Fat as a disability! Are you kidding?

[Darla Shine]

I just read that there is a bill before congress that would give disability benefits to obese people. Evidently the severly obese cannot work because they are bed ridden. Other obese people are in pain from standing all day and say they cannot work. The weight of their own body is just too much for them. So let me get this straight, my tax dollars have to pay for the irresponsible behavior of a person who cannot stop eating? There are injured soldiers who are back at work with one leg, one eye, and post traumatic stress of fighting war. There are cancer survivors running marathons. Yet, these fat people want to be paid to sit home all day stuffing their faces.

On the news was a report that by next year half of Americans, HALF, will be obese. How can we be a successful country with half of our citizens OBESE? How can we defend ourselves if these people can't get off their asses? How can we have a strong army when half our male poplulation cannot make it through boot camp? And let me ask you this, why should the skinny, thin, and responsible poplulation carry the obese?

It is not a medical dilemma. It is bad choices. I would love to eat potato chips and dip each day. I don't. I would love to eat french fries. I don't any more. I hate to work out. But I do it.

My children are thin because I cook them homemade, nutritious meals. I have fresh fruit and salads for them daily. I don't buy soda or candy. Soda is a treat. Candy is a treat.

Fat parents make fat children. Babies are not born fat. It is their parents driving through McDonalds for happy meals and buying the Fritos. The other day I saw a baby, a baby, in a stroller sucking down coca cola.

Have you seen the shows on TLC. The Half Ton Teen and other shows about the obese? This teen is 700 pounds and his mother is frying burgers for him and giving him 2 liter sodas for lunch. What about a salad mom? When your son was 40 pounds overwieght why didn't you start giving him salads, turkey, water, and fruit?

How do you let it get so far out of control? And why should I pay for your mistake?

I supported the soda tax. What happened to that? Please bring it back. And I would like to introduce a "Snack Tax." If you want to eat chips, doodles, cookies, candy, cake, you should pay more for it."

Give a break on fresh fruits, fish, turkey, and orange juice. What if you got a break on those items? Tax the junk, and reduce the good stuff.

But that won't happen. If you stay fat, you get diabetes, cancer, heart attacks, and you keep the pharmaceuticals, and doctors, in business. We don't make anything in America anymore. Our only industry now is illness.

I don't feel sorry for you. Not one bit. Take control of yourself and your family. Start walking, stop eating crap, and get fit. You do not have a disability. You have the ability to change. You just have to have the will to do it.

[keltie]

OMG- no way!

[Daisy2]

Darla my husband and I feel the same way. We are honestly anoyed right now with the attitude that we should feel sorry for those that are over weight because of their own actions. I personally find it difficult to feel sorry for them.

[mamaof4]

Go Darla!!!!

[intrinsik]

Amen.

This is total nonsense.. And it's not just the USA, either..

I remember reading a story a year or so ago on AOL about this British family that were all (severely) obese and trying to file for disability because "they couldn't work and make enough to put food on the table because they couldn't physically work". (They literally commented about the food on the table part. Not their other expenses, which was what floored me. Forget about not paying the mortgage, they're worried about putting food on the table.) Part of me had a really mean reaction to it and I thought "Well, maybe that would actually help you in the long run to be denied your claim because you'll lose some weight and improve your health". (Like I said, I KNOW that was mean. It was just my first thought, I don't think it's actually the right thing to do.)

It's the world we live in. Everyone wants to either blame all their problems on someone else or get help because they feel entitled to it. And, the sad thing is, they ruin it for those who GENUINELY need the help. (Like, take a single mother, working two jobs, trying to do the best she can - she might genuinely need help. You get two parents on welfare, working the system so they don't have to find jobs when they're perfectly capable of doing so. You tell me they need help? No way. There's a toilet somewhere that needs scrubbing, there's a call center that's looking for operators, there's some burgers that need flippin' -- it's not classy work, but it will pay your bills!) The genuinely disabled need that money to LIVE. It's wrong for people to take away from those who actually NEED HELP, but they just don't care.

The people who should be priority in this country rarely are. (Children, elderly, the disabled, etc.) We need to re-work the system so that there are more checks and balances for people to qualify for help. Like, I think if you're on welfare, you should have to submit to drug testing periodically, I think that you need to be able to prove that you're on some sort of birth control (because a lot of people just keep having children so they can stay on welfare/get more money and the children suffer for it), and be able to prove that you're actively looking for a job or maybe they could have some sort of job program for the less 'classy' jobs that need doing (because there are pretty much always shifts available for that sort of work) that they could set up candidates with part-time hours to do them so that they aren't just sitting around. (Kind of like the parole system for convicts where they set them up with jobs and stuff, but more tailored for the people on welfare.)

Ridiculous lawsuits are another peeve of mine.. (What do you mean that you're suing because you spilled coffee on yourself and it was too hot? It says it's hot on the cup. You know that coffee is made with super-hot water. It says that you have to be careful.. If you don't know freshly made coffee is going to smart when you dump it on yourself, then you deserve the burn you get. You can't blame your clumsy move on someone else, sorry. That's like suing McDonald's for making you fat from eating there every day. Well, dummy, you deserve what you get.)

[Lazydaisy]

I know, I watched something the other day about Eating Yourself To Death. The guy was huge and upset and so was his wife. He couldn't walk, due to the weight, therefore she was feeding him.

Stop feeding your husband junk lady...it's killing him!

[sam700]

This disgusts me. The are obviously not disabled enough to get to the McDonald's drive through. My kids and my family are healthy because we try and we work at it. I am sick that i will have to pay for those who CAN help their situation.

[shoppingmamma]

RIDICULOUS!!!!! I too don't understand HOW it gets sooo bad - your pants are tight so what you go buy more? and then whent those are tight more? Eventually don't you think this MAY be a problem??? I don't have a scale in our house but I know if I go to put on my jeans and they are snug that is a problem!!! After I had Jaxon I gained weight obviously and it's still a little "poochy" around the c section area but I only bought a couple things for those first 6 weeks - after that it was diet, exercise and get back in your clothes! My husband noticed his pants getting tighter as when I ate while preggo so did he - he just didn't get the benefit of loosing 20 lbs in the labor room! haha He did NOT buy new pants - he started carrying his lunch, bringing water and watching the sodas, etc. ....the weight is gone now.

You all remember how I feel down the stairs while preggo - Jaxon was sitting funny on the right side of me and it HURT and occassionally I'd get that pain and then like it went numb and things would be all weird - I did exercises, went to chiro ANYTHING to alleve that pain.....so I get how weight could cause pain to people but I CANNOT for the life of me figure out WHY not DO something about it!!!???!!! FIX IT!!!!

NO WAY should being FAT and LAZY be a disability!!! Give me a break!!!!!

[Theresa]

That's absurd!

[SarahCBJ]

This is sooooo a hot button issue for me. I see this more and more. Fat people at walmart using the scooters cause they are too lazy to walk. Fat kids eating with fat parents, all drinking Mountain Dew. It's gotten to the point that I will not even eat at a buffet-type restaurant, because it makes me sad to see obese people eating there like it's a trough. My husband has a friend, and her child is so obese that he does not walk, he waddles, and hounds everyone around him for snacks and cokes. It honestly reminds me of a dog begging. I know that's a mean thing to think, but it really does. He is 8 and can barely breathe because he is so big. My brother has been obese ALL his life, and it has made him a miserable person, who has no impulse control, and thinks he is the eternal victim. He is still living with my parents and has never had a job. He eats large pizzas dipped in ranch dressing, and I HATE even being at the same table with him, because it grosses me out to watch not only what he eats, but HOW he eats it...like shoveling it in as fast and as much as he can.

Ya know, I was overweight after I had kids. Not completely obese but still pretty darned overweight. It was no one's fault but my own cause I was eating crap and being lazy. I went from 176 to 124 last year by working at it, and I now keep it off but simply exericising some self control and realizing I can't eat everything I want, as much as I want, all the dang time. It's called portion control!

Don't get me wrong, I am NOT advocating hate or meanness, but I also think we aren't doing any one any favors with all the public relations shows/commercials that suggest we embrace body image, even obese body image. It's one thing not to aspire to be Kate Moss and to encourage a healthy body image, but its another to try and pat people on that back and act like "it's ok to be obese...and if people judge you, then they are just hateful and prejudice...poor you for having to deal with that."

I know politics are controversial, but I DO give Michelle Obama credit for making healthy food for kids one of her big issues as First Lady. And, as much as it's still crap, I am seeing more and more snack foods portioned into 100-calorie type packs, so it takes some of the effort out of figuring portions. There are tools out there for people, but I honestly think a good portion of the obese population simple don't feel like they should go without whatever they want, how much they want, when they want it.

[Happy@Home]

I can't believe the judgement on this issue! Every person you see that is over weight isn't because they "choose to be" I have a 6 ft 220 lbs 13 yr old. If you were to see him you might think that he has a weight issue, because of his "belly". When in fact he is right on target with his age and height and is not over weight at all. If you were to see me you might think that I am "over weight" or slightly obese, but what you don't know is that I have been battling cancer for a year and most of it is swelling, do to medication. And guess what folks, I took my son to McDonalds, so get over it. It was the first time in a year we have had a cheese burger in a year. And I might add I am filing for disability because I have thyroid cancer and spent the last 4 months unable to get out of bed. So before you all start judging fat people you may think that, a mom in her 30's just might not want or ask for this. I am a mother of 3 and don't want to be judged for living life with my family, or want my 5 year old to ask me if I am going to die, I am enjoying life because I don't know what life may bring.And do you honestly believe that obese people are gonna get disability?? Do your research on how you get on disability in the first place, they have to obtain medical records and go through a strict panel, to be approved. And FYI we have a non dairy banana and orange juice smoothy every morning for breakfast and we mostly eat a plant based diet. But we still eat things high in iodine, because an all plant based diet can increase your chance for thyroid cancer, and we are a iodine deficent society, and thyroid cancer is on the rise. That is my two cents.

[Jia]

I know I've been gone for a while, but this hit a soft spot on me. Especially after what Happy@Home just said.

Are there obese people out there who eat themselves to death? Yes. Are there people who are overweight because of another illness? Indeed.

And yes, for those who are parents stuffing their childrens faces with garbage (and no I'm not talking about the ocassional trip to McDonalds, I'm talking about the people who literally just won't stop giving candy, cookies and grease to their kids) this is terrible. But what about the kids and people who are already there? What about the people that had bad parents who didn't cook and just shoved bad habits down their throats? They are addicted now and if you've never been obese, you don't know how hard it is to start to lose the weight. Your body is already breaking down, bones, muscles, not to mention hormone imbalances which don't help illnesses like depression which can make exercise all the more harder.

Is it possible? YES! Does it take choices? YES! So maybe what the government should do instead of offer disability, is strengthen health programs. None of this one school or community at a time bullcrap either. It should be national. Cut the diet pills. Kill the chemicals in our food.

Oh and also, I am a little upset about the comment regarding the fat people in Walmart wheelchair carts. I was twenty three years old, overweight and had to use one of those. NOT because I was overweight but because a twenty year old injury in my hips and legs caused unbelievable pain and I couldn't walk for more than ten minutes at a time without being in agony. It took several trips to the store with me nearly in tears from the pain before my family finally convinced me to suck up my pride and take the cart because it was there for people who needed it.

When I finally did, I asked if there was a cart available and the clerk said, "What do you need it for?" as though I was some teenager who wanted to play around in it for fun. Even after that humiliating experience, I had to take the cart because my husband now insisted, and the rest of that trip, I heard comments from people all over the store. "Look, the fat chick ate too much and now she can't walk." or "Can you believe how some people can't even bother to walk through a grocery store?"

So I agree with Happy@Home.

Are people in this country obese? Yes, and the health problems are just rising and rising and rising. But the stereotypes hurt. Judgments hurt.

[EAWwrites]

I don't have a problem with someone who is too obese to work being on disability. Here's why:

If it becomes a status for disability, then the governments will step in and do more to stop situations where it is preventable. Eventually, the only people receiving disability for obesity (or more likely other underlying conditions) will be those who can't help it. And yes, taxes on things like soda and other stuff that are known contributors to unhealthy weight gain will go up. No one will starve if Diet Pepsi costs $5 for a 2-liter!

I am a soda junkie myself (decaf Coke, to be precise) and this morning I finally calcualted how much sugar is in 12 ounces of sweet tea that I make (also decaf) vs. 1 12 ounce can of decaf Coke. Guess what? I make my iced tea with 1/2 cup of sugar, and that equates to 33 calories per 12 ounce glass. There are 140 calories in a 12 ounce can of coke. That's a difference of 107 calories per drink. On my worst days, I drank 4 cans a day! That's 428 calories I can cut from my daily diet, just by switching to sweet tea, which I like just as much! Currently, I allow myself 1 can of coke a day, and some days I don't have any. It also cuts down on the grocery bill too, $4 for a 12 pack was lasting me only 3 days. Where as $4 in tea bags and sugar makes roughly 8 gallons of tea, and it takes me 2-3 days to drink 1 gallon.

I am not an unhealthy weight, but my body needs some toning and strength. However, portion control and calories have gotten out of hand in this country, and just because some people might be offended doesn't mean we should ignore that stupidity is literally killing generations of Americans. Our society, as a whole, has moved away from manual work, and simultaneously increased the number of calories eaten each day. Result: obese population. Elementary schools are doing P.E. once a week, and making it optional for middle and high school! This is a widespread health issue that our society needs to address, objectively. If you're someone who has weight issues due to a medical condition, cancer, physical injury, then we're not talking about you. But you can't say that your legitimate disability erases concern for the people who are just fat because they won't do anything about it.

[Darla Shine]

Ginger, I am sorry you are struggling with cancer. God bless you. This is not an attack on you. But, your son is overweight. He does not have an illness. And it is up to you now to get him on the right track so he has a healthy adult hood. On the weigh scale for a 13 year old who is 6 foot tall 180 is considered the top weight. He is 40pounds overweight.

And yes we have an idodine problem in our society. I could write another thread on that alone. But that has nothing to do with your son.

Jia, I love and adore you. But if you could have an angel on your shoulder who could turn back time to your childhood don't you wish you had an adult who changed your diet? Someone who took away the soda, treats, burgers, and helped you enter your adulthood as a thin and healthy young woman?

You struggle now Jia because of your childhood. But now Jia, you have to take responsibility. It is hurtful to hear this. But I only say it with love.

Weight is something you can control. Under any circumstance. There is no disease that keeps you obese. NONE! It is a lie. We have been conditioned to destroy our bodies for profit.

[critter_girl]

Amen, sister!!! You said it right!

[Jia]

Jia, I love and adore you. But if you could have an angel on your shoulder who could turn back time to your childhood don't you wish you had an adult who changed your diet? Someone who took away the soda, treats, burgers, and helped you enter your adulthood as a thin and healthy young woman?

You struggle now Jia because of your childhood. But now Jia, you have to take responsibility. It is hurtful to hear this. But I only say it with love.

Oh absolutely! I wish that in my teen years (when my habits were really developed) I had a SAHM who taught me to cook and encouraged me to play sports or something active instead of giving me Top Ramen, TV Dinners and telling me to go to my room and watch tv. I really do wish that.

My issue though is with people judging. It's one thing to say, like you with love, "You deserve to be healthy and happy, and here are ways to accomplish this," and quite another to say (or imply) "Why don't you just get off your fat lazy butt and stop shoveling food in your face?"

Because that's the attitude that's out there. Either that or the complete opposite where it's beautiful to be big (despite health risks). There's never a balance and there needs to be. It's hard to lose weight for many people because they don't know how. Because every crash diet is a fad and gyms and personal trainers cost a lot of money. Plus, going to the gym when you're big is embarassing, I don't care what anyone else says. People look. Stare and they aren't smiling because you're inspirational. They're giving you disgusting looks because you don't fit in.

That's just how things are.

That's why I say that instead of pushing the disability thing, they really need to focus more on putting together health programs. Since they're going to spend money handing out cash for disability, why not instead invest that in low income health programs and education? That's kinda where I was going with it.

[jreidmomof2]

Jia, I love and adore you. But if you could have an angel on your shoulder who could turn back time to your childhood don't you wish you had an adult who changed your diet? Someone who took away the soda, treats, burgers, and helped you enter your adulthood as a thin and healthy young woman?


Darla I think that was a really hurtful thing to say to someone that lost their mother at a young age.

Jia I am sorry. And believe me I understand where you are coming from.

[EAWwrites]

I will say Jia, I agree with you that at many gyms, the attitude is "you must already be fit to work out here" :) I am not fat, but I am very weak due to autoimmune problem (I'm currently wii fit plusing it in my home 30 minutes everyday to improve my circulation and HOPEFULLY work up to doing yoga booty ballet). I've tried doing aerobics classes etc. and get stared out because being thin does not equal fit. I couldn't keep up at all. When I wasn't physically able to work out, I changed my eating habits. I was lucky to have a stay at home Mom who kept veggies in the house, instead of junk. Oh, and we had to ASK before we could eat anything, which meant many times we were told, "Wait for dinner" and at dinner, we ate heartily.

I see an opposite problem with a friend of mine's children, which is very hard because she is my friend. Her children are super thin. She lets them basically graze all day long, on nothing but junk, then wonders why they won't eat anything at dinner and yet are in the 2-15% percentile range for weight and height. Her older 2 are fairly healthy, though her second oldest, the same age as my son, is showing signs of how the backslide on her part about forcing healthy eating habits is affecting them. This child doesn't eat a single vegetable, only corn. Nothing green. When I brought this up with his Mom, her response was a shrug "I can't blame him, I don't like vegetables either." The only fruit he eats? Bananas. That's it. Nothing else.

I think it really is a two-fold problem, and like my comparison from soda to iced tea, just a few slight changes can make a HUGE difference! There is FAR more junk food out there now than when I was a kid. Look at grocery stores. My grocery store has such narrow aisles, two carts can't pass each other freely in opposite directions! I remember as a college student, just 10 years ago, there was plenty of room.

Meanwhile, produce prices have gone through the roof, because we import everything.

[Jia]

Darla I think that was a really hurtful thing to say to someone that lost their mother at a young age.

Jia I am sorry. And believe me I understand where you are coming from.

It's okay. While I didn't have my mother, I did have many people raising me, although few if any of them emphasised anything on health. Most worked full time and were terribly unhealthy themselves. Plus, because my Mom died, I was babied when I was a little girl. I was never forced to do anything. I drank Kool-Aide (and nothing else) from age 2-7 because that's what I requested and I was never told, "Why don't you drink milk instead?"

I will say Jia, I agree with you that at many gyms, the attitude is "you must already be fit to work out here"

Exactly. A few years ago I went to Utah and went to the gym with my older sister who is pretty much model perfect. No fat on her body, she's gorgeous, fit and healthy. When we were working out, she gave me 15 pound weights to lift and I freaked out and said, "I only use 5 pound weights at home," she lied and told me that the gym didn't have anything less than 15 and later admitted that she would have been embarrassed to be training me and have me lifting anything less than fifteen when she lifts 45.

And what's funny is the assumptions too. Like the assumption that fat people don't eat healthy, they only eat junk. When in reality I LOVE veggies. I would eat veggie soups, salads, and snack on carrots and oranges all day if I could. But I also do drink a lot of soda and we do eat out often.

So it's not that fat people are all complete gluttonous sloths, but there is no balance.

That and exercise is scary sometimes. For instance, several years ago when I was losing weight, I went to an aerobics class and ended up severely injuring my knee. An injury that remains today and makes every other exercise that much harder, even walking.

[intrinsik]

That's why I say that instead of pushing the disability thing, they really need to focus more on putting together health programs. Since they're going to spend money handing out cash for disability, why not instead invest that in low income health programs and education? That's kinda where I was going with it.

This I totally agree with.

I don't think anyone meant their posts as an attack on overweight people in general - there are always exceptions to every rule. (My mother technically looks obese, but it's not actually weight - her stomach muscles have ripped so badly from having so many children, she'd literally have to have the muscles cut away in order to slim down at all. They didn't realize this until after she had her lapband surgery. While she has lost some weight on that, the majority of it will never physically go away, no matter what she does.) That being said, I think this whole thread was more about those who abuse the system set in place to help those in genuine need, not those who can help themselves. (Overweight or otherwise.)

If you know you're overweight and you know you over-indulge and THAT's what's causing you poor health and making you unable to work, that's something that can be fixed -- you shouldn't be getting disability for something you're doing to yourself. That's like a person who smokes wanting special care when they can't breath, but refusing to quit smoking. Yes, it's an addiction to some degree, but at some point you have to want better for yourself.. Not just go "Oh, poor me. I deserve your pity and your money."

Having Cancer and things of that nature that cause you to be overweight is an entirely different situation. You didn't do that to yourself. You have genuine health issues.. Not as a result of something that was/is (generally) preventable. Like, if you're overweight (because of what you've done to yourself) and you're having trouble walking, or you generally feel terrible, how would you being on disability HELP that? You're just going to keep doing that to yourself -- you need to be placed with a physician and a nutritionist (and possibly a psychiatrist if it's an addiction/emotional thing to help you correct the behavior) who will actually get you back on a better road, not be allowed to simply collect money and that's that.

If you're in such poor health that you can't work, is drinking soda/eating junk (or even just consuming too many calories in general, healthy or otherwise) actually worth it? Chances are you are missing out on other areas of life that are even more enjoyable if you're in that bad of a shape.. Playing in a park, a night out dancing with your special someone, going for a walk on a beautiful day, etc. When you think about it, it's just sad.

It reminds me of a conversation with a friend of mine who was desperately trying to get pregnant a few years ago and she was too overweight to conceive.. She would continually vent to me and I would always say (nicely) that she needed to take care of herself before she could take care of a baby. This went on for a wicked long time.. and, every time we'd have this conversation, she'd be grabbing sodas and eating snacks.. I finally decided to slap her with reality because I couldn't take it anymore. I told her that I hoped she was enjoying her soda, because she was essentially choosing that over having a baby. She got upset with me (of course) and we didn't talk for a week or two, but then I got a call.. She said she had thought about it and that I was right. Every time since then she had picked up a can of soda, she thought about holding a baby instead and didn't want the soda anymore. She dropped almost 75lbs in a year from just stopping the soda intake, curbing her snacking, and going for walks after dinner at night with her husband around their block.

..They just announced they're expecting their first child a two weeks ago (she's 8 weeks pregnant) and they couldn't be happier.

I say all this to say -- if a person is making themselves so unhealthy, they need to be slapped with reality. Just like you'd hit someone with an addiction and have an intervention. Disability is there for people who have a genuine disability - making yourself obese isn't a disability, that sort of situation needs help of a different sort. It's like Jia said, there should be a program of some sort. Like, maybe they're sent to like a detox/rehab place or something where they can learn to help and better themselves. They should receive benefits for visiting nutritionists, or getting on weight-loss programs that help make them accountable for getting better. That's the kind of help that's needed, not just throwing money at the problem.

[Jia]

Like, if you're overweight (because of what you've done to yourself) and you're having trouble walking, or you generally feel terrible, how would you being on disability HELP that? You're just going to keep doing that to yourself -- you need to be placed with a physician and a nutritionist (and possibly a psychiatrist if it's an addiction/emotional thing to help you correct the behavior) who will actually get you back on a better road, not be allowed to simply collect money and that's that.

Exactly. I can't tell you how many doctors I've been to (or have heard about) who just collect the money and show you the door. My MIL spent hundreds of dollars on a nutritionist, wellness instructor and something else along those lines and they never did anything more than talk about goals. If she didn't meet those goals, they'd just go, "Okay, well try again and we'll see you in another week, by the way, did you pay the receptionist?"

[Darla Shine]

Jennie, you are right. It was insensitve to say to Jia. But, I wasn't talking about her situation in particular. It was meant as a statement that people who are heavy as adults, most of them it is not their fault. Fat children will fight forever to lose weight. And it makes me SICK to see children walking around with big gulps of soda, and all the other crap. These children cannot get any of this without their parents buying it for them. Our children are suffering from obesity. And it is child abuse.

And Jia, again, I apologize.

[Jia]

No worries, and you're right. Fat children become fat adults. But it goes much deeper than that. Children who THINK they are fat will become fat adults. Because I was full figured (despite being in a very healthy weight for my age) growing up in pre-teens to teen years, I believed I was fat. I thought I was hideous, and you better believe that (and poor habits at home and a crappy physical education in school) had an impact on how I eventually became overweight.

Now when I look back on those pictures, I can't believe how I ever thought such things. And this is one reason why I like to urge others not to harshly judge overweight people. Often times, it's that mixture of poor self esteem, bad habits and lack of proper education that create obesity. And yes we can make the choice to change our habits and seek out the proper education, but that poor self esteem counts for at least 50% of what's really going on, and it will strongly counteract any actions taken to fight back against obesity.

[EAWwrites]

I would even argue Darla that it's now starting in infancy. Having a 14 month old myself, I am very aware of the latest BS they are cramming down parents' throats about child care. Thank God in Heaven, I not only had a SAHM who taught me how to care for a baby, but I also babysat my younger cousins and neighbors to get some experience.

I.e: On a recent informal "poll" by one of my Mom forums, okay Babycenter, it asked "What form of discipline works best with your child right now?" The options were: Time Out, Stern voice saying No, Redirection with a toy, Other, Nothing Works

More than 50% of the respondents selected, "Nothing Works!"

We started discipline with my daughter at 6 months, when she learned to crawl and could get into stuff. It is a culture that teaches parents to let the child do anything they want. I was told by many Mommy friends, and lost one over the issue, that I abused my child because if she got back into something unsafe after I moved her and told her NO, I smacked her little hand. We use a variety of things including spanking or hand popping, time out (I have a time out spot and I sit with her there until she calms down, about 30 sec-1 min, but she KNOWS she's in trouble), redirection, stern voice. Physical punishment is always the last resort, and never in anger.

When we go out, people are amazed my 14 month old listens when Mommy says "Catelynn, No." I make eye contact, I get down on her level, and when she immediately listens, I praise her, give her smiles, and high fives.

This ties into the food issue. For awhile they pushed this idea that there was no such thing as a fat baby. Well, there is. I've seen it. Your child doesn't need to walk around with a bottle of milk (or boob) or sippy cup of juice all day. Parents panic when their children won't eat a meal, and immediately offer gold fish or some other junk, just to get something in their bellies. Once they are past 3 months of age, they will eat when they are hungry. They are just like us, when their mouth hurts, they don't want to eat. They make up for it later. Instead of teaching Moms and Dads common sense, of "Wake your child up to eat until they are 8-12 weeks old, after that, feed on a schedule. At age 1, don't panic is playing is more interesting than eating. If your child skips a meal or two due to illness, teething, growth spurt don't panic, unless there are signs of dehydration. " Instead, there is this idea that feeding on demand should extend well until the child is capable of speaking! I have seen children the same age as Catelynn literally too fat to walk.

Oh, and if you are going to WEAR your baby 24/7, and say "but other world cultures do it and it helps the bond between Mommy and baby" then make sure you also eat like they do in that culture. NOt like our culture, where there's as much food as you want every meal. Your children need to play. They need to roll, get into stuff, explore, MOVE. If you are feeding your kid nonstop anytime he or she fusses, keeping him or her in one of those sling things all day, you have no one to blame but yourself when they are 10 months old, 26 inches long and weigh almost 30 pounds.

I'm not saying starve your child. And yes, some inexperienced parents have done that. But let's not go overboard, because right now, far more parents are overfeeding their children than ever. But I'm the horrible parent for not giving my daughter every little thing she wants and for not forcing to remain still in a carrier all day.

[judesmama]

I would even argue Darla that it's now starting in infancy. Having a 14 month old myself, I am very aware of the latest BS they are cramming down parents' throats about child care. Thank God in Heaven, I not only had a SAHM who taught me how to care for a baby, but I also babysat my younger cousins and neighbors to get some experience.

I.e: On a recent informal "poll" by one of my Mom forums, okay Babycenter, it asked "What form of discipline works best with your child right now?" The options were: Time Out, Stern voice saying No, Redirection with a toy, Other, Nothing Works

More than 50% of the respondents selected, "Nothing Works!"

We started discipline with my daughter at 6 months, when she learned to crawl and could get into stuff. It is a culture that teaches parents to let the child do anything they want. I was told by many Mommy friends, and lost one over the issue, that I abused my child because if she got back into something unsafe after I moved her and told her NO, I smacked her little hand. We use a variety of things including spanking or hand popping, time out (I have a time out spot and I sit with her there until she calms down, about 30 sec-1 min, but she KNOWS she's in trouble), redirection, stern voice. Physical punishment is always the last resort, and never in anger.

When we go out, people are amazed my 14 month old listens when Mommy says "Catelynn, No." I make eye contact, I get down on her level, and when she immediately listens, I praise her, give her smiles, and high fives.

This ties into the food issue. For awhile they pushed this idea that there was no such thing as a fat baby. Well, there is. I've seen it. Your child doesn't need to walk around with a bottle of milk (or boob) or sippy cup of juice all day. Parents panic when their children won't eat a meal, and immediately offer gold fish or some other junk, just to get something in their bellies. Once they are past 3 months of age, they will eat when they are hungry. They are just like us, when their mouth hurts, they don't want to eat. They make up for it later. Instead of teaching Moms and Dads common sense, of "Wake your child up to eat until they are 8-12 weeks old, after that, feed on a schedule. At age 1, don't panic is playing is more interesting than eating. If your child skips a meal or two due to illness, teething, growth spurt don't panic, unless there are signs of dehydration. " Instead, there is this idea that feeding on demand should extend well until the child is capable of speaking! I have seen children the same age as Catelynn literally too fat to walk.

Oh, and if you are going to WEAR your baby 24/7, and say "but other world cultures do it and it helps the bond between Mommy and baby" then make sure you also eat like they do in that culture. NOt like our culture, where there's as much food as you want every meal. Your children need to play. They need to roll, get into stuff, explore, MOVE. If you are feeding your kid nonstop anytime he or she fusses, keeping him or her in one of those sling things all day, you have no one to blame but yourself when they are 10 months old, 26 inches long and weigh almost 30 pounds.

I'm not saying starve your child. And yes, some inexperienced parents have done that. But let's not go overboard, because right now, far more parents are overfeeding their children than ever. But I'm the horrible parent for not giving my daughter every little thing she wants and for not forcing to remain still in a carrier all day.

I just have to say I STRONGLY disagree with most of what you are saying. I wore my son constantly and he crawled at 5 months and walked right before 9 months. I never, ever FORCED him to stay in a carrier... he loved being close and it was very convenient. He's now 2.5 and only 31 lb and 39 inches tall... he's a string bean and very healthy... not to mention very independent and confident! Also, I fed him when he was hungry, never on a schedule. Some days he'd nurse all day... it taught him to eat when he's HUNGRY not when the clock said it was time to eat. I eat when I am hungry, not just because it's 12pm and I "should" be eating, regardless of my hunger level.

I don't hit my child, either, and he is very well-behaved, but I won't get into that.

[EAWwrites]

You couldn't have carried him "constantly" if he was crawling at 5 months. Obviously, your son is healthy, and it wasn't directed at you. I have friends with ridiculously overweight babies, who barely sit up at 12 months old. Their children were not born on the big side either. But yet they want to jump on worries and sympathy that their baby may have "development" problems. :40:

These children are literally only in a baby sling, or in a pack and play, all day. When they are placed on the floor for "play dates" they are puds. Literally. I had to bite my tongue when one acquaintance lauded the fact that her life is much easier since her son isn't mobile, as opposed to the rest of us who were keeping one eye on our toddlers. Her son was 13 months old and was barely crawling.

You may disagree with physical punishment, and that's fine. The point is that there needs to be some discipline, which carries over into meal time. If your son is well-behaved, then obviously he is getting some. I didn't say the ONLY thing we did was, as you put it, "hit" our child. But I would much rather hit my daughter's hand than let her eat ashes out of the fireplace, or let her chew on my laptop cord.

I'm not anti-breast feeding or on demand feeding before a child is on solids. On demand feeding, in my opinion, when your child is on solid foods teaches constant eating. But common sense in everything. Were there times when my daughter was going through a growth spurt so she ate more? Absolutely. Was that an every day thing when she was 10-11 months old? No way. My daughter gets breakfast, morning snack, lunch (After nap), afternoon snack (after nap) and dinner. She has a sippy cup available during the day filled with water, on average, she drinks 3-4 ounces of water per day just being thirsty from playing. More if we go outside. She usually takes a bottle before bed, but she is weaning herself of that. She is on soy formula, we only could breastfeed for 8 weeks before we realized her rapid weight loss and chronic constipation was a milk protein allergy. She had a miserable first 2 months of life :17: I'm not an ogre Mom.

I will never agree though that once your child is on solids, you can't over feed them with breast milk. You can, just like you can with formula. Your body will make as much as your child will eat, and more. So the more often you make it available, even when your child shouldn't be hungry, the more milk your body will create. Addressing every single cry, once your child is mobile, playing, and every single cry isn't "I'm hungry or wet," with breast milk is NO different than popping a bottle in your child's mouth. But everyone will say a formula mom is wrong for comforting with the bottle, yet there is a double standard for breastfed babies. I am NOT talking about young babies. I am talking about that stage around 1 year old.

I understand the campaign to push more Moms into breastfeeding. The problem is that it is a campaign, so there is a tendency to only trumpet the benefits of breastfeeding and none of the consequences about done improperly. Heaven forbid someone point out you CAN overfeed a child with breast milk. Overfeeding babies and children is a universal problem in this country, no matter how you feed.

[Darla Shine]

You cannot overfeed your baby with breast milk. They would spit up the milk or spit out the nipple.

Cow milk makes babies fat. Not moms breast milk. Babies start to get fat when they are off the boob and on food, lollipops and cheese doodles.

I still can't get over the toddler I saw in the stroller drinking a coke.

When I was a tv producer I booked a mom and child on the talk show. The girl was a 80 pound four year old. For breakfast she ate 4 donuts and bacon her mother bragged.

[judesmama]

You cannot overfeed your baby with breast milk. They would spit up the milk or spit out the nipple.

Cow milk makes babies fat. Not moms breast milk. Babies start to get fat when they are off the boob and on food, lollipops and cheese doodles.

I still can't get over the toddler I saw in the stroller drinking a coke.

When I was a tv producer I booked a mom and child on the talk show. The girl was a 80 pound four year old. For breakfast she ate 4 donuts and bacon her mother bragged.

EXACTLY. You absolutely, 100% cannot overfeed a BF baby. He/she will spit it up or simply refuse to eat. Believe me, you can't shove a nipple into an unwilling baby's mouth. It's simply not possible. And I on demand fed until I stopped BF at 13 months and had a 19 lb, slim 1 year old. Breastmilk or formula should be a baby's primary source of nutrition until age 1, regardless of solid consumption, so I'm not sure where solids/overfeeding BM comes into play there....

[judesmama]

And Darla - I am with you. Really, soda or ICED TEA in a bottle? Disgusting. Kids don't need that junk, especially toddlers. What are these moms thinking???

[EAWwrites]

So breast milk is this sacred food that magically, the body will not digest if it doesn't need it? But other foods and formula, a child won't spit up or spit out if they don't need it? That doesn't even make physical sense!

We will just have to agree to disagree. I don't think exclusive formula or breastmilk is overfeeding, it's the combination of them with solid foods where the child is moving into toddler and the Mom is adamant that the child will still feed on demand. Most Moms and Babies naturally wean off breastfeeding and formula bottles around age 1, when a child's digestive system is better equipped to pull nutrients from other foods. But this "Breast is best" campaign that pushes and pushes Moms to breastfeed until 2 and beyond if they can (I have a cousin breast fed until 5!) neglects mentioning how too many calories, including those from breast milk, lead to overfeeding.

The issues isn't the breast milk itself, it's the keeping kids from moving and playing, for their "safety" but letting just sit and eat all day, whether it's formula, solids, or breastmilk. My example was a Mom who wears her child 24/7 (no floor time, because, well, he just doesn't "like" it) and happens to also breastfeed on demand when the child is clearly old enough for meal times. It could have easily been a Mom wearing the baby 24/7 and popping a formula bottle in the child's mouth everytime he or she cries. The point is Moms who breast feed are some how never responsible for over feeding their overweight babies, but other Moms who feed formula are? It's not just soda and chocolate and junk. All milk, from any mammal, has significant calories and fat in it.

But there are Moms told that you could never overfeed your child with breast milk, and that's just not true. There are overweight breast fed toddlers. And children will latch on to the breast with little hesitation, it's a comfort thing. Just as my daughter, bottle fed, associates comfort with her bottle. She doesn't need any coaxing, ever to take a bottle.

[Happy@Home]

Darla,
Although it is very offensive for you to tell me my child is overweight with out even seeing him, I will have to strongly disagree. To properly come to this conclusion you would have to do a proper BMI not punch in numbers to a website, which is what I assume you have done. My child from birth has always been in the 97th percentile, was pulling up at 5 months and walking at 9 months. He has already gone through puberty and I am assuming you don't have children close to this phase of life. But my son has grown at least 6-9 inches a year, his father is 6ft 5 inches. My son has gone all district in football every year he has played you can't do this and be the chubby kid on the team. I also have a daughter that is a USA competitive gymnast and was 15th in the State of Missouri, we are a very active and healthy family, and if you were to see the muscles my 13 year old has you would change your mind in calling him "over weight or obese" by me putting out there a few numbers. I would love to post a picture of him soon so you can see for your self. That is my two cents. : )

[Happy@Home]

"Weight is something you can control. Under any circumstance. There is no disease that keeps you obese. NONE! It is a lie. We have been conditioned to destroy our bodies for profit.[/QUOTE]

The following is a long list of diseases and conditions that cause weight gain or obesity. The issue is obese getting disability, there has to be a medical condition that dr's have to sign off for the list is as follows:

"Diseases and Drugs
Some illnesses may lead to obesity or weight gain. These may include Cushing's disease, and polycystic ovary syndrome. Drugs such as steroids and some antidepressants may also cause weight gain.
A doctor is the best source to tell you whether illnesses, medications, or psychological factors are contributing to weight gain or making weight loss hard."
****cdc.gov*****
"Medical causes of obesity can include:
Hypothyroidism. This is a condition where the thyroid gland, located in the neck, produces too little thyroid hormone. Thyroid hormone regulates our metabolism. So too little hormone slows the metabolism and often causes weight gain. If your doctor suspects thyroid disease as a cause of your obesity, he or she may perform blood tests to check your hormone levels.
Cushing's syndrome. This condition results when the adrenal glands (located on top of each kidney) produce an excess amount of a steroid hormone called cortisol. This leads to a build-up of fat in characteristic sites such as the face, upper back, and abdomen.
Depression. Some people with depression overeat, which can lead to obesity.
There are also certain inherited conditions and other diseases of the brain that can cause excess weight gain.
Certain medications, notably steroids, some antidepressants, and high blood pressure drugs, and seizure medications can also cause increased body weight.
A doctor can determine if any of these conditions are responsible for your obesity.
"Women with breast cancer often complain of weight gain as an undesirable side effect to their treatment. Women treated with chemotherapy are 65% more likely to gain weight than those patients who undergo other forms of treatment. Premenopausal women undergoing chemotherapy are at the greatest risk for weight changes."
****webmd*****


Cushing's syndrome
A condition called Cushing's syndrome can make you gain weight, especially on your face and around your waist. It means your body is making too many corticosteroids. These are chemicals that control how your body uses fat and sugar. If you have too many corticosteroids, you can feel tired, hungry and bloated.
It may happen when a lump grows in your adrenal glands. These glands lie on the surface of your kidney. Your adrenal glands make corticosteroids. The lump makes your body produce extra corticosteroids. Cushing's syndrome can also happen when lumps grow on your pituitary gland or another part of your body.
Hypothyroidism
This means that your thyroid gland is not working properly. Your thyroid gland is a small gland at the front of your neck. It makes a chemical that helps to control how much energy your body uses (it changes your metabolic rate).
If you have hypothyroidism, your thyroid gland doesn't make enough of this chemical. This means that your metabolic rate slows down. So you burn fewer calories, and you're more likely to put on weight.
To read more, see our information on Underactive thyroid.
Polycystic ovary syndrome
Only women can get this condition. It's often called PCOS for short. It means that small cysts (little bags of fluid, like blisters) may grow in the ovaries. Women who have PCOS don't release eggs regularly (ovulate). It happens because of an upset in the balance of certain hormones.
About half the women with PCOS are obese. But we don't know which comes first, the condition or the obesity. If your periods stop or become irregular and you put on weight at the same time, it's important to tell your doctor. Lots of unwanted hair on your body or face can also be a sign of polycystic ovary syndrome.
Insulinoma
This condition is caused by a lump (tumour) in your pancreas. The tumour makes your pancreas produce extra insulin, a chemical your body uses to control the amount of sugar in your blood.
The extra insulin changes sugar into fat. And you may not have enough sugar left in your blood. So your brain tells you that you feel hungry and you may eat more.
Brain tumour
If a tumour grows in the parts of your brain that control appetite and the amount of energy your body uses, your brain won't do its job very well. So you may put on weight. But it's unlikely that putting on weight would be the only symptom, if you had a brain tumour.
References
Bray GA. The syndromes of obesity: an endocrine approach. In: De Groot L (editor). Endocrinology. 3rd edition. WB Saunders, Philadelphia, U.S.A.; 1995.
guardian.co.uk
List of causes of ObesityFollowing is a list of causes or underlying conditions (see also Misdiagnosis of underlying causes of Obesity) that could possibly cause Obesity includes:
•Overeating - see causes of overeating
•Physical disorders that may cause or exacerbate obesity include:
◦Metabolic syndrome
◦Hypothyroidism
◦Familial obesity
◦Cushing's disease
◦Cushing's syndrome
◦PCOS
◦Edema
◦Insulinoma
◦Pseudohypoparathyroidism
◦Prader-Willi syndrome
◦Laurence-Moon-Biedl syndrome
◦Hypothalamus tumor
◦Reactive hypoglycemia (type of Hypoglycemia) - overeating occurs to avoid going "down" into a hypoglycemic attack.
◦See also causes of weight gain, causes of overeating or causes of fluid retention
•Psychological causes of obesity may include:
◦Comfort eating (see Overeating)
◦Overeating
◦See also causes of weight gain
•Brain disorder causing increased eating (hyperphagia) include:
◦Encephalitis
◦Brain injury
◦Third ventricle tumor
◦Some brain tumors
◦Chromophobe adenoma
◦Craniopharyngioma
•Physical addiction - weight changes
•Myxedema - weight gain
•Mental retardation, X linked -- precocious puberty -- obesity - obesity
•Lupus nephritis - weight gain
•Klinefelter syndrome, variants - overweight
•Idiopathic edema - increased weight
•Hypogonadism -- mitral valve prolapse -- mental retardation - obesity
•Hyperandrogenism - obesity
•Heart failure - abnormal weight gain
•Hashimoto's Thyroiditis - weight gain
•Frölich's syndrome - obesity
•Dilated cardiomyopathy - abnormal weight gain
•Depressive disorders - weight gain
•Chromosome 5q duplication syndrome - obesity
•Bardet-Biedl syndrome, type 2 - obesity
•Prednisolone
•Pituitary gland disease
•Thyroid hormone plasma membrane transport defect - weight problems
•Sohval-Soffer syndrome - obesity
•Polyneuropathy -- mental retardation -- acromicria -- premature menopause - obesity
•Pituitary tumors, adult - excessive body fat in torso
•MOMO syndrome - obesity
•Lymphomatous thyroiditis - weight gain
•HAIR-AN Syndrome - obesity
•Eating disorders - Obesity
•Cushing syndrome, familial - upper body obesity
•Congestive Heart Failure - weight gain
•Chromosome 4, trisomy 4p - obesity
•Bardet-Biedl syndrome, type 3 - obesity
•Adrenal Cortex Neoplasms - excessive body fat in torso
•Frohlich syndrome
•Middle age spread
•Type 2 diabetes - Weight gain
•Trophoblastic Cancer - Weight gain
•Simpson-Golabi-Behmel syndrome, type 2 - obesity
•Pituitary cancer, childhood - excessive body fat in torso
•Overgrowth syndrome, type Fryer - increased weight
•Mauriac syndrome - obesity
•Masculinisation - weight gain
•Hyperostosis frontalis interna - obesity
•Hyperadrenalism - excessive body fat in torso
•Empty sella syndrome -- primary - obesity
•Chondrodysplasia, Grebe type - obesity
•Bardet-Biedl syndrome, type 4 - obesity
•Albright like syndrome - obesity
•Achard-Thiers Syndrome - obesity
•X-linked mental retardation-hypotonic facies syndrome
•Food addiction - weight increase
•Urban rogers meyer syndrome - obesity
•Riedel syndrome - weight gain
•Retinohepatoendocrinologic syndrome - obesity
•Polycystic ovarian disease, familial - obesity
•Overweight - Increased weight
•Obesity, hypothyroidism, craniosynostosis, cardial hypertrophy, colitis and intellectual deficiency - obesity
•Nguyen syndrome - obesity
•Mental retardation, X-linked, syndromic 11 - obesity
•Mental retardation -- nasal hypoplasia -- obesity -- genital hypoplasia - obesity
•Laron-type dwarfism - obesity
•Hypothalamic dysfunction - increased weight
•Hypertension of pregnancy - sudden weight increase
•Hyperpituitarism - Obese
•Grahmann's syndrome - obesity
•Familial hypothyroidism - increased weight
•Emerinopathy - obesity
•Deletion 6q16 q21 - obesity
•Chromosome 3, trisomy 3q13 2 q25 - obesity
•Bobble-head doll syndrome - obesity
•Biemond syndrome type 2 - obesity
•Bardet-Biedl syndrome, type 5 - obesity
•Bardet-Biedl syndrome, type 10 - obesity
•Austrian syndrome - weight changes
•Adrenocortical carcinoma - excessive body fat in torso
•Melanocortin 4 receptor defect
•Underactive thyroid gland
•Reduced metabolic rate
•Vasquez Hurst Sotos syndrome - obesity
•Sleep Apnea Syndromes - overweight
•Psychological addiction - weight changes
•Prolidase deficiency - childhood obesity
•Obesity -- colitis -- hypothyroidism -- cardiac hypertrophy -- developmental delay - obesity
•Mental retardation, X-linked -- gynecomastia -- obesity - obesity
•Mental retardation X-linked syndromic 7 - obesity
•Mental retardation -- gynecomastia -- obesity, X-linked - obesity
•Mental retardation -- epilepsy -- bulbous nose - obesity
•Familial hypopituitarism - increased weight
•Cortisone reductase deficiency - abdominal obesity
•Chromosome 21q deletion syndrome - obesity
•Cardiomyopathy -- hypogonadism -- metabolic anomalies - obesity
•Cancer - Unexplained weight gain
•Bardet-Biedl syndrome, type 6 - obesity
•Bardet-Biedl syndrome, type 11 - obesity
•Ayazi syndrome - obesity
•Anorexia Nervosa - Weight changes
•Albright's hereditary osteodystrophy - obesity
•Adrenal Cortex Diseases - upper body obesity
•Borjeson-Forssman-Lehmann syndrome
•Laron dwarfism
•Autoimmune Lymphoproliferative Syndrome - Weight gain
•X-linked mental retardation craniofacial abnormal microcepahly club - Obesity
•OHSS - weight increase
•Metaphyseal dysostosis mental retardation conductive deafness - obesity
•Mental retardation, X-linked, 36 - obesity
•Menopause - Weight gain
•Gelatinous ascites - increased weight
•Functioning pancreatic endocrine tumor - excessive body fat in torso
•Bearn-Kunkel syndrome - obesity
•Bardet-Biedl syndrome, type 7 - obesity
•Bardet-Biedl syndrome, type 12 - obesity
•Adrenal incidentaloma - excessive body fat in torso
•Adrenal gland hyperfunction - excessive body fat in torso
•Adrenal Cancer - obesity
•Premenstrual syndrome - weight gain
•Physical inactivity - obesity
•Optic pathway glioma - increased weight
•Mental retardation, X-linked, 91 - childhood obesity
•McKusick type metaphyseal chondrodysplasia - adult obesity
•Laron syndrome type 1 - obesity
•Depression - weight gain
•Budd-Chiari syndrome - increased weight
•Bardet-Biedl syndrome, type 8 - obesity
•Autoimmune thyroid diseases - weight gain
•Adrenal adenoma, familial - excessive body fat in torso
•Bardet-Biedl syndrome - obesity
•Weight cycling - Obesity
•Summitt syndrome - obesity
•Subaortic stenosis -- short stature syndrome - obesity
•Sengers-Hamel-Otten syndrome - obesity
•Schinzel Syndrome - obesity
•Ovarian carcinosarcoma - weight changes
•Mental retardation, X-linked -- hypogonadism -- ichthyosis -- obesity -- short stature - obesity
•Mental retardation -- blepharophimosis -- obesity -- web neck - obesity
•McCune-Albright Syndrome - weight gain
•Laron syndrome type 2 - obesity
•Hypogonadotropic hypogonadism -- syndactyly - obesity
•Choroideremia - obesity
•Binge eating disorder - obesity
•Bardet-Biedl syndrome, type 9 - obesity
•Astrocytoma - changes in weight
•Anophthalmia -- short stature -- obesity - obesity
•Abdominal obesity metabolic syndrome - abdominal obesity
•Pituitary gland cancer
•Wilson-Turner X-linked mental retardation - Obesity
•Thyroid disorders - weight gain
•Simpson-Golabi-Behmel syndrome, type 1 (SGBS1) - obesity
•Schroeder syndrome 1 - obesity
•Polycystic ovary syndrome - obesity
•Ovarian Cancer - weight change
•Obesity due to congenital leptin deficiency - obesity
•Obesity - Increased weight
•Mental retardation -- epileptic seizures -- hypogonadism -- hypogenitalism -microcephaly -- obesity - obesity
•Lipoprotein disorder - overweight
•Klinefelter syndrome - rounded body type
•Hypertrichosis brachydactyly obesity and mental retardation - obesity
•Gastro-enteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumor - weight gain
•Eclampsia - weight gain
•Diabetes - Weight gain
•Chromosome 1p deletion syndrome - overweight
•Chromosome 12p tetrasomy syndrome - obesity
•Carpenter syndrome - obesity
•Ampola syndrome - obesity
•Pituitary tumour (growth hormone secreting)
•Pseudohypoparathyroidism type 1a
•Young-Hughes syndrome - Obesity
•Adiposogenital dystrophy
•Kleine-Levin-Critchley syndrome
•Williams Syndrome - obesity
•Premenstrual dysphoric disorder - weight increase
•Panhypopituitarism - increased weight
•Hypopituitarism - weight increase
•Hepatic veno-occlusive disease -- immunodeficiency - increased weight
•Fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase deficiency, hereditary - obesity
•Fowler-Christmas-Chapple syndrome - weight gain
•Dysthymia - weight gain
•Clark-Baraitser syndrome - obesity
•Borjeson Syndrome - adult obesity
•Aromatase deficiency - obesity
•Alcohol-induced pseudo-Cushing syndrome - weight gain
•Cohen syndrome - obesity
•Pituitary gland tumor
•Disordered Eating - weight gain
•Pregnancy toxemia /hypertension - sudden weight increase
•Lowe oculocerebrorenal syndrome - chubby during younger years
•Leschke-Ullmann syndrome - obesity
•Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis - weight gain
•Empty sella syndrome -- acquired - obesity
•Bipolar disorder - weight gain
•Bardet-Biedl syndrome, type 1 - obesity
•Aniridia -- ptosis -- mental retardation -- obesity, familial - obesity
•Ethanol
More causes:see full list of causes for Obesity
*****wrongdiagnosis.com******

[lyndap]

While some of this list of diseases/conditions might contribute to some cases of obesity, it doesn't address the sharp increase in cases of obesity over the last 20-30 years. Look at your school class pictures if you have them...how many kids were obese then...now look at your kids class pictures...how many of those kids are obese.

We have members of our families who we beg to do something about their weight and guess what...they don't want to hear it, they would rather pop a pill. Despite medical emergencies that should be a "wake-up" call for them to take care of their bodies, they keep hitting the snooze button for another day.

Bless those of you who want to do something about their weight. Restricting calories stinks especially when your body is telling you that the little cupcake won't hurt or that venti vanilla latte is a treat for a rough week. Unfortunately for those who are obese, everything counts...every calorie you take or don't take in counts as does every calorie you burn or don't burn. Find something you like to do and want to get better at...it's a great motivator. You have to want to lose the weight...that's the only way you will be successful for the long run. It's not easy but not much in life worth doing ever is.

[Darla Shine]

Happy@Home, I was stating that according to the chart your son is overweight. And believe me I know a lot of big football player type of guys. I know they can be full of muscles and I also know they can be just gigantic guys. We have 400lb professional footbal friends who are 6'5" and play the defensive line. They are big jocks. But still overweight. I am not trying to offend you.

As for those diseases you listed, 99% of them will make you gain weight but they will not make you obese. And of course if you lose your thyroid all together you might end up obese, but that is not the 90% of the population who is just stuffing themselves stupid.

No one is France is fat. They eat rich diets but small portions. I would say our American society and the snacks we eat is causing our people to get these diseases. Most of the diseases you listed can be caused by lack of nutrition. Why are we the only nation with this epidemic?

The truth is in all of this we need to teach our people how to eat better and good food should be the focus instead of half the junk we eat or want to eat.

[EAWwrites]

There are fat people in France Darla! :) My hubby and I saw them on our honey moon in 2005.... wait for it....... at the McDonald's in the Metro Station!!!! :)

I have a secret passion for McDonald's, but it's a sometimes treat. And when hubby and I do order fast food, we are the dorks who check out the nutritional information before one of us picks it up. Nothing kills your hankering for a Big Mac meal than to realize you are eating 1300 calories....

[keltie]

LOL, Elizabeth! Thanks for the humor- I think this thread was getting a little out of control...

[EAWwrites]

Yep Keltie! As a McDonald's connoisseur, I've eaten at one in Australia, Japan, France, Hawaii, and all over our lower 48. It's really interesting, because McDonald's "fast food" ifies local fare!

In France, instead of apple pies, they have these delicious chocolate pastries, a take on pan au chocolate.

In Japan, there was green tea soft serve ice cream (I don't care for green tea ice cream, and certainly not as soft serve, so I wasn't brave enough to try it). I did however get a picture at another cafe in Japan of an American "ice cream sandwich" It was a sub roll with 3 ice cream scoops on top and chocolate sauce. Not kidding. As far as the meals went, it was like Captain D's meets McDonald's, because seafood is so prevalent there.

Australia the McDonald's was more Americanized by far, but they kinda have a thing for our culture, believe it or not. Japan, on the other hand, at least Tokyo, is all about Parisian culture. There are crepe stands all over in Tokyo, something my husband and I found bizarre, but tasty. In Australia, there were more McRib choices, like different sauces and such. Guess they are all about the BBQ.

Hawaii: coconut syrup for hot cakes!!!! Absolutely yummy! But a local cafe had coconut syrup panckaes topped with Macademia nuts, so we went there for breakfast more.

[Happy@Home]

Happy@Home, I was stating that according to the chart your son is overweight. And believe me I know a lot of big football player type of guys. I know they can be full of muscles and I also know they can be just gigantic guys. We have 400lb professional footbal friends who are 6'5" and play the defensive line. They are big jocks. But still overweight. I am not trying to offend you.

As for those diseases you listed, 99% of them will make you gain weight but they will not make you obese. And of course if you lose your thyroid all together you might end up obese, but that is not the 90% of the population who is just stuffing themselves stupid.

No one is France is fat. They eat rich diets but small portions. I would say our American society and the snacks we eat is causing our people to get these diseases. Most of the diseases you listed can be caused by lack of nutrition. Why are we the only nation with this epidemic?

The truth is in all of this we need to teach our people how to eat better and good food should be the focus instead of half the junk we eat or want to eat.

I have no doubt that we as Americans have an obesity epidemic and we need to eat better. But the forum is on obese people getting on disability. My point is that you have to have a medical condition to get on disability. Genetics, and carcinogens are to blame for medical conditions including cancer. Eating bad can contribute to some of the conditions I have listed but the majority is from genetics and environment. According to my dr the majority of the public has tumors and don't even know it. One in three women will get cancer and 1 in 2 men will get prostate cancer. Why? Because of the amount of radiation we have caused in our own country, and the carcinogens that we come in contact with. Did you know that Thyroid cancer is caused by treatments to your adnoids when you were a child and had your tonsils removed? And when you were a child and went in for dental ex-rays and they didn't cover your neck? Did you know that most cancers can start out in the thyroid and spread through out your body? It is more common in women than cervical cancer and effects most women in their child bearing years.

Did you know that you can live several years without knowing that you could possibly have thyroid cancer? There are several diseases and cancers that someone can have that makes them gain weight and not be able to get it off do to underlying medical conditions. Obesity is a symptom to a bigger problem. But lumping obesity in one big outrage and saying that these people should not get disability is not fair.

Yes we need to eat better, but lets not be ignorant that there are other causes.

If it was soooo easy to get on disability, than why is every other commercial on TV a lawyer offering his services to help people get on disability. This is not an easy thing and they aren't going to give it to people just for the simple reason of being over weight.

Yes there are people that abuse the system, but disability is a Federal desision, not a local one, and their standards are really high.

[Darla Shine]

That is the point. This bill proposes obesity being the medical condition. If you are a certain weight that causes you to not be able to physically work you could possibly collect. So if there was no disease that caused the obesity should this person collect is really the question. I would never argue anyone with cancer or any serious medical ailment not be able to collect.

[lunajuly]

I completely agree that obesity should not be considered a reason to not work and collect tax payer money

I would love to see chemical fake foods taxed and that money used to subsidize produce and real food

i also consider it a form of child abuse to not give child proper nutrition

that said, a lot of people are overweight/obese out of ignorance (eating low fat chemical foods that our bodies can not tolerate) or they have addictions to things such as sugar or because of genetics or medical conditions or medications they have to take

people can be overweight/obese b/c of a variety of medical conditions and it is genetically very difficult for some people to keep off the pounds.

Do not assume that someone who is overweight is lazy and lacking in self discipline. It is judgmental, cruel, and frequently false.

To encourage change in a culture, and ours is a culture that makes it hard to be healthy, condemning someone will not help them. People need support and encouragement not other people on their high horses going on about how much better they are than them..

[lunajuly]

Darla!!! i don't mean YOU...and now that i've read the rest of the thread, i see this has already been covered!! i just read a few very arrogant posts and got all riled up without continuing to read!! :)

[Pumpkin]

Here ya go.... let's have an idea here.... Americans, take responsibilty for yourselves and your family and stop waiting on the government to run you and your families lives. Put the fork down and back away from the table, get some exercise, make better food choices. Simple, really.

[soldierswife]

As an obese person and mother of an obese child. I see all the veiws. I wasnt always this way and neither was my child. but depression and compulsion issues do have a medical root in a lot of obesity. I am starting to lose weight. but I have started taking my adderal again . I dont do this to not eat but I do have to say it curbs my compulsion to stuff my feelings. Erin she has a sweet tooth and is not nearly as active as she should be either. I am concerned for her. I dont want her to go through her school years obese. Kids are cruel enough without being overweight. When you add that to mix they are merciless. We are working on this. I provide healthy meals and I always have a bowl of fruit on my kitchen counter. My husbands depression hasnt been very supportive to any of this. Sometimes he is cruel himself. Not helpful. My eyes are puffy from all the crying I did last night. I told him that I feel so lonely cut off from him anymore. He blames transition. I told him get help. Im tired of being closed off from him. I'm tired of him being sullen and the silent seething. All those things we use to do when we were a happier family arent done anymore. Trips to the park or zoo. Going to church reagularly. He is so obsessed with our financial condition he cant see anything else. I am at the point where I know I have to get a part time job or he will continue to be unbearable. I remember when we had nothing and slept in twin bed together. We were so happy. This stuff is in the way of our life. I dont understand why he cant see it. I pray he will open his eyes. I love him and I believe he loves me too. My mil told me once. " Dont let him change you. " I didnt understand what she was saying. But I kind of do now. I have given everything to him and the kids. I am consumed. There isnt hardly anything left.

[soldierswife]

Sorry I needed to say that. Maybe I was a little off topic. But I do believe that there is a strong connection to emotional , psychological,and physical tendencies to obesity. Unless all sides are delt with obesity will continue to climb.

[Ann77]

Sorry I needed to say that. Maybe I was a little off topic. But I do believe that there is a strong connection to emotional , psychological,and physical tendencies to obesity. Unless all sides are delt with obesity will continue to climb.

I agree. The worst thing we can do, in my opinion, is to see obesity as a moral issue (fat people are bad). There are so many factors that are involved. Nobody wants to be fat.

Now as far as disability goes, that depends I guess on the issue.

[Darla Shine]

Tammy, you are not asking to go on disability for this are you? That is what this thread is about.

But since you brought up your personal situation I want to address it. Why is your daughter obese because you aree? It's not because it is hereditary, it is because she is picking up your habits and you are feeding her sweets.

I am not trying to be cruel. Believe me. I say this with love. You have to change your daughter's life right now. If you don't, you are right, she will suffer for years. She is young enough now and you can do this. And you have to do this for yourself.

Instead of feeding your emotions why not take the opposite route. Why not decide to take control of your life and your emotions. Imagine how wonderful you will feel being thin. Imagine how wonderful your daughter will feel when she is thinner. Get out there every day and walk. Get outside and walk. Eat only healthy foods. And remember food cannot make you happy. Try to rethink eating to live not to comfort. Your daughter can only eat what you bring into the house.

I would love to help you on this journey if you will let me. I am sure Ruthie would love to help too. And all the girls are here for support. I know it is tough. But you can do this.

[soldierswife]

Darla , I know what you are saying and Im not doing that as much any more. Stuffing emotions or trying to comfort myself with food. As for Erin. She didnt start becoming overweight until about 3 years ago. My being overweight isn't the main factor. But I'm sure it doesn't help. There is a lot of sneak eating on her part. Plus I have found that she has went to school and bought junk. I dont keep it in the house that often,but John will bring it home. He isn't supportive in that way. He wants these things and refuses to do with out them. I'm a gourmet and he likes hamburger helper ,frozen burritos, and pizza. That is when it kind of when it falls apart. No I'm not on disability nor do I plan to be. We are working on this. But its not a easy thing that is for sure. On the good side I have lost 25 lbs since spring and I am making positive changes for my health. I am healthier and now that my foot is better it is easier to walk and exercise. Erin she just needs to be more active herself. Compared to others some would not say I'm obese. But according to BMI I am. John says I'm just plumb. I do carry more muscle than most women though so that is a factor too. They did a scan and saw I had 80lbs of lean muscle on my body. I guess that is a good thing. Erin she is a sugar fiend. A part from locking everything that is sugar including the sugar away I'm not sure what to do about it. If nothing sugary is in the house my container of sugar starts mysteriously going down. I know you all here for me. believe me I am leaning on your support because I feel I'm in enemy territory in my own home some times.

[jennypenny]

I have lost 25 lbs since spring

GOOD FOR YOU! I hope you and your family continue to heal, physically and emotionally. (((HUGS)))

[soldierswife]

Thanks, Jenny. ((hugs back)). Darla , I will continue to keep on going. :) All of your support and tips are valued and treasured.

[Darla Shine]

25 lbs down is great. As for your daughter, motivate her. Sign her up for a sport. Get her outside. Walk with her. Don't buy any sugar. Make salads and grilled foods more, and just stop making eating badly easy. Start a thread on what you both are eating each day. How old is your daughter?

[soldierswife]

She is 12. I made dinner tonight. but she wasn't hungry. I guess her after school program Rap made omelets for them. Not the worst I guess. I have her involved with kids connect to hopefully build some friendships. She wasn't trying to make any friends. What is RAP?
Respectful Citizens
Ambitious Learners
Productive Employees
The RAP after-school program will provide students
with 1 hour of homework and study time every
week. They will also receive 50 min of your school’s
curriculum-based study.
What Are The Goals Of RAP?
The goals of the RAP Program are to:
1. Provide extra help to teachers for students
2. Help students build positive relationships with
peers & adults.
3. Help students figure out solutions to family &/or
school issues without violence.
4. Help students with positive behavior through
group activities.
5. Help students establish a sense of purpose by
providing constructive community service
opportunities.
6. Provide Family Fun Nights with parenting
education workshops.
7. Provide another continuous & positive support.
Last night we had a kind of trivia pursuit type bingo. after the program was done. I went with her, John of course did not.. The project before that was an outdoor activity and they made blankets and scarves for the homeless . They then played noodle hockey. I think it is a positive influence. I'm the one supporting this. My husband not so much.