Over the weekend, I noticed an article that Beth / Melting Mama had posted a link to. That article had irked a lot of people and stirred up quite a bit of conversation. Here is that article: ”Weight Loss Surgery Is The Easy Way Out – by “Fuming Foodie.”
(Thanks to Beth for posting the link!)
There was swift and immediate outrage from the weight loss surgery community, myself included. I wrote an opinion response and published it on Viewshound, and I was lucky enough to win the “Gold Prize” in writing over the weekend! I wanted to say thanks to all of you for taking the time to read the article, and for all of your really great comments.
While I offered up a healthy dose of snark, I also offered up a lot of statistics and information. My hope is that the writer becomes more informed and less judgemental after reading it. A lot of people posted informative responses, but as of this writing the author herself has not responded. It’s difficult to not get any and defensive when comments like, ““Self-indulgent, overweight, spineless jellyfish who take the easy way out.” are made, but every conversation we that addresses “the easy way out,” helps to change the public perspective.
Great reference and obesity-news reminder from Linda Eaves / @lindaeaves:
Love what she said here! This conversation was and IS due for an upgrade. As much as I disliked “Fuming Foodie’s” comments, it helped start a discussion that needed to be happening again. Here is a link to the news article “AACE: Obesity is a disease state – Cardiology Today,” which states:
“Sufficient evidence has accumulated to implicate a number of heterogeneous hormonal and regulatory disorders in the pathogenesis and progression of the disease state,” Alan J. Garber, MD, PhD, AACE vice president and a member of the CHD and Prevention section of the Cardiology TodayEditorial Board, stated in the release. “Thus, multiple therapeutic interventions may be necessary lifelong to delay or reverse obesity in patients. Currently, certain efforts have not prevented the proliferation of obesity in the US population as well as elsewhere. Additional interventions and alternative approaches are clearly necessary.”
More info from the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE):
As someone who’s questioned obesity as a disease in the past (vs. the results of our ever-changing environment and public perception of food), I readily admit that some of my past opinions were uniformed, and a direct result of my own personal struggle with morbid obesity rather than medical fact. I look forward to reading more about this and understanding my body and this epidemic more. (Thanks, Linda!) I may be stubborn in my opinions, but I’m always happy when I’m open-minded enough to know that it’s possible for my opinion to be swayed. To me, that’s personal growth.
As for Fuming Foodie, my hope is that her opinions might change as well. “Stubborn and ardent clinging to one’s opinion is the best proof of stupidity.” – Michel de Montaigne Here’s to all of us being open and ever-changing!
Recent Comments