General Medical issues thread

[Pushka]

Unfortunately most who have bariatric surgery don't have an adequate psych assessment.I have seen many failures due to this sort of problem.One fellow used to just eat mashed potato with 250 gms butter to each potato.the potato though was optional.A woman who drank chocolate milkshakes for 18 hours a day.

Totally agree. He was never going to change. He was too young, I think 21 and quite liked his lifestyle, he is an online gambler and seems to have made some money, this was a few years ago, but suspect parental pressure.

So I will throw this out there. Was listening to an obesity expert and who said that obesity was a disease and not simply a matter of what goes in the mouth. And of course there are medical issues why people are overweight, including steroi_ medications, thyroid issues yada yada. And she said that only 10% obesity was caused by diet and lifestyle.

Are we making obesity become socially acceptable and simply dismiss it as a medical condition and so suddenly society can “blame” something else?

 

[cove]

I don’t think my newer cardiologist even knows about naughty food groups. He is super thin and I estimate he weighs barely 60 kgs. I got quite comfortable with my previous cardiologist as he gained some kgs over the 20 odd years I had him as my consultant.
I was once told by a physician friend that physicians rarely lived to a ripe old age so they were not the right group to ask about living longer.
My next cardiologist appointment is about 3 weeks away so I am thinking about health issues.

 

[RooFlyer]

Are we making obesity become socially acceptable and simply dismiss it as a medical condition and so suddenly society can “blame” something else?

On the face of it, that's what it sounds like. Nothing is anybody's fault etc.

That said, I did see a program not long ago that had people on continuous blood glucose monitors. Compared the BG after eating various foods, when the spikes were etc and showed pretty conclusively that not everyone would 'get fat' on the same foods.

I'm a bit vague on it, maybe the experts here will shoot me down, but it was pretty convincing that there was not 'one size fits all' interpretation as far as diet and obesity was concerned.

 

[Pushka]

On the face of it, that's what it sounds like. Nothing is anybody's fault etc.

That said, I did see a program not long ago that had people on continuous blood glucose monitors. Compared the BG after eating various foods, when the spikes were etc and showed pretty conclusively that not everyone would 'get fat' on the same foods.

I'm a bit vague on it, maybe the experts here will shoot me down, but it was pretty convincing that there was not 'one size fits all' interpretation as far as diet and obesity was concerned.

Yes, I agree there is some wiggle room. But when I look at what large people eat in cafes as I walk past and I think that that amount of food would be my daily intake and not just a snack in the mall, well, that’s got to play a large part of it.

I’m very hypothyroid. We had a PA who was also hypothyroid. She would eat a cake or muffin for morning and afternoon tea as well as lunch etc. Then she would explain to me that she was overweight because she had a serious medical condition that meant she gained weight and was big because of it. And not because of what she ate. Very serious she was. In the end I got sick of the excuses and said I’d had the same condition for over 10 years by then (I was maybe 15 years older than her) and said this as she was consuming her latest creamy confection. I didn’t make a comment about food intake. I didn’t need to.

 

[cove]

Looks like our family member will be released from hospital after 2 weeks. He had an Aggressive bladder cancer and had two stints in ICU as an infection needed to be managed after the operation.

 

[love_the_life]

Whilst I agree that what goes into the mouth has a big effect on weight, sometimes I think some professionals forget that there is no one size or ideal weight. There are some people destined to be bigger, heavier than others. It’s the same in all animals. Perhaps instead of weight we’d do better to look at overall health indicators.

 

[love_the_life]

Looks like our family member will be released from hospital after 2 weeks. He had an Aggressive bladder cancer and had two stints in ICU as an infection needed to be managed after the operation.

Glad to hear he is going home.

 

[RooFlyer]

I'm a bit vague on it, maybe the experts here will shoot me down, but it was pretty convincing that there was not 'one size fits all' interpretation as far as diet and obesity was concerned.

I meant to add that the program didn't give a 'leave pass' to just shove everything and anything into your mouth and blame genetics. It was more that some didn't get fat on the 'traditional' stuff - which explains some of the people we see who go the full pizza and burgers thing, without much exercise and are still thin!

 

[cove]

Glad to hear he is going home.

Yes that was a near death experience for him. I think once he recovers he will need to tackle some unfinished business that he has put off for a decade or two.
I remember that I did a lot of fixing up of business matters post my heart by pass operation in 1994.
Wills,Advance Health Directive and Power of Attorney all need to be reviewed.

 

[Pushka]

Whilst I agree that what goes into the mouth has a big effect on weight, sometimes I think some professionals forget that there is no one size or ideal weight. There are some people destined to be bigger, heavier than others. It’s the same in all animals. Perhaps instead of weight we’d do better to look at overall health indicators.

Yes, that’s important too. But there is a limit to that as well and maybe longevity and future risk comes into play. With all the heaviness, then diabetes is surely almost inevitable. The body is just not meant to process sugar at the current amount and sugar is hidden everywhere.

Another thing is those boost juices. Up to five oranges for one drink and without the fibre. Yet people think it’s healthy!

 

[Pushka]

Looks like our family member will be released from hospital after 2 weeks. He had an Aggressive bladder cancer and had two stints in ICU as an infection needed to be managed after the operation.

When one of people in the marriage/partnership develops an aggressive cancer at 23 and just 6 months into your marriage then leaving those details to “later on” is never an option. Consequently I’ve always been overprepared because cough happens. All the time.

 

[Flying mermaid]

Whilst I agree that what goes into the mouth has a big effect on weight, sometimes I think some professionals forget that there is no one size or ideal weight. There are some people destined to be bigger, heavier than others. It’s the same in all animals. Perhaps instead of weight we’d do better to look at overall health indicators.

yes you get a bit sick of the paint by number approach to so many things.

I think someone who is a little “overweight” but exercises and doesn’t over indulge is probably just the right size for them. I think the ultra thin image can be just as unhealthy and our young girls (and boys) have enough in their lives without have image problems and we need to be careful of that.

However I think it is going too far when people who could control their weight seem to think it is Ok to be obese and they shouldn’t be fat shamed. The number of obese people in Australia is spiralling and I don’t think we have had a sudden influx of people with genetic inability to not be obese.

I have an obese friend - got up to 150 kg at one point. When the GFC hit his financial affairs crumbled and he decided he couldn’t control that, but he could do something about his weight and maybe live long enough to see things improve. He started a massive exercise regime with some calorie control. He got down to 90kg and was able to go off all his medications - just wonderful.

Unfortunately his current job doesn’t allow him much time for exercise and a lot of it has gone back on. I get quite cross with him and say he has to control what he eats, but he is totally indulgent. He will scoff down 200g of chocolate at a sitting and then say it’s not what he eats, he just needs to exercise more.

I have always had a sluggish metabolism and have had to control what I eat. Mr FM can eat three times what I do and not put on a gram (or at least he could until he got to 60, when it changed ). There are definitely variations in what people can achieve, but people still need to eat healthily and moderately and exercise and if they are doing that, then whatever shape they end up with is probably the right one for them.

 

[tgh]

Time is the weight loss enemy.
15 years ago I could just go cold turkey until the weight was right.
Of course then everyone complained that I was too light.
Now it's a constant dour daily /hourly challenge as I must not /will not get heavy.
My exercise capacities are decreasing, and I find the constant pressure to manage my energy intake a huge pita.
With perhaps ten years left , there is extant an argument to eat and drink anything , take some drugs and enjoy the trip.
I might die of anything…..next week or on my 99th birthday.. who knows

addendum … I have been wearing a fitbit for a month or so now and the weekly stats are both encouraging (because I clock up the k's) and discouraging (because those couple of kg's I am over will not go)….

 

[Pushka]

yes you get a bit sick of the paint by number approach to so many things.

I think someone who is a little “overweight” but exercises and doesn’t over indulge is probably just the right size for them. I think the ultra thin image can be just as unhealthy and our young girls (and boys) have enough in their lives without have image problems and we need to be careful of that.

However I think it is going too far when people who could control their weight seem to think it is Ok to be obese and they shouldn’t be fat shamed. The number of obese people in Australia is spiralling and I don’t think we have had a sudden influx of people with genetic inability to not be obese.

I have an obese friend - got up to 150 kg at one point. When the GFC hit his financial affairs crumbled and he decided he couldn’t control that, but he could do something about his weight and maybe live long enough to see things improve. He started a massive exercise regime with some calorie control. He got down to 90kg and was able to go off all his medications - just wonderful.

Unfortunately his current job doesn’t allow him much time for exercise and a lot of it has gone back on. I get quite cross with him and say he has to control what he eats, but he is totally indulgent. He will scoff down 200g of chocolate at a sitting and then say it’s not what he eats, he just needs to exercise more.

I have always had a sluggish metabolism and have had to control what I eat. Mr FM can eat three times what I do and not put on a gram (or at least he could until he got to 60, when it changed ). There are definitely variations in what people can achieve, but people still need to eat healthily and moderately and exercise and if they are doing that, then whatever shape they end up with is probably the right one for them.

That’s an interesting lesson. In a previous life I know I could be very overweight if I’d eaten all the goodies I loved. Salty and sweet. But now I think my stomach has shrunk a bit and I just don’t like the feeling when I’ve eaten more than I normally would. If I have a bacon and egg breakfast I don’t even feel like much dinner! Plus as I mentioned before I’m losing the taste of things so that helps a lot. Things just don’t taste like they used to so I’m not interested.

Maybe that’s a new tack on this weight loss thing! Kill off the sense of taste?

 

[suze2000]

However I think it is going too far when people who could control their weight seem to think it is Ok to be obese and they shouldn’t be fat shamed.

Study after study has shown that fat shaming people does not make them lose weight. In fact, it makes them have bad feelings about themselves so they comfort eat and then they have more bad feelings etc.

Please do not fat shame people.

 

[Flying mermaid]

Study after study has shown that fat shaming people does not make them lose weight. In fact, it makes them have bad feelings about themselves so they comfort eat and then they have more bad feelings etc.

Please do not fat shame people.

well I don’t believe in “shaming” anyone, but I am certainly not going to sit by and watch a very good friend eat himself to death and not try and encourage him to eat less.

I absolutely don’t think you should be negative about it, or embarrass someone, but that’s different to encouraging.

I also believe people need to have responsibility for their own health and more needs to be done to encourage (not shame) people to keep their weight down. There is a big range between normal weight and obese. I think being over weight is fine, especially as you get older, obese is not.

 

[love_the_life]

well I don’t believe in “shaming” anyone, but I am certainly not going to sit by and watch a very good friend eat himself to death and not try and encourage him to eat less.

I absolutely don’t think you should be negative about it, or embarrass someone, but that’s different to encouraging.

I also believe people need to have responsibility for their own health and more needs to be done to encourage (not shame) people to keep their weight down. There is a big range between normal weight and obese. I think being over weight is fine, especially as you get older, obese is not.

Interestingly if I do the standard BMI calculation I come out as obese.

 

[Flying mermaid]

Interestingly if I do the standard BMI calculation I come out as obese.

really - I wouldn’t have thought you were! You need to get a bit taller Or maybe you have heavy bones. None of these measures are all that accurate - just guidelines. When I think of obese, it certainly isn’t you,

 

[love_the_life]

really - I wouldn’t have thought you were! You need to get a bit taller Or maybe you have heavy bones. None of these measures are all that accurate - just guidelines. When I think of obese, it certainly isn’t you,

Perhaps I could use that line, 'I'm not overweight, I'm just under tall'.
That said, after 5 years on Tamoxifen in the 90s I have not been able to shake the excess weight.

 

[Flying mermaid]

Perhaps I could use that line, 'I'm not overweight, I'm just under tall'.
That said, after 5 years on Tamoxifen in the 90s I have not been able to shake the excess weight.

Age doesn’t help either. Mr FM used to sit at around 55kg without any issues. Now he floats between 61 and 62kg and we really eat very carefully with few indulgences, except when we go away.