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Is losing weight an important health goal? (cnn.com)
2 points by Tomte on Aug 21, 2022 | hide | past | favorite | 8 comments



There is an undeniable history and mountains of data that obesity is associated with higher rates of mortality, disease, heart conditions, and countless other negative outcomes.

That this is even being debated for some desire to reduce “fat shaming” (or whatever the academia want to brand it these days) only hurts overweight folks like myself.

Disclaimer: I am obese.


I think the article's main point is it's not specifically weight we should be worried about.

> obesity is associated with higher rates of mortality, disease, heart conditions

A diet high in fat/cholesterol/calories can indeed increase your risk of heart conditions and diabetes (and thus mortality). But that's the fat, not the obesity itself.

Cholesterol levels can be measured independently - but some doctors just take the shortcut of saying obesity = unhealthy. This article is asking whether or not that's a mistake.


We can discuss health issues without being rude, however.


Sure but I've heard it claimed that even being asked to step on the scales by your doctor is an example of fat-shaming or a body-shape obsessed culture. Granted in some cases (where the reason for the visit is clearly not weight-related, as per examples in the article) it's possibly something we should be calling out, though I'd think the doctor's attitude and demeanor is key.


My SIL has fired 3 different gynecologists because they each asked her to try to lose weight.


If she's just going in for a pap smear and that advice was given unprompted, I could perhaps understand. I know nothing about gynecology, though I do know excess weight affects ovulation.


She could not conceive. She finally found a doctor that helped her conceive but she lost the baby and it was likely due to her weight.


We cannot discuss issues if we can't discuss the negative impacts of said issues.




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