I came across this this study which made me think. Yeah, my head hurts now. Ouch. I think I deserve a cookie.
This study took me to the land of "What If?" You know, that magical place with prancing rainbow-maned unicorns and where everyone gets a puppy and a cupcake? Yeah, I'm talkin' about that place.
Anyways, here's the study:
47 patients who lost 100 lbs or more and who successfully maintained weight loss for at least three years following gastric restrictive surgery for morbid obesity viewed their previous morbidly obese state as having been extremely distressful.
In spite of the strong proclivity (tendency) for people to evaluate their own worst handicap as less disabling than other handicaps, patients said they would prefer to be normal weight with a major handicap (deaf, dyslexic, diabetic, legally blind, very bad acne, heart disease, one leg amputated) than to be morbidly obese.
All patients said they would rather be normal weight than a morbidly obese multi-millionaire.
Yes, I do realize that only 47 patients were in the study and it's 20 years old, but still interesting.
I think this study proves how motivated those who have a weight loss surgery (WLS) are to keep the weight off for good.
Personally, I may be very motivated, but would totally rather be back at 256 lbs without a disability. But wait, isn't being a overweight now considered a disability anyway? Hmm...
And by the way, how is "very bad acne" a disability or handicap? I don't understand that.
Of course, I'd rather be healthy at a normal BMI than be a multi-millionaire.
What about you?
This study took me to the land of "What If?" You know, that magical place with prancing rainbow-maned unicorns and where everyone gets a puppy and a cupcake? Yeah, I'm talkin' about that place.
47 patients who lost 100 lbs or more and who successfully maintained weight loss for at least three years following gastric restrictive surgery for morbid obesity viewed their previous morbidly obese state as having been extremely distressful.
In spite of the strong proclivity (tendency) for people to evaluate their own worst handicap as less disabling than other handicaps, patients said they would prefer to be normal weight with a major handicap (deaf, dyslexic, diabetic, legally blind, very bad acne, heart disease, one leg amputated) than to be morbidly obese.
All patients said they would rather be normal weight than a morbidly obese multi-millionaire.
Yes, I do realize that only 47 patients were in the study and it's 20 years old, but still interesting.
I think this study proves how motivated those who have a weight loss surgery (WLS) are to keep the weight off for good.
Personally, I may be very motivated, but would totally rather be back at 256 lbs without a disability. But wait, isn't being a overweight now considered a disability anyway? Hmm...
And by the way, how is "very bad acne" a disability or handicap? I don't understand that.
Of course, I'd rather be healthy at a normal BMI than be a multi-millionaire.
What about you?
Wow, there's a lot of food for thought there (sorry for unintended pun, ugh.) I read that and immediately thought, 'well, sure, I think I feel the same way' - obesity is one of the last remaining acceptable 'public' prejudices, I believe. A person can't really hate on a person of a different race, creed, economic background, educational level, physical challenges, even smoking status, you name it, but OMG, they're FAT!!! is perfectly fine to exclaim. It's disheartening, and frankly, once I am banded and lose my excess weight, one of the things I'm most looking forward to is not having that moment of judgement in a person's eyes when they meet me.
ReplyDeleteYeah I am with you. I would rather be overweight than to be "normal" weight and have a handicap. Although I think you are right, today most people consider obesity a handicap......
ReplyDeleteBreanne
www.ladylapband.com
I totally agree with you, but as a person who suffered with sever acne from the time I was 10, the emotional scars as well as the physical scars that it created and left and that I still have today were very hard to live with. When your face is what everyone see'st first and it is covered with cystic acne (which I have to explain to those who are not familiar this is not the one little zit that people who do not have a skin problem complain about) it makes wanting to go out, on dates, with friends, even to the pool, or uncovered in any way nearly impossible to do!
ReplyDeleteSo perhaps it is not seen as debilitating, it certainly is. However, would I choose being obese over it, I don't know. I was not heavy when I had the acne, I was thin and healthy. I doubt I would have traded being heavy for not having it, but that is easy to say now.
As far as money goes, I guess with all that money I could pay a personal trainer and chef to make sure I ate right and worked out! LOL
Great post thank you as always for making us think outside the box!
I was going to say the same about the acne - as a teacher I haven't seen a wheelchair student teased - but severe acne - oh hell yeah! Horribly so. And the kids just have no confidence. Very interesting study though.
ReplyDelete