[~Wonder]

From:<a href="http://www.cnn.com/2006/HEALTH/07/26/obesity.xrays.reut/index.html" target="_blank">http://www.cnn.com/2006/HEALTH/07/26...eut/index.html</a><br><br><br><br><b>Obesity hurting accuracy of images, doctors say.</b><br><br><br><br>
WASHINGTON (Reuters) -- More and more obese people are unable to get full medical care because they are either too big to fit into scanners, or their fat is too dense for X-rays or sound waves to penetrate, radiologists reported Tuesday.<br><br><br><br>
With 64 percent of the U.S. population either overweight or obese, the problem is worsening, but it represents a business opportunity for equipment makers and hospitals, said Dr. Raul Uppot, a radiologist at Massachusetts General Hospital.<br><br><br><br>
"We noticed over the past couple of years that obesity was playing a role in our ability to see these images clearly," Uppot said in a telephone interview.<br><br><br><br>
Radiologists have their own term for it when writing up reports: "These images are limited due to body habitus."

 

[troub]

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[troub]

/insert head in hands ascii guy

 

[ketivnilloc]

i'm not sure if i should laugh or deny that i am an american...or cry in shame

 

[jeneticallymodified]

mystical jen sees the future: i see sales of vetinary large scale scanners going up. i see people getting taken to hospital on those boards they use for carrying large animals, in extra wide ambulances. i see someone making a fortune from their new invention of a fat permiating medical scanner. i see money being invested in this new equipment which could be perhaps better used in sending nutritionists into schools, and taking the pizza huts out of cafeterias.

 

[jeneticallymodified]

mystical jen sees the future: i see sales of vetinary large scale scanners going up. i see people getting taken to hospital on those boards they use for carrying large animals, in extra wide ambulances. i see someone making a fortune from their new invention of a fat permiating medical scanner. i see money being invested in this new equipment which could be perhaps better used in sending nutritionists into schools.

 

[Diana]

Time for some movement to start burning down all the fast food places. They could call it the "Food Liberation Front".<br><br><br><br>
It is CRIMINAL to allow this trend to continue. Those in power HAVE the ability to do something about it.

 

[kpickell]

Diana, not everyone supports the government controlling what we can and can not eat. Somehow I don't think they'd pick the same things I would.

 

[Diana]

I didn't say the government must control what people can eat. I doubt that is possible except in an extreme totalitarian state.<br><br><br><br>
What I meant was that they have the power to educate people in nutrition. They have the power to enforce laws so that it is CLEARLY indicated on food how much fat people are eating in a way that people UNDERSTAND it which is not the case now. They can pass laws that publicity for junk food is not passed during children's programmes (I think they have passed a law like this in Sweden recently).<br><br><br><br>
If they can ban cigarette advertising they can also ban fast-food advertising. What is the difference between eating double Big-Macs with French Fries, and smoking a cigarette.... Not much in my opinion.<br><br><br><br>
There's tons of things they can do in order for their people to be healthy. Shouldn't the government be there to HELP the people they serve??? By ensuring that future generations are not obsese (it's too late for the present ones unfortunately), they are investing BIG TIME in a healthy future.<br><br><br><br>
But maybe the government cares nothing for the future generations...

 

[troub]

Step 1 to nutritional educating the masses:<br><br><br><br><br><br>
Feed our children in public schools HEALTHY food, insted of greasy slop.

 

[auggie]

Yeah,seriously.The stuff they serve in school cafes is total garbage.Pizza and fries.You'd think someone would have the foresight to revitalize things and start a vegan food bar...I would have loved that.

 

[Jill]

I don't think the gov. is completely to blame about fast food consumption. No one forces those fatties to eat it. They go there, on their own free will, and order thousands of calories worth of food wrapped up in a bag. If they don't want to be fat, they should stop going there. Although, I do think that the gov. should enforce some limitations on it to discourage people from eating it such as taxing the hell out of it. And then maybe put that money into medical equipment designed to accomodate the super fat. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/thinking.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title=":think:">

 

[vggiegirl]

<div class="quote-container"><span>Quote:</span>
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by <strong>Jill</strong> <a href="/forum/post/0"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style=""></a><br><br>
those fatties</div>
</div>
<br><br><br><br><br><img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/juggle.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title=":juggle:">

 

[jeneticallymodified]

<div class="quote-container"><span>Quote:</span>
<div class="quote-block">I don't think the gov. is completely to blame about fast food consumption. No one forces those fatties to eat it. They go there, on their own free will, and order thousands of calories worth of food wrapped up in a bag. If they don't want to be fat, they should stop going there. Although, I do think that the gov. should enforce some limitations on it to discourage people from eating it such as taxing the hell out of it. And then maybe put that money into medical equipment designed to accomodate the super fat.</div>
</div>
<br><br><br>
this makes me think of the whole 'smokers rights' thing. the government (in the uk at least) whacks a whole load of tax on cigarettes, but ends up paying out fortunes each year in medical care for the results of smoking too. smoking is frowned apon, to an extent, by many people (like eating excessive amounts of junk food is?), nobody forces anyone to smoke either (or eat junkfood). smoking is addictive, (i believe some studies show sugar and fat to be too- though i'd say i had a harder time giving up smoking than sugar- but it can still be done with both things!), there are clear health incentives to stop doing both things (eg: you don't die so much, lol), its been made financially and socially more difficult to do it (smoking has, not junk food so far), advertising for both things is generally aimed at the young, (but advertising for cigarettes- in the uk has been severely limited), etc, and most people know how incredibly bad it is for them, but many still choose to smoke, and many choose to still eat junk food.<br><br><br><br>
it seems clear that people know that eating junk, like smoking, isn't good for them. but seeing as they do choose to do it anyway- and with smoking- despite the measures put in place to disuade them from doing so, whats to say the same measures will work for junk food?<br><br><br><br>
i've heard talk of healthcare systems, and other people, discussing refusing to treat, or minimising treatment, or forcing self funding for treatment, etc, for people for smoking related health problems.<br><br><br><br>
can you see a time where the same thing applies for those who are overweight... and then maybe diabetics too... and those with extreme tooth decay, etc- where medical care says 'sorry, its your own fault, we warned you, you're on your own with that problem!'.<br><br><br><br>
just curious.

 

[troub]

I say taxing fast food joints is a very good idea.

 

[GhostUser]

I could have this completely wrong, but I'm giving it a shot anyway. I don't think taxing at a realistic level would do anything significant. One would assume that the people who are going to fast food restaurants and doing it so frequently that they become obese have rather inelastic demand for the food.<br><br><br><br>
Granted, consumption would decrease, but I think it would be those who occasionally eat fast food or maybe get it for their kids who are the ones most likely to decrease their consumption. There would probably have to be a ridiculous high tax on the fast food to turn people away enough to make a difference in their weight. And then the tax money will go to stupid pork (no pun intended) barrel spending and other forms of spending, which may benefit the meat and dairy industries down the road anyway.<br><br><br><br>
Just a thought. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/smiley.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="">

 

[GhostUser]

<div class="quote-container"><span>Quote:</span>
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by <strong>Jill</strong> <a href="/forum/post/0"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style=""></a><br><br>
I don't think the gov. is completely to blame about fast food consumption. No one forces those fatties to eat it. They go there, on their own free will, and order thousands of calories worth of food wrapped up in a bag. If they don't want to be fat, they should stop going there. Although, I do think that the gov. should enforce some limitations on it to discourage people from eating it such as taxing the hell out of it. And then maybe put that money into medical equipment designed to accomodate the super fat. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/thinking.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title=":think:"></div>
</div>
<br><br><br>
yeah. those banal fat chicks at the mall scarfing down Cinnibons are ruining it for everyone.

 

[GhostUser]

the tax on ciggarettes hasn't done a lot to stop smokers.

 

[GhostUser]

<div class="quote-container"><span>Quote:</span>
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by <strong>purrpelle</strong> <a href="/forum/post/0"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style=""></a><br><br>
the tax on ciggarettes hasn't done a lot to stop smokers.</div>
</div>
<br><br><br>
Yup, that's the inelastic demand I was talking about.

 

[ElliottsMom]

<span style="color:#FF0000;">now purpelle. I don't eat at cinnabon.</span>