Obesity in the Headlines

July 19, 2004 - The Common Voice

Obesity Is A Choice, Not An Illness

Jimmy Moore

Obesity is a topic that is extremely personal to me and I cannot remain silent on the ramifications of a recent public policy change by the government that could have dramatic consequences on American society in the next few years.

On Friday, U.S. Health & Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson described obesity as "a critical public health problem in our country that causes millions of Americans to suffer unnecessary health problems and to die prematurely."

As a man who allowed himself to tip the scale at 410 pounds earlier this year, I know about the physical consequences of obesity. Cholesterol and blood pressure problems are the norm for most people who allow themselves to get that big and I was no exception.

In fact, my brother, who is only four years older than me, had three consecutive heart attacks a few years ago that nearly killed him because of his weight problem. He is still alive today, but with limited ability to live the life he once dreamed about.

For those of us who have battled maintaining weight loss our entire lives, it is easy to think there's no use trying to lose weight because it will keep coming back over and over again.

Now the U.S. government is telling us the same thing by labeling obesity as an 'illness' that will be covered by Medicare to be 'treated' with surgeries and diet programs.

All I can say is, oh my! Do they even realize what they have done?!

Since when do we need the government's help with an individual decision based on personal responsibility?

If someone, myself included, balloons up to an unhealthy weight, why does the government feel it needs to redistribute tax dollars to pay for 'treating' this?

If someone eats a bunch of Big Macs and fries and gorges himself on every food known to man, why should a skinny person who eats fine and is in good health have to bear the burden of paying for obese people's medical bills? It's not right!

Thompson boasted to a Senate panel last Thursday that Medicare will "review scientic evidence" to determine what methods work best to help obese people return their weight to normal.

I've got an idea for you. How about getting the lard butts to start hopping on the treadmill several times a week to get their heart pumping while significantly cutting down on the amount of food they eat?! Gee, that's a start!

Again, I can speak with authority on this since I have been there, done that with being obese.

Let's be clear on one thing: Obesity is NOT an illness, but rather a chosen condition.

Nobody wakes up with obesity or catches obesity like a cold. It's the direct result of eating too much food while living a couch-potato, exercise-deprived lifestyle.

I finally realized this myself at the turn of the new year this year when I decided to start losing weight doing the low-carb Atkins diet along with regularly scheduled exercise.

While I started at 410 pounds on January 1, I am now down to 292 pounds and still losing weight and regaining my health. My cholesterol and blood pressure have significantly dropped while my overall health has skyrocketed. It is amazing what an individual can do if he is willing to make the right choices for himself.

My ultimate goal is to get back down to 200 pounds, which would make me very skinny at 6'3" tall. But it is my goal and I am confident I will make it and stay there as long as I remain committed to the exercise and change in eating habits.

Did I need the government to tell me how to lose over 100 pounds? No.

Has the government paid for the program I have been on to lose over 100 pounds? No.

Did the government require me to walk on the treadmill and incorporate exercise into my life every day to lose over 100 pounds? Hardly!

The choice was mine to make the decision to lose weight, just as the choice was mine to eat all that food that made me once weigh 410 pounds.

I will never weigh that much again in my life because I am personally committed to keeping my weight off for good this time.

And I don't need the government to make it happen!