Gothamist: `illin: The Gothamist Health Buzz

solidago

Fri, 28 Jul 2006 20:04:42 -0500

People need to be meaner to obese people so maybe they'd think twice about going into McDonalds. I'd like to see the NYPD start doling out $50 tickets to people whose bags of fat take up more than one subway seat. Bloomberg has done a spectacular job at making life uncomfortable for smokers -- I'd like to see him do the same with the obese.

Smalls

Fri, 28 Jul 2006 13:23:39 -0500

People with risk-taking accidents like skateboarding can be properly x-rayed or CT-scanned, and they fit in the MRI tube. They can receive proper, immediate treatment, have a much higher chance of recovery, and go on to skateboard again. Morbidly obese folks are at tremendous risk because the layers of fatty tissue obscure the organs in scans, they do not fit in many machines, and the doctors cannot properly diagnose their ailments. They sicken, die, and their families sue the hospital for not buying the latest $2-$3 million larger-bore scanners. Insurance premiums for the doctors spike and they must charge more for services. The morbidly obese, in many ways, are driving up health-care costs for everyone. The risk-taking hordes don't make life harder on the rest of us.

dhex

Fri, 28 Jul 2006 12:32:50 -0500

"The zoo MRI/xray is an urban myth:" yup. with a few exceptions nearly anyone can fit into a CT machine, especially the newer ones. so exempting the walter hudsons of the world...

xnxox

Fri, 28 Jul 2006 11:51:19 -0500

kimdog, did you really think gothamist readers would think otherwise? i mean, have you read these things before?! if its about fat people, poor people, or fun poeople, these comment boards turn into a hate-fest.

Nicole

Fri, 28 Jul 2006 11:45:04 -0500

Great picture! I know it's not right to laugh at obese animals (or people) but it's just too funny! I love the article on why candy is good for you too. Especially this part: "And if you are craving more, consider the other flavonoid-rich foods with fewer calories, such as grapes, blueberries, strawberries and spinach." Right, I always think of spinach as a great chaser for chocolate...

kimdog

Fri, 28 Jul 2006 11:31:47 -0500

Well, it's certainly good to know that Gothamist readers think fat people are sub-human and undeserving of medical care. And all those people who break bones or hit their head doing things like skateboarding or falling down drunk should be denied access too. Why shouldn't there be a point where one can say "enough" with trying to accomodate the risk-taking hordes?

Jen

Fri, 28 Jul 2006 11:25:59 -0500

Fat cats are crowd-pleasers, but sadly they tend to have health problems (I get this lecture whenever I coo over a fat cat).

Tim N.

Fri, 28 Jul 2006 10:55:47 -0500

I'm normally not down with cat photography, but that could be the funniest picture I've seen in a week. Thanks for the laugh!

last night last

Fri, 28 Jul 2006 10:55:12 -0500

Odd, the obese woman on last night's Grey's anotomy fit into a CT scanner just fine. And, I never knew the Bronx zoo could even afford a CT scanner, maybe a used one. urban myths, com'on people.

uc

Fri, 28 Jul 2006 10:34:01 -0500

The zoo MRI/xray is an urban myth: http://www.explodingcigar.com/article1750.html I could find a better link, but I don't effing care enough.

Constant Dater

Fri, 28 Jul 2006 10:27:09 -0500

Of course if you make 'em bigger, people are just gonna get fatter and not fit into those. Why shouldn't there be a point where one can say "enough" with trying to accomodate the ever-fattening hordes?

Jeebus

Fri, 28 Jul 2006 10:24:13 -0500

Even though NYC has its share of fatties, its Texas that accounts for a huge chunk of that 64% Hit the Gym and loose weight people. And no, your not Big Boned and its not in your Genes, you're just FAT.