Go figure.

Are obese people less likely to commit suicide?

 

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By Joene Hendry Joene Hendry – Fri Oct 9, 2:50 pm ET

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) – Obesity may lead to numerous health problems, but it may actually be linked to fewer successful suicides, according to a new study.

Dr. Kenneth J. Mukamal, at Harvard School of Public Health in Boston, looked at rates of suicide and obesity in U.S. states in 2004 and 2005. On average, about a quarter of adults studied were classified as obese on the basis of their body mass index, which is a standard measure of the relationship of height and weight. Also on average, there were about 12 suicides per 100,000 adults.

However, with each 3 percent increase in obesity in a given state, there were 3 fewer suicides per 100,000 adults, they report in the journal Obesity.

U.S. states with higher rates of obesity also had lower rates of successful suicide using guns, suffocation, and poisoning.

Generally, states with higher rates of obesity also had higher rates of gun ownership and adults who smoke, plus lower rates of college education and household income.

After they took those factors into account, however, the obesity-suicide relationship remained consistent.

Mukamal said more definitive studies are needed to confirm the link and figure out what is responsible for it. For example, the authors speculate that poisonings may be less lethal in the obese because they require higher doses, and that suffocation may be less common because "the steps involved in hanging may be burdensome (and) uncomfortable" in obese people.

However, the study did not prove a cause and effect, and even if future studies do, "the risks of obesity far outweigh any potential benefit on suicide prevention."

More people die from suicide in the U.S. than from homicide, noted Mukamal. Yet, we know of very few ways to prevent suicide, "other than minimizing access to guns," he told Reuters Health in an email.

That last sentence is about chicken**** as it gets. I guess Judas Iscariot popped himself with a .45 after the whole 30 pieces of silver thing didn't work out for him.

Generally, states with higher rates of obesity also had higher rates of gun ownership and adults who smoke, plus lower rates of college education and household income.

Guess that is life in the "Red States" of Fly Over Land!

OK, let me see if I can summurize this guy's study. States with the fattest people are so dumb, they buy more guns and are too stupid, too chicken, and too poor to kill themselves, with them, than those people from the states with a higher percentage of smarter, better educated people. This guy was educated by who? Oh yeah, Harvard!

What a condesending ****pile of an article.  "They don't kill themselves, even though they probably should, because it takes 400 pills to kill their rotundous ass, plus they're too damn fat to hike it up and hang themselves."

How about our self-esteem is already low due to people thinking we're a different species simply because of our size so life's little issues are no big deal?  How about we're so damn programmed to be the "happy fat guy" that it's hard to get out of that mode?  Or how about, it's just a damn coincidence.  (My personal opinion)  I can't imagine there being any real correlation. 

Nonetheless, I don't feel any different now than I did then, emotionally anyway.  I still have days when I feel sad and depressed, but thank goodness I'm albe (and have been able) to handle it without feeling like ending it.  I can't imagine weight having anything to do with it.

As someone who has seriously considered suicide in the distant past, I'd like to say that many people who choose suicide do not use such obvious methods as using guns or hanging.  I've spoken to many people who had contemplated single high speed car accidents usually into a concrete abutment or over a bridge or through a guardrail.  There's also the obvious possibility of mixing medications and booze or drugs--it may appear to be an accident but really be a suicide.  Then you have the truly depressed who don't seek treatment and just figure that their health will fail.  That's one of the methods I thought of but my heart is just too strong.  Even when I was at my highest weight, my blood pressure was fine, and my cholesterol was great.  Now that I've lost over 230 lbs, I have atrial fibrilation.  Go figure. 

I do know that there are men in our group who have attempted suicide.  I don't expect them to respond to this post because this site is just too open.  However, I do encourage anyone considering suicide by any means to contact a suicide hotline.  If the temptation is not overwhelming but is persistent, you should contact your primary doc and possibly a shrink.  NOTE:  some meds do cause suicidal thouthts.  Look over the warnings for side effects on your meds.

 Yep ..  Iwas too lazy to walk all the way into a gun store, look for, and buy a gun ..  and some ammo ..   as a pre-op ..        But now that I'm healthy enough, I can!         (wait, that doesn't make sense    )  
  But heck, a lot more "subtle" way to do it now would be to just not take any supps.  ..     

  As to what Bober suggests is good advice ..  But you have to wonder what a doc can say to you that would "help" if your life hasn't really changed one bit for the better after surgery ..   go have it reversed?      Meds can only do so much for ya ..  It's like wearing a painted smile ..    

Talk about the irony in that...lol...being to lazy to kill yourself!