The Obligation to be Healthy
Having read through this thread I am saddened that so many would judge a persons worth based on their health.
Sad that some would see my "unhealthy" son as a burden on society who does nothing but drive up insurance rates for others -- he has had multiple organ failures starting at age 11, takes excellent care of himself and is still only able to "manage" his three auto immune diseases. Yet he works, takes care of himself, contribute to society, and yes thanks to Obamacare can now get insurance. (Oh, and by the way if that magic pill becomes available to cure him of his disabilities, I would give ANYTHING to get it for him...)
Many individuals have NO CHOICE when it comes to health.
I chose not to participate in the "is it ok to be fat" discussion because only the individual who is affected can make that decision. No one else gets a vote. And the status of one's health has no bearing on their worth as a person.
Sad that some would see my "unhealthy" son as a burden on society who does nothing but drive up insurance rates for others -- he has had multiple organ failures starting at age 11, takes excellent care of himself and is still only able to "manage" his three auto immune diseases. Yet he works, takes care of himself, contribute to society, and yes thanks to Obamacare can now get insurance. (Oh, and by the way if that magic pill becomes available to cure him of his disabilities, I would give ANYTHING to get it for him...)
Many individuals have NO CHOICE when it comes to health.
I chose not to participate in the "is it ok to be fat" discussion because only the individual who is affected can make that decision. No one else gets a vote. And the status of one's health has no bearing on their worth as a person.
RNY (lap) 9/12/2012 | Michel Murr | SW243 | 5'6"
The notion of obligation implies choice. I think we have a lot of choices in this world, but being free of illness is not one of them.
My stepson was born with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder. He had no choice. Then, before his adoption, he contracted meningitis. He had no choice.
Similarly, I was born to parents who suffered from depression. I have depression. I didn't have a choice in that. I might have avoided the depression pill, but when I was younger I was abused and bullied, and now I get the trifecta diagnosis of depression with anxiety and PTSD.
So, why is obesity any different? It really isn't.
Now, do I have an obligation to treat these things? Maybe so.... but what if part of my condition impairs my ability to treat? My stepson, for example, goes on and off the medications for his seizures and mood disorders related to his condition. We always tell him that he's made a poor choice, but the truth is that it's also part of his condition that he's incapable of making good choices about his medication.
Science tells us that carbohydrates make us crave more carbohydrates and that way carbs are metabolized give us a secondary hormonal gain. Thus, the condition of insulin resistance (which arises over time because we eat too many carbs) has a built in mechanism that impedes our ability to choose better foods.
Those of us who have chosen surgery have taken extreme measures to combat our condition. No one should have an obligation to do that. And if we do have such an obligation, the least society could do is pay for it. (Says the woman who self-paid).
My stepson was born with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder. He had no choice. Then, before his adoption, he contracted meningitis. He had no choice.
Similarly, I was born to parents who suffered from depression. I have depression. I didn't have a choice in that. I might have avoided the depression pill, but when I was younger I was abused and bullied, and now I get the trifecta diagnosis of depression with anxiety and PTSD.
So, why is obesity any different? It really isn't.
Now, do I have an obligation to treat these things? Maybe so.... but what if part of my condition impairs my ability to treat? My stepson, for example, goes on and off the medications for his seizures and mood disorders related to his condition. We always tell him that he's made a poor choice, but the truth is that it's also part of his condition that he's incapable of making good choices about his medication.
Science tells us that carbohydrates make us crave more carbohydrates and that way carbs are metabolized give us a secondary hormonal gain. Thus, the condition of insulin resistance (which arises over time because we eat too many carbs) has a built in mechanism that impedes our ability to choose better foods.
Those of us who have chosen surgery have taken extreme measures to combat our condition. No one should have an obligation to do that. And if we do have such an obligation, the least society could do is pay for it. (Says the woman who self-paid).
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