but there is work involved in making it. you can buy fruit and vegetables in season and cook them yourself- or eat them raw. less expensive cuts of meat can be prepared in soups, stews, sauces, etc. to get rid of the fats and tenderize them. beef, chicken and ham can be used in a million ways to make great meals that aren't expensive. bananas, apples, etc. are much cheaper than potato chips or boxed macaroni and cheese. potatoes are such an inexpensive food and can be made into an endless variety of dishes. there are countless way to use less costly foods that are healthy and delicious instead of buying packaged and prepared foods. they require some work and creativity but if you aren't lazy you can live very well on a budget. |
Junior Member
Registered: 06-04-07
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I agree with tinlady97 about foods that are healthy and less costly. However, most people do not want to take the time or effort to prepare a meal. They want something fast and easy whether it's because of their work schedule or maybe because they are disabled and can't prepare a meal. We are a society that wants everything right now, no waiting.
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Junior Member
Registered: 08-04-07
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quote: Originally posted by terri508:
I agree with tinlady97 about foods that are healthy and less costly. However, most people do not want to take the time or effort to prepare a meal. They want something fast and easy whether it's because of their work schedule or maybe because they are disabled and can't prepare a meal. We are a society that wants everything right now, no waiting.
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Junior Member
Registered: 10-25-05
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After watching TLC all day yesterday...this exact question has been bothering me as well. I don't think that every person on the show is exactly the same, but I was watching one show where they were showing this woman, who was home all the time, and one of the things she ate a lot of was chocolate. Her chocolate habit was running over $30 a day - that's a lot of money over the course of a year...how is that possible? And that is just one of many foods she eats during the day. I'm not saying everyone on the show eats a lot of food, but there are some that do and I too wonder how they can afford it. I've also noticed that a lot of people on these types of shows order a lot of takeout - that cost adds up too.
Perhaps there is a misunderstanding on the part of the casual TV watcher that some of these people don't work, but the shows never talk about the individuals employment. It's only natural to be curious about it. All the shots of people are at home...never really in a work environment. I never see these people at home on the computer or phone, which eliminates many at-home jobs.
The original post did come across as somewhat mean, and I can see how they are seen as offensive. I watch the shows to see people stories - I'm genuinely interested in people's lives in general. The fact that enjoyingspring is watching the show, shows some effort to understand each persons situation. I think his questions, althought perhaps crudely communicated, are valid in some cases. I really would like to know more about what the individuals on these shows do for a living...it's just another piece of the puzzle that is their life, and I interested as well to know these types of details.
Also, I agree with the PP that healthy foods can be inexpensive. You can buy frozen fruits and vegetables that have equivelant nutrient content as the fresh ones.
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Senior Member
Registered: 12-26-07
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"What does a "person of means" look like? I'm pretty sure there is no set "look" that a person has whether they have or do not have "means"."
it's usually very easy to decide what a person of means looks like. they wear quality clothing that fits well and hangs right, their jewelry looks and is expensive, handbags and shoes are well made and fashionable, their hair and make up are well done and they look and carry themselves better than most people do. their teeth and skin usually look perfect too.
they don't buy clothes and accessories at walmart or fashion bug and overall they look better.
there is definitely a "look" about most of them, it's easy to pick them out of a crowd.
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Junior Member
Registered: 01-04-08
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Enjoyingspring - I am a patient of Dr. Davis, in fact, I can be seen on Season 2 of Big Medicine (Episode 1). It airs on January 9th. I can only assume that you are addressing people like me with your ignorant comments. Let me assure you, society is not footing the bill for me. I am a well educated woman of "great means". I run a contracting business at home, and in my spare time, I get to chase after a 2 year old. I am far from lazy. I do not recall ever panhandling for a cheeseburger. However, I do recall the several thousands of dollars (yes of my own money) I had to spend to get my surgery. It was worth every penny, by the way, 126 lbs lost in 5 months. So enjoyingspring, try to keep your judgements in check. Stop worrying what everyone else is doing, and mind your own business. Lots of Love!
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Junior Member
Registered: 01-08-08
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To Bryray.... just a congrats on your great success. I'm looking forward to watching your episode tomorrow.
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Junior Member
Registered: 01-04-08
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BIG MEDICINE Season 2 on TLC
Premieres Tonight January 9th 10pm EST/10pm PST/9pm CST
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Junior Member
Registered: 01-04-08
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Thank you Lustforlife! Did you enjoy the show?
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Junior Member
Registered: 08-29-07
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Obesity is not a character flaw it is a genetic disease that runs so much deeper than crappy eating, it is also way more complicated than most can ever imagine. Before throwing judgement out, do some research.
I've had a life time battle with my weight, lost 80lbs 3 times and 30lbs more times than I can count... maintaining the loss has ALWAYS been MY issue...... I had a LapBand installed 4/26/07 and am now down 75 lbs, and rocking in my size 12 levis........ My insurance paid for my band because I am MUCH HEALTHIER banded than not, but this isn't about me..... this is about the concept of WLS... it saves lives, is saves insurance companies and employers money in the long run... it saves perscription costs and CPAP machine costs, it keeps people out LIVING Life instead of dying a slow death.... the big thing to realize is that they only band or staple your stomach NOT YOUR HEAD! Emotional eating, for stress, happy, sad, mad, family functions and the like.... THOSE things have to be worked on too... GOOD LUCK!
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Junior Member
Registered: 07-27-08
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I don't mind if my tax payer dollars help save lives by paying for weight lost surgery. If I could chose where my money goes, I opt out of a senseless war, foreign government bailouts, paying exorbitant salaries and travel expenses of congressional staffers, and other government waste. Who cares where the medical costs are coming from, its worth every dime to improve the quality of life for these people. Have some compassion for fellow human beings, will you.
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Junior Member
Registered: 06-23-08
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I can see why the comments about people 'looking like people of means' were offensive but by only taking that view you kind of miss the point and honestly the responses I have seen have been kind of knee jerk.
Before I get to the point, I am not a 'person of means' nor do I mind if my tax dollars pay for bariatric surgery. I am all for it.
I do wonder how people can, unless they are wealthy, live their lives w/o leaving their houses. If you want to be about these things you cannot avoid questions like this. Just curious, nor horrible or ignorant.
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Junior Member
Registered: 08-17-08
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Well, it wasn't the questions that were a turn-off, it was the tone. I am presently morbidly obese (had my surgery on 7/7)and even I wondered how some of these people could afford to simply lie around in their beds 24/7. One guy actually had family members waiting on him!! I found THAT outrageous. But that aside, no one should assume that morbidly obese people are just too lazy to plan meals, exercise, buy healthy food or too hedonistic to control their weight. Speaking as someone who has been on both ends of the scale, I gotta tell you, NO ONE in their right mind "chooses" the obese life. It is a torment that no one who has never been through it could ever relate to or imagine. My insurance company paid for my surgery, but this wasn't an automatic decision on their part. My medical records are filled with cardiac, respiratory and orthopedic events that my insurance carrier has been paying for over the last several years and it didn't take a genius to see that the surgery would ultimately save them thousands, possibly even millions of dollars in the long run. And if any of you think that surgery is "the easy way out", doesn't know anything about the surgery we are dealing with. There is nothing easy about the lifestyle of a post-gastric bypass or sleeve gastrectomy patient. Try looking forward to sitting down to your 4 tablespoons of cottage cheese and two tablespoons of strained pears only to find out that after three tablespoons of the cottage cheese (you have to eat your protein first) you don't have room for anything else -- forget the pears! And you can't drink anything with your meals or you'll be that much more full when you try to eat any food. Don't get me wrong -- it's doable, and it's worth it. But "the easy way", it's NOT.
Medicare SHOULD pay for bariatric surgery. It's a corrective treatment for a condition that is killing and/or incapacitating a great number of Americans in need of help. I lost my mother two years ago to heart disease complicated by diabetes. My mother wanted to have the weight loss surgery but, even though she didn't look it, at 72 the doctors here told her she was "too old" to have the surgery. I was disgusted, and she became very discouraged. If my mother had been able to have the surgery, she would almost surely be alive today.
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Junior Member
Registered: 06-23-08
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quote: don't mind if my tax payer dollars help save lives by paying for weight lost surgery. If I could chose where my money goes, I opt out of a senseless war, foreign government bailouts, paying exorbitant salaries and travel expenses of congressional staffers, and other government waste.
This is off topic but I didn't notice this before. You really don't know where our tax dollars go, do you? The part about the 'foreign government bailouts' would be ridiculous in its own right if not followed by 'payng exhobitant salaries and other travel expenses of Congressional employees' -- you cannot seriously think our federal budget is spent mostly on that? Really? I have worked on Capitol Hill and the salaries there not what you think, esp. when you consider the amazingly long hours staffers work. Seriously, you can look into where your tax dollars go without assuming it is all graft. |
Junior Member
Registered: 08-19-08
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I have a family member well my brothers wife who has a weight problem and she eats less than I do so it is so unfair to just assume they eat alot, that is a wrong assumtion on the part of thinner people. Alot of time it is some health problems that cause them to gain weight or to be inactive. Like my sister in-law she has fibromyalgia, I have the same diesease and it is a very painful disease and it makes it hard to want to move at all, because it is so painful. So don't judge people who are overweight.
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Junior Member
Registered: 08-17-08
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Thanks, Crispangel66, for pointing that out, too. My sister also has fibromyalgia and she's never been fat a day in her life. She's worked like a dog to support her family from her young 20's and she's always had a beautiful figure, which she never had to give attention to. Now, at 55, she's put on about 35 lbs. and, for the first time in her life, she's overweight. This didn't just happen in a vacuum. Two and a half years ago, my sister's gorgeous 22-year-old daughter shot herself in the head over a broken relationship. Since that time, it's been difficult for my sister to think or care about anything else, least of all what she's eating and how much exercise she's getting or not getting. My own weight gain of 250 lbs. came on after a very painful break-up. And, yes, eating is not a healthy way of coping with personal distress or grief, neither would drinking or drug-taking be. Nevertheless, when a human being is suffering, they ARE weak, and all they can think about is the devastation they're going through. This is a natural consequence of life crisis. And the further injustice in this is that, you will be criticized mercilessly for the weight gain, without any acknowledgement of what might have caused it. So, you are made to suffer not only from the crisis, but from the compounded consequences to your innocent but afflicted body and mind. Yes, there are some people -- like the giant fat guy who just laid around in the bed like King Tut and actually had family "servants" waiting on him and bringing him tons of the most fat-laden foods on an ongoing basis -- the program even showing them washing up the mess from them -- who have a hedonistic mindset about their overeating while the money to support their fat habit is coming from who-knows-where are ridiculous. But people such as this are the exception, rather than the rule. Most obese people are longing -- most to the point of nightly tears -- to be able to control the behaviors that have caused them to become so. Why do you think these people are willing to have their stomachs cut open, mutilated, their intestines re-routed, their GI tract permanently altered with the resulting inability to eat sugar again for the rest of their lives? It's because the cure, while drastic and, in some ways, unpleasant, is so much better than the condition, i.e. obestity, itself.
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Junior Member
Registered: 11-14-08
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I am an overweight person who has been struggling all of my life with weight problems i havent had any eight loss surgeries, but have been thinking about it for quite sometime. i emjoy the show. and have been reading alot of the discussions. i know that some insurance companies will cover the surgery but it is not a fast process and not just anyone can have it i have a friend who is going for gastric bypass next week and she went to many doctors appointments and classes and lost alot of weight before hand.
as for how people afford to "be fat" unhealthy snacks and drinks are usually alot cheaper than healthier foods i could go to my local store and get a bag of chips for a dollar as opposed to a bag of carrots that would cost triple that amount not that i eat alot of chips, but as an example.
i have children and make healthy meals everyday my problem is,i will eat ALOT of that healthy meal before feeling satisfied.
i do eat junk food also and after holidays (there are alot) you can buy candy and such bags of it cheap. i usually dont shop at one specific store but many and buy what they are offering on sale and i use lots of coupons.
my children however are not overweight and i have 5 .
i work and pay taxes like everyone else
but i have friends who because of whatever reason cannot work and i know that the welfare system gives them unbelievable amounts of food stamps depending on theyre income.
ie if you dont have enough money to pay your bills they will give you "extra food stamps" dont understand how this helps but it is how it is. and then are food pantries.
so you don't need to be loaded to get fat.
or to get surgeries. but i am sure it helps
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Junior Member
Registered: 06-24-08
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I had WLS on 9/24. I can presently eat 1-2 oz. at a time. I also took over the grocery shopping from my husband who spent about half our budget on junk food (well, it seemed that way, anyway).
Yet our grocery bills haven't gone down at all. Fresh fruits, unprocessed foods, etc. cost more than junk and are also more persishable so there is more waste. Also, protein supplements and my vitamin regimin are pricy.
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Junior Member
Registered: 11-25-08
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I have been overweight my entire life. I was one of the lucky ones who went on Atkins and lost 80lbs. My doctor wants 40 more to come off but it is a struggle. My husband can't lose weight no matter how he eats. Our doctor wants him to use Meridia but our insurance won't cover it, our doctor has also written to our insurance company about the lapband for him and once again the insurance company said no. I guess they don't mind paying the prices for 6 prescriptions but think that weight loss surgery isn't a good idea. How is it possible that an insurance company can over rule what your doctor says is necessary???? Sorry I went on a rant there, so a comment to the first post, most overweight people can live normal lives except for jerks like that who think that we are aliens or something. Come on...do you really think that all overweight people just sit around and eat?
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Junior Member
Registered: 10-19-07
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Actually, I wondered the same thing. I am not trying to be mean or anything but I watched the show entitled "I eat 33,000 calories a day" last night and wondered how people afford that much food as well. It was, for the most part, cooked food, although much of it was fried. Perhaps these folks are wealthy but I have trouble believing all of them are and when you put your life out there on TV for all to view, to tell others to "mind your own business" when they ask logical questions is hypocritical. I've seen shows where the person is said to be unable to work due to their weight.
We are also told that if the families didn't provide the food, the person would just call for take out. Although genetics and hormones undoubtedly have something to do with some people's obesity, the amount and kinds of food consumed plays into the scenerio as well in most cases.
Perhaps the shows SHOULD explain that the person is self sufficient in spite of their inability to leave home and/or bed. It would be part of the story and wouldn't have folks wondering how they afford all that food, junk or otherwise.
I'm not judging or trying to be hateful...just curious. I know I, as a middle class person, couldn't afford as much food as some of these folks admit to consuming daily. I've struggled with my weight most of my adult life so I am sympathetic to the problem. I've just wondered about the financial toll as well.
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Junior Member
Registered: 12-23-08
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good question...you have to drop a lot of dough in order to get like that
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Junior Member
Registered: 01-01-09
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I must respectfully disagree with you! While these people are probably on some type of "assistance" they are not required to spend it on nutritional food! As long as it goes "into the mouth" (not paper or hygene goods) they can buy it with food stamps in Texas! The result is 64% obesity in TEXAS! I am appauled and I live here. Chicken can be bought at $.99 per pound and so can ground beef! It's not the cost of the food, it's the crapolla they choose to eat, and the caregivers that roll it in! I pay nearly $1K per month for two of us and we are not obese. Shame on the caregivers that haul all those calories in! They should be charged with endangering a life! quote: Originally posted by justy1234:
I could ask this same question of alcoholics, drug addicts, smokers, etc. You don't have to be rich to have a bad habit. And you're right that better food cost more money and takes more time to prepare.
I also want to address the issue of people not working. While many, many people who have this surgery have jobs and insurance through work, I don't see why this should matter in paying for WLS. If the government pays the bill then they inturn get a break. If a disabled person has weight loss surgery and turns their life around they can inturn become a productive member of society. Would all you tax payers rather that people who are disabled atleast in part to their obesity stay home? How long do you want to continue to pay the bill? I would rather see Medicare/Medicaid pay the bill and get these people off to work. Not everyone on the government dime is lazy and just wants to sit home all day.
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Junior Member
Registered: 01-01-09
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quote: Originally posted by awntypam:
i could go to my local store and get a bag of chips for a dollar as opposed to a bag of carrots
I don't know where you buy your carrots, but they don't cost as much as a bag of chips in Austin. Please don't deny that you have an eating problem because of the cost of food. It is because of the quality and the quantity of what people eat that they have a problem. I say this because my sister does the same "denial" of what she eats and is currently diabetic! Not because she "chooses to eat healthy foods" but because she chooses not to. I have more sympathy for someone who admits they are out of control. |
Junior Member
Registered: 01-01-09
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I agree with this statement 100%! quote:
Please don't try to white wash the fact that huge quantities of junk have caused our society to become unhealthy and obease.
I am not a health freak, or organic food eater, but I also don't eat 3 triple meat burgers or 30,000 calories per day either!
You are what you eat, and the enablers are just as guilty as the "eaters"! No one gets fat from sucking air, or eating carrots!
Originally posted by terri508:
I agree with tinlady97 about foods that are healthy and less costly. However, most people do not want to take the time or effort to prepare a meal. They want something fast and easy whether it's because of their work schedule or maybe because they are disabled and can't prepare a meal. We are a society that wants everything right now, no waiting.
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Junior Member
Registered: 06-17-07
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quote: Originally posted by JustJudy: quote: Originally posted by awntypam:
i could go to my local store and get a bag of chips for a dollar as opposed to a bag of carrots
I don't know where you buy your carrots, but they don't cost as much as a bag of chips in Austin. Please don't deny that you have an eating problem because of the cost of food. It is because of the quality and the quantity of what people eat that they have a problem. I say this because my sister does the same "denial" of what she eats and is currently diabetic! Not because she "chooses to eat healthy foods" but because she chooses not to. I have more sympathy for someone who admits they are out of control.
I don't want your sympathy and I suspect no one else does either... you seem very judgemental... |
Junior Member
Registered: 06-17-07
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quote: Originally posted by JustJudy: I agree with this statement 100%! quote:
Please don't try to white wash the fact that huge quantities of junk have caused our society to become unhealthy and obease.
I am not a health freak, or organic food eater, but I also don't eat 3 triple meat burgers or 30,000 calories per day either!
You are what you eat, and the enablers are just as guilty as the "eaters"! No one gets fat from sucking air, or eating carrots!
Originally posted by terri508:
I agree with tinlady97 about foods that are healthy and less costly. However, most people do not want to take the time or effort to prepare a meal. They want something fast and easy whether it's because of their work schedule or maybe because they are disabled and can't prepare a meal. We are a society that wants everything right now, no waiting.
One might question why you are so arogant...maybe things aren't always as they seem... Are you the type who wants evrything now and judges others the same? |
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