Inside Brookhaven Obesity Clinic

Hi everyone, I don't know if any of you have caught this show on TLC. I watched several episodes of this program yesterday and have been spittin' mad every since. I've attached the email that I have sent to the network below. I would like to comment on the Brookhaven Obesity Clinic show that TLC has recently picked up. I watched several episodes of this program on June 3, 2007 and was both horrified and disgusted at the language used in this program, and the overall attitude toward those suffering from morbid obesity. Words such as "fattest", "failures", "sins" were used in reference to the patients in this clinic. The inferences made on this program are completely inappropriate - obesity is a medical condition, not a character flaw. The show's negative focus, looking for "cheaters" and the country's "fattest" citizens is appalling. Focus should be made on the successes, however small, that these patients are making. Additionally, comments against surgical treatment of morbid obesity were made, referencing the surgery as "easy". Incorrect information was also shared with regard to the procedure (statement that the stomach after gastric bypass is the size of a grape) and all comments of this nature were made by the administrator. This person is not only NOT a doctor, but is providing negative and incorrect information to the public. I would like to strongly suggest that TLC remove this program from their line-up and investigate the validity of the information being shared. Completely disgusted, Karen M

Good for you, Karen! I made a point to NO****ch this program as I didn't like the promos they aired for it in advance. I had a terrible feeling it would be just as you described in your post. Kudos for sending your letter, my dear. Too many people swallow their rigtheous indignation, instead of speakign out... People need to understand that the morbidly obese are NOT failures. And please, anyone who thinks of surgery as an easy fix for anything is either living in LA or just plain headless. Well done Karen!!! Connie

Karen, I did catch some of this show last night. I was so not impressed. I had to turn the channel I was so upset. Good for you for writing an email. Deb

well Karen, it doesn't seem like an accident does it that tv is filled with FAT!!? It seems as if FAT is the newest offering of "realitainment". Isn't it fun and repugnant to look at the deformed people and their deformed bodies? isn't it? Look at their skin problems-imagine how gross it would be to have to apply cream on someone's rash or toilet a 600 lb person. And think of how righteous we can feel about loathing these people because ,hey, they brought it on themselves right? Yes I have to agree with you that the morbidly obese are generally painted as people with character flaws, you know, lack self control, has no discipline, poor impulse control, and let's not forget plain ignorant! Cause you'd have to be stupid to let yourself get that big right? They also spend a lot of time referring to obese persons as 'addicts'. So here's my general question to everyone on this forum: would you describe yourself as an addict and why? I have another concern though, I wonder if anyone else noticed that there is a certain kind of person who is/are featured in BIG medicine and especially Brookhaven? I observed that we met lots of women, African Americans, Hispanic, poor, and poorly educated people. I wonder why? Any thoughts anyone? Beyond the reality that these people are suffering and super large where is the important and all too absent emotional/psychological component? And why is the food at Brookhaven so bland and lifeless-is that what food should be? here's a little of what I had to say about BIG M last week. "Well I also HAD to watch it-kind of like a car wreck. The Dr.s were charismatic, and yes it was good to have three very different stories... It would be interesting to talk to men about the hows and whys of their experiences with obesity hmmmm I hope Allen will start telling us more soon. I also had a reaction to the Psychologist. She suggested that obese persons are private and deceptive, lying about food intake and she seemed suspicious about this woman's commitment. It reminded me about ow people are really so ignorant about the reality of living with such tremendous weight. Slim people really don't get it. I think a psychologist who had WLS would have been more credible to me. I was watching some show called medical incredible or something. the show featured a man who weighs 250 lbs and completes triathalons(sp). Interesting to me is that the Doc acknowledged that this man's metabolism was such that he needed to have much less nutrition/food than the average person but still maintained his weight-even with vigorous exercise. Interesting to me is that he wasn't referred to as obese or morbidly obese, and there was no big shame trip about his lack of self-discipline etc. hmmm I wonder why that was, any ideas ?"

Hi Lisa, You're right, I also noticed the "type" of person profiled on the show - very discouraging. With regard to your question about being an addict - I would have to say yes, in some ways. I think I used food as an escape many times - to ease hurt, boredom, anger, loneliness... which is why I think it's important to learn about this and seek some form of counselling prior to surgery to help deal with the reasons for eating and to learn to replace it with healthier responses. I know it certainly helped me. I haven'****ched Big Medicine yet, hoping to catch an episode in the near future. Thanks for your response Karen M

Hi Karen, I am with you on the disgusting show. It made the people look ignorant and simple. Obese people don't have pea sized brains however the people that put this show together seem to have. We don't need to be pitied, we need support and encouragement and it sure wasn't there. I will no****ch it again, it certainly shows this condition as a lazy person's problem and I didn't like that. And we all know that surgery is far from easy, and is costly, and is a major life changing choice. I appreciate the fact that obesity and WLS are more in the public eye but don't tell me I am a fat lazy slob that sits and eats my way into oblivion. I work, take care of my family, and am involved in the community. Sue

I haven****ched the show but I would like to know.... ....who exactlyis using these terms?? Patients or staff?

Hi Elisa, The narrator of the show uses the terms constantly and the negative feeling comes from him and from the hospital administrator, who apparently they look to as an expert in the field, yet isn't a medical professional at all. I have to say that the staff working with the patients look to be very supportive. It's just the overall feel of the show that has me riled up. Karen