An increasing number of Americans are unable to get full medical care because they are too obese to fit into scanners or their fat is too dense for X-rays or sound waves to penetrate, research by radiologists suggests.
With 64 per cent of the population overweight, the problem is worsening, Raul Uppot, a radiologist at Massachusetts General Hospital, said.
(Via Aberrant News.)
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11 comments:
With 64 per cent of the population overweight, the problem is worsening
And roughly half of THESE are clinically OBESE, a fact that I verify every day by noting that one out of every three peole I see is indeed GROSSLY overweight. (Someone even recetnly told me there's a third category called "morbidly obese" -- the term doesn't refer to state of mind but to chances of continued survival!) This is just in America, though. I recall reading that the rest of the world is much less bad in this regard.
The "fat slob epidemic" is uniquely American -- and is as telling about our cultural values as our dietary habits.
Yeah, the culture of consumption. People are taking "Supersize me!" literally!
"Supersize." "Extreme." "Biggie."
What's a minimalist to do?
I've been noticing that there are fewer obese children than I've seen in the past few years, so perhaps there's hope.
I've been noticing that there are fewer obese children than I've seen in the past few years
I see 'em all the time here in the Midwest. Another form of child abuse, in my opinion.
Another form of child abuse, in my opinion.
Well, I think the word "abuse" has been watered down by overuse, but I agree with your sentiment. I'd call it neglect, instead. Abuse would be tying them up and force-feeding them into obesity.
johnfen -- No, I agree with Mac. Simply letting kids eat all the junk food they want IS a form of parental abuse. It's akin to letting a kid watch all the TV he or she wants to without exercising any kind of discipline or control over this activity. (In fact, come to think of it, there's probably a close connection between undisciplined TV watching and childhood obesity.) I also have to say that I DON'T seem to be seeing fewer fat kids, unfortunately. In fact, my weekly trip to Wal-Mart is growing exceptionally depressing for this reason (among others!)
WMB--
I haven't been in a Wal-Mart in years. Too depressing.
or their fat is too dense for X-rays or sound waves to penetrate
Holee Shit.
I haven't been in a Wal-Mart in years. Too depressing.
I take a 1/3 as many daily supplements as Ray Kurzweil (I read he takes 200). It's the only way I can afford them! (I will say that for Wal-Mart, though I do feel guilt my requisite pang of "liberal guilt" -- in addition to Nietzschean hauteur! -- at the exploitation of labor that keeps the prices down.)