obesity is a choice?

[Guest guest]

I'm a bit confused here -- if obesity is simply the result

of bad choices (or mostly the result of bad choices) surely

it would be easier simply to make the right choices than to

have major surgery? And surely insurance companies would be

in the right to refuse to pay for such surgery?

It's amazing how having this surgery and losing weight

because of it makes us all such better people that we can

judge others so clearly. I hadn't realized what a wonderful

side benefit the surgery had. (Actually, I think I've

missed that particular benefit. Darn.) I also didn't

realize how cunning I was to hoodwink the the insurance into

paying for most of the cost of the surgery when they could

simply have told me to, mmm, diet and exercise. <smacking

the side of my head> Why didn't I think of that? What a

revelation. I was fat because I ate too much and didn't

exercise enough. Who knew?

And yes, I am being sarcastic. It is truly disheartening

for me to see how many individuals who have themselves been

through the struggle -still- believe that obesity is simply

a matter of willpower.

Do so many of you honestly think that post-surgery you

simply have more willpower, better self-control, wiser

choices? Funny me, I've found that it's easier to eat less

when my body is not screaming so hard for more food. It's

easier to exercise when my body doesn't hurt. I must have

missed out on that side benefit of becoming a better person,

'cause I don't think I am one bit better than I was 150 lbs

ago. I'm just thinner. And luckier. My (rearranged) body

is cooperating with me for the first time. I am putting

less willpower, less pain, less struggle into my daily

eating choices, and having infinitely better (and easier)

results. It would be dishonest to claim that the credit is

due to better choices, other than the choice to have the

surgery. A choice that might not have been available to

whatever obese person you are so happy to judge. Or maybe

even a choice that is NOT the best one for every single

obese person.

Hasn't it occurred to any of you who are being so judgmental

on the subject that your amazing ability to make " good

choices " and " become accountable " came about after a surgeon

rearranged your insides?

Jeri

> > I recognize the accountability factor in our situation is a controversial

> > topic-in my opinion it only goes so far because of factors beyond our

> > control. But lets face it, we do make choices that help or hinder those

> > factors. (not exercising prior to when we just plain couldn't, not eating

> > sugar, etc).

> >

> Lorie - just wanted to let you know I agree with you completely on this

> score. In my own experience, the obese people I know (and I know a lot!),

> make poor choices. Perhaps there is a small minority who are eating the

> right # of calories for their bodies, exercising regularly, and eating

> healthy foods who still are morbidly obese, but the majority of us don't fall

> into that category. This opinion does make me distinctly unpopular among my

> obese circles - after all, we live in a " it's not my fault " society.

>

> There were certainly mitigating factors in my own situation that contributed

> to my obesity, but I absolutely chose not to exercise, and to continue eating

> unhealthy foods. As far as I can recall, no one ever showed up on my door

> step from Mcs and force fed me......

>

> Kate

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jlw@...