A Very Useful Tool!

This chart shows that I've been burning more calories over the last three days than I've been taking in. This is good! 

I like using the Fit Day website. It's only been three days, I know, but I'm able to track how much fat I'm taking in compared with how many carbs and how much protein. So far I'm seeing that I'm taking in too much sodium and not enough iron. Interesting...

Well, according to the chart, since I'm burning more than I'm intaking and since I'm exercising I ought to be losing weight...

I think keeping up with this food journal at the website over the next several weeks should be helpful. Maybe I can figure out what's going on.

More Support

I decided to go back to another website I've used in the past to help me track what I eat and how much I exercise: Fit Day.

One thing I especially like right now about the website is that it's "non-judgemental". I mean, I can make a goal of eating up to 1700 calories a day without the website blocking me and telling me in red letters to go talk to my doctor. The USDA website doesn't give you an option of clicking that you've been to the doctor and now want to create a healthy living food plan. On the USDA plan, the site would only let me "maintain" my weight. Waaaaaaaaaay too many calories there, that's the problem!

I filled in my half hour walk at 2 mph and the information was neutrally recorded, a big improvement over being reminded so in-my-face that my activity level is "poor". :) So far, I've had low fat Columbo yogurt with a cup of fresh fruit (melons) and for lunch I had a large tossed salad with low fat raspberry vinegriatte dressing and an egg. I've been drinking water.

My stomach needs to shrink.

I went to see the orthopod about my left ankle. The brace is doing a lot of good and providing support. He was able to manipulate my foot so that it had a better arch than it's had in a year and he was happy about that. He said I need to keep walking. He said I should come back in six months and we could talk about whether I wanted the brace to be a permanent part of my life.

Okay, I should have asked.

I guess it means that if I lose a lot of weight in six months I might not need it? That would be nice!

I told the doctor that I am having a breast reduction in September and that I'm looking into getting a lapband. He was very positive about my plans and just emphasized again that I should keep walking.

My daughter called me from TN to tell me that her neighbor is going in for a laprascopic bypass. I'm not interested in bypass but I was interested in the website the neighbor used to find a doctor and support, Obesity Help. I kind of shudder inwardly everytime I think to myself, you are morbidly obese. But ... it's true. So now I'm off to surf the site and see what I can learn.

Putting It Together

I've been feeling quite cranky about my lack of dramatic weight loss. I think Mama Mouse is right in that my age and metabolism are wreaking some havoc but to be honest, I thought I'd better go back and look at other factors.

As many times as I've read this information, it never falls to shock me:

Portion Sizes

By understanding the average portion size of different foods, you can avoid overeating. The following are general estimates for a variety of foods.


Protein: one serving is no larger than the size of your palm, or 3 oz.
Starchy side dishes: the size of a tennis ball
Medium piece of fruit: tennis-ball size
One ounce of cheese: 4 dice
Cabbage family: 1 cup raw, ½ cup cooked
Dark leafy greens: 1 cup raw
Water: 6 to 8 8-oz. glasses per day
Beans and legumes: one-half cup cooked
Whole grains: 1 slice whole-wheat bread, ½ cup cooked grains, cereal or pasta, 1 oz. ready-to-eat cereal

I've got the water down easy. But the other portion sizes ...?? I don't think so. That's part of the problem, I think ... these portion sizes leave me hungry.

Well...let's see how many of these things I can have a day.

I went to My Pyramid Tracker and plugged in what I ate for breakfast. So far, so good. What I can eat the rest of the day, according to the USDA guidelines:

7 oz. protein
1 more cup of milk
4 cups of vegetables
2.5 cups of fruit
8 more oz of grains

I am going to have to go back and forth between how big a serving size is supposed to be and how much I have left to eat. Maybe all the measuring and figuring will keep me too busy to feel hungry?

These are useful tools for me except for the part where I'm trying to get recommendations for a plan to get to a healthy weight. I just keep getting this message:

The weight and height you entered in your Personal Profile page indicates that you need to consult a healthcare provider about weight loss strategies prior to starting a weight-reduction program. Overweight adults, who need to lose weight, should aim for a slow, steady weight loss by decreasing calorie intake while maintaining an adequate nutrient intake and increasing physical activity, thus improving their Body Mass Index (BMI). The BMI is a measure of body fat using the body weight relative to the height among adults age 19 and older. People at a healthy weight should strive to maintain their weight, and underweight individuals may need to increase their weight. Click here to see your BMI.

Um...thank you, I know, I've seen a doctor and discussed the strategies so let me get my recommendations already! I don't see a place to click...

The result summary of my 30 minute walk on the dreadmill:

Result Summary

Click directly on the numbers or word in the table for more detailed physical activity information.
Credited Minutes 0
Total Calories Expended from Physical Activity 137
Physical Activity Score (Out of 100) 0
Physical Activity Assessment Poor

Oh, thanks. That's a real drag. At this website, you don't get credited minutes for what they consider "light" exercise. Walking 2 mph is considered "light". I haven't gotten up the stamina yet to go faster. I think maybe I won't use this tool so much ... at least not until I can walk faster and be more encouraged with my assessment.

More About Fibromyalgia

Wow, I was surprised to see in my comments that so many others have FMS too and I appreciated everyone's advice and input.

I walked on the treadmill several times since I last posted and I think I feel better. I seem to have more energy than I usually do and although I feel a little sleepy in the afternoon I haven't taken any marathon naps in over a week. My ankle bothers me some when I walk and so I'm hoping to use the leather brace while I'm exercising. I've been hesitant to do that because the last time I walked on the treadmill with it, I got blisters on my foot.

The main problem I'm having now with pain is in my wrists, thumbs and shoulders. I think the surgery will help alleviate the pain in my shoulders but I guess I'm going to have to go and get a shot of cortisone in my thumbs. . I imagine this all ties in with FMS somehow. I wonder if a lot of people who are overweight also have FMS?

I found another article by Dr. Weil:

With fibromyalgia, a syndrome that combines pain, fatigue, anxiety, and depression, you have to separate “cause” from “trigger.” New research suggests that this mysterious syndrome is caused by imbalances of chemicals and hormones in the nervous system that amplify sensation, making even a slight touch feel painful. In a study published last year, Daniel Clauw, MD, a rheumatologist at the University of Michigan, used MRIs to show what happens in the brains of fibromyalgia patients in response to minimal pressure to their left thumbs – blood rushes to areas involved in pain perception. To get the same response from healthy people Clauw had to apply twice the pressure.

The super-sensitivity to pain that characterizes fibromyalgia seems to be genetic. The disorder runs in families, and researchers have identified one gene believed to be involved in the syndrome. Patients also have higher than normal levels of a neuropeptide called substance P that is involved in pain signals and subnormal levels of serotonin and norepinephrine, hormones that modulate pain.

If you are born with a predisposition to fibromyalgia, you still need to experience an event to trigger the disorder – that is, something must happen to set it off. This can be a viral infection, emotional stress, an accident or injury or even exposure to certain drugs or chemicals. My colleague Iris Bell, MD, PhD, Professor of Psychiatry and Director of Research here at the Program in Integrative Medicine, tells me that multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS) and fibromyalgia often overlap. In fact, according to a recent paper in the Annals of Internal Medicine, 33 percent of fibromyalgia patients also suffer from MCS. Dr. Bell adds that 60 percent of all MCS patients are able to identify the specific exposure that set off their initial reaction.

We may soon have new drugs to improve treatment of fibromyalgia by reducing substance P and increasing levels of norepinephrine and serotonin. In the meantime, your best bet for dealing with this condition is 30 minutes of daily aerobic exercise such as swimming, walking or biking. Breath work, meditation and yoga can help you cope with stress, and acupuncture, manipulation, and massage may help relieve symptoms.

I was thinking about what my trigger might have been because I don't seem to remember that I always had this kind of trouble with pain and fatigue. I thought of a couple of things -- my son and I were in an accident that totalled the car in 1995. Neither of us were seriously injured at the time but within the month, my appendix ruptured and I had to have emergency surgery. After that, I had a lot of trouble maintaining my fitness routine (walking and swimming) but I figured it was just because of recovering from surgery.

The other trigger I thought of would be Rich's death. That's when I can clearly remember the beginning of problems with pain and marathon sleeping. I gained more than 50 pounds and was diagnosed with sleep apnea. So grief could be a trigger too because of the deep emotional stress?

There's one big problem I see at the end of that article. It talks about increasing the levels of norepinephrine and serotonin...I'd have to check it out but I do believe my meds inhibit those because of my anxiety and depression. Isn't norepinephrine like adrenaline? And I take an SSRI...which is supposed to inhibit the uptake of serotonin? Back to the online textbooks...

Fibromyalgia & Exercise

Some days, for no particular reason that I'd been able to figure out, my joints, back and shoulders would ache so much I didn't want to move. Some of it is due to arthritis, some to old tendon injuries in my hands and some I just attributed to excessive weight and aging. I finally went to see a rheumatologist and was totally taken aback when he said that I have fibromyalgia.

Since then, I've been reading some material and learned that one thing it seems to do well is enhance pain you already have. I've been trying to get my mind around that one. Does that mean I should "tough it out", "suck it up", "deal with it"? I think in part, yes.

The doctor told me how important it is to exercise. Oh, I know that ... I used to walk everywhere and used to be physically fit even if I was somewhat overweight. Now, though, it hurts. But that's the part I've just got to tough out because exercise would make me a little more flexible and reduce the pain.

Today I got on the treadmill and walked 30 minutes. I walked at a rate of about 2 mph and I don't think that does anything for me cardiovascularly but I figured I could increase the speed as I build up tolerance. I started out walking 15 minutes, then 20 and now am up to 30 and I'd started at 1.5 mph (a real snail's pace!). My left foot throbbed painfully about 15 minutes into it but I figured I would just keep going.

I got another one of those inspirational messages in my email box today saying that every time I try to get out of exercising and everytime I am about to eat something I shouldn't, I should say to myself: Why are you trying to hurt yourself? That's a good idea...and I think if I can't come up with a logical answer then I should get on that dreadmill or put back that extra serving of chili.

I also got this from Dr. Weil's Wellness Bulletin:

Weekly Bulletin

07.21.2005

Featured Article
Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia is a syndrome that combines pain, fatigue, anxiety, and depression. Research suggests it is caused by imbalances of chemicals and hormones in the nervous system that amplify sensation, making even a slight touch feel painful. The super-sensitivity to pain that characterizes fibromyalgia seems to be genetic - the disorder tends to runs in families. However, if you are born with a predisposition to fibromyalgia, you still need to experience an event to trigger the disorder - that is, something must happen to set it off. This can be a viral infection, emotional stress, an accident or injury, or even exposure to certain drugs or chemicals.

If you do have fibromyalgia, your best bet for dealing with it is 30 minutes of daily aerobic exercise such as swimming, walking or biking. Do what you can - it may be painful, but exercise is one of the best ways to lessen the effects of fibromyalgia. Breath work, meditation and yoga can help you cope with stress, and acupuncture, manipulation, and massage may help relieve symptoms. Dietary changes may help too. Try the following:

Eliminate polyunsaturated vegetable oils, margarine, vegetable shortening, all partially hydrogenated oils, and all foods that might contain trans-fatty acids (such as deep-fried foods). Use extra-virgin olive oil as your main fat.
Increase intake of omega-3 fatty acids.

Eat more fruits and vegetables, preferably organic.

Eat ginger and turmeric regularly.

Weight: Wealth

Years ago, I learned about ratio relationships. Some of the relationships had pretty cool sounding names that I can no longer remember. As one number goes up, the other goes down. If that one number goes down, then the other goes up. According to the article I read, weight and wealth seem to have that relationship. The lighter you are, the richer you are. The heavier you are, the poorer you are.

But why? I'll bet it's got to do with discrimination and bias against fat people in the work place. I used to be an interpreter for the deaf for over 20 years. In the mid-1990s, I began to apply for interpreter coordinator positions. I certainly was qualified. I was also almost 50 pounds overweight. Guess what...I didn't get any of the positions. They went to thinner, less qualified folks.

Anyway, here is the full text of the article I read this morning:

From the ArcaMax Publishing, Health & Fitness Newsletter:
http://www.arcamax.com/cgi-bin/news/story/1002/1015/28709/516801

Dieting linked to increased wealth, study finds
Ohio State University
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AScribe Newswire) -- Overweight Americans who lose a lot of weight also tend to build more wealth as they drop the pounds, according to new research.

The study found that the link between weight loss and wealth gains was particularly strong among white women. Black women and white men also gained wealth as they lost weight, but not as much as did white women. The wealth of Black men was basically unaffected by their weight.

There's no way to tell from the data whether losing weight was the reason for the gain in wealth, but the linkage was definitely there, said Jay Zagorsky, author of the study and a research scientist at Ohio State University's Center for Human Resource Research.

"The typical person who loses or gains a few pounds had almost no change in wealth, but those who lost or gained large amounts of weight had a more dramatic change," Zagorsky said.

For example, white women who dropped their body mass index score (BMI) - a standard measure of obesity - by 10 points saw a wealth increase of $11,880. White men saw an increase of $12,720 for a similar drop, while black women increased wealth by $4,480.

The study appears online in the "Articles in Press" section of the journal Economics and Human Biology.

The study used data involving about 7,300 people who participated in the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth, which is funded primarily by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The NLSY is a nationally representative survey of people nationwide conducted by Ohio State's Center for Human Resource Research.

The same people are interviewed repeatedly, giving Zagorsky the opportunity to see how the obesity levels and wealth of respondents changed over time. Zagorsky used data from 12 NLSY surveys conducted between 1985 and 2000. All the respondents were between 21 and 28 years old in 1985.

Using each respondent's height and weight figures, Zagorsky was able to calculate their BMI scores. Scores under 18.5 are considered underweight, 18.5 to 24.9 are normal, 25 to 29.9 are overweight, and 30 or higher are considered obese.

The respondents also gave information about their net worth, which included home values, cash savings, stocks, bonds, and auto values, among other assets. Outstanding debts were subtracted from that total to arrive at net worth.

Overall, the results showed that a one unit increase in a young person's BMI was associated with a $1,300 or 8 percent reduction in wealth. But the changes varied dramatically by ethnicity and gender.

Increases in BMI had no link with the wealth of Black men, and were associated with small negative changes in the wealth of white men. Increases in BMI were linked to medium negative changes in wealth for Black women and large negative changes for white women.

The results suggest each category of race and gender has a different ideal BMI to maximize wealth, Zagorsky said.

White women had peak net worth at the low end of the normal range (BMI 20), white males and Black women reached peak net worth at the upper end of the normal range (BMI 24) and Black males peaked in the obese range (BMI 32).

Zagorsky emphasized that participants in this study had to lose quite a bit of weight to show strong improvements in wealth.

For example, when a typical young person decreased his or her BMI by one point, wealth increased by only $234. But when a person lost enough weight to go from the middle of the overweight category (BMI 27.5) to the middle of the normal category (BMI 21.7), wealth increased by an average of $4,085.

"If you really want to impact your wealth, you have to move from overweight or obese into the normal range," he said. "You can't just drop 5 or 10 pounds and change your wealth."

The data in this study can't tell us whether a person's wealth affects obesity, or whether obesity affects wealth. However, Zagorsky said it is more likely that weight influences wealth. An analysis of people in the study who received inheritances - suddenly increasing their wealth - showed no dramatic changes in their BMI scores in the following years. This suggests that wealth does not have a strong influence on weight.

However, if weight does affect wealth, there is also the question of how it does so. One possible explanation would be that overweight and obese people are discriminated against in the workforce, and don't earn as much money as normal weight people. Women, particularly white women, may be held to particularly high standards for beauty, which could explain why they gained more wealth compared to men as they lost more weight. But there is no way to tell for sure from this data, Zagorsky said.

----

AScribe - The Public Interest Newswire / 510-653-9400

Approved!

I am back from a weekend trip to my son's college -- student orientation for the kids and a sort of "how to let go" and "what to expect" conference for the parents. Technically, it should only take us 4-1/2 hours to get there but between changing drivers and the traffic it takes 6. The drive really wipes me out!

I got some good news today: the surgeon's office called and said my insurance company approved my reduction surgery. I'm set for September 2nd!

On the down side, I've not lost a pound.

Maybe my scale is busted? I've been drinking water, walking, and eating smaller portions. Could this all be in my head?

Worry, worry, worry. On the one hand, I want this surgery because I know I will feel and look better. On the other, I'm afraid of it. I have a fear that I am so overweight my heart will just give out on the operating table and that will be the end of me. I think to myself: so, is it better to live longer and suffer? Or ... is it better to take a risk?

I'm taking a risk.

I'm still scared.

So it really helped to find this in my email box:

Worries
by Norris Chumley

Do you have negative thoughts -- of inferiority, fear, dread, worthlessness, or anxiety about something?

They're only thoughts. They're probably not true. Think about that today.

Start by identifying your worries and self-doubts. It helps me to write my problems down on paper. Then, I humbly pray and ask God to help me deal with them, rising above the fear and self-loathing.

It's easy for me to now say, both in the middle of worries myself but also on the other side of most of them, that I know you are going to be OK.

Give all the worries to your Maker, and know that you are going to be all right.

So I will.

"Where Unhealthy Habits Start"

I also get heart health tips in my email box from the National Heart, Lung, & Blood Institute. At this point, I am looking for help and inspiration where ever I can find it.

Where Unhealthy Habits Start

Your weight is the result of many factors working together — height, genes, metabolism (the way your body converts food and oxygen into energy), behavior, and environment. Changes in our environment that make it harder to engage in healthy behaviors have a lot to do with the overall increase in weight over the past few decades:
As a society, we spend a lot of time in the car or sitting behind a desk. For many of us — parents and children alike — daily life doesn't involve a lot of physical activity. If we want to be active, we have to make an effort.
Food is everywhere, along with messages telling us to eat and drink. We can even get something to eat at places where food was never available before — like the gas station. Going out to eat or buying carryout is easy.
Food portions in restaurants and at home are bigger than they used to be.
Becoming overweight doesn't happen overnight. It develops over time when the energy we consume is not in balance with the energy we burn from physical activity.

I know that I can't lose weight without exercising. I thought that by cutting back on my calories -- and I'm not talking about real starvation here -- and exercising and drinking water I would surely lose weight. But I didn't.

So ... it could be that I felt so darn hungry because I'd eliminated almost all sources of fat. It could be my body went into 'starvation' mode and refused to burn up any calories when I exercised. It could be I'm holding 10 lbs of water? I don't know...but I'm not giving up. I did add some fats (like a little olive oil) back into my diet. I'm still walking.

For portion control, I read some good advice:

Order a medium pizza instead of a large. Everyone gets the same number of slices as before; they're just smaller.
Order an appetizer instead of an entrée at a restaurant.
Use tall, narrow glasses instead of short, wide glasses. You will drink less.
Put a smaller portion on a smaller plate; it won't look so skimpy.
Share a portion with a family member or friend.
Instead of giving your child an entire bottle of fruit juice or soda, pour a small amount (1/2 cup) into a cup.

Only I can change my life. No one can do it for me.

- Carol Burnett

Where did it start?

I was so aggravated that I didn't lose any weight at all! I felt half starved and exercised and thought well, I've got to lose some weight now and when I didn't...I was just so furious. I got a comment from Mama Mouse that I won't lose weight if I don't take in enough calories because my body will think it's starving. Well, it looks like she was right and so I'm trying to eat more protein.

I'm not 25 anymore. I have to keep reminding myself that. I can't expect my body to spring back and react like it did then...much to my sorrow. :(

I get different inspirational messages and weight loss tips in my email. I got one from Beliefnet Spirituality that asked me to go back to the beginning of my problem.

Was there an event -- an accident or traumatic experience, a change in environment, job or school situation, or a relationship issue?

Think back. See if there is any connection to be tapped between your weight problem and a life experience.

I closed my eyes and went back in time. When I was a little girl, I was actually very skinny. My grandma used to comment that I was too thin and that my mother should have me eat more.

When did that change? We moved from NY and away from my grandparents, the cousins and friends I'd grown up and played with and almost all my other relatives when I was about 10. We moved to Baltimore and it might as well have been to the moon. I couldn't understand my new teacher and classmates and they couldn't understand me. The kids made fun of my parents and tried to bully my brother and me.

At first I fought back but I totally felt overwhelmed. I started to get chunky but I was still active, a tomboy. I fought with the other kids so they'd leave us alone. The other kids liked and respected me because I was a good punchball and kickball player.

Then I started junior high school and was crushed. When you are 12 and 13 you have these surges of hormones that make you very emotional. It's important to be accepted. I wasn't...I was ostracized. I remember spending my days feeling lonely and scared. I didn't want to go out anymore. I stopped playing sports all together.

I got fat. I self medicated on food and television.

For a period of time, though, I lost a lot of weight through Weight Watchers and kept it off for 12 years.

I need to get back in touch with what I felt then, what made it work. I need to do some more exploring...

My thoughts and prayers go out to the people of Great Britain. I will never forget the shock and horror of 9/11 and never wanted to see this happen to anyone else, anywhere :( 

Hungry

I am so hungry!

I walked for a half hour on the dreadmill.

I didn't have breakfast (a mistake, I'm sure) but for lunch I had left over shrimp and vegetables and a banana ... no rice, just lots of nice green veggies.

Fooooooooood my mind is crooning. Go get fooooooood!

I'm not going to, I'm still holding out. I'll probably have a snack before dinner, some no-fat yogurt I think.

I took the dog outside and played with him a little bit to distract myself. I might take a nap too to get away from the pangs.

I know this is why healthy eating plans (AKA diets) fail. What I need to do is find a way to make this work ... maybe it's a matter of just telling myself just deal with it! Easier said than done...

My prayers are with the people in Great Britain, especially those victims & their families killed or injured in all the explosions.

The Weekend

I was hoping to post yesterday but just didn't get a chance! I watched Elton John's performance in Philadelphia. He's gotten older, like me, and he has wrinkles and has gotten "fluffy" like me. Still, he smiled and was very engaged with the audience and looked very happy. He sounded terrific! He's been one of my favorites since the 1970s and based on his music and all the good work he's doing, he really is entitled to his knighthood. Sir Elton, with more than a touch of class.

There is something I'm not taking in anymore that is causing me to feel very very hungry. I'm thinking it's fat -- like that 2% milk and real butter. I've been eating lots of fresh fruit and veggies as usual. The difference is that this time I've eliminated the little extras I used to indulge in ... like that 2% milk.

When I used to go to Weight Watchers in NY, we had this really great leader who would tell it like it is. "You're going to be hungry." But why? I'm eating the portion sizes I'm supposed to be eating. I'm filling up on good, healthy food ... It's because that good healthy food doesn't settle to the bottom of my stomach and keep me full. Everything moves along ... and then I start to get hungry.

I know I'm going to get hungry. The idea is to plan how to deal with it. Drink extra water? Write some more? Read a book? Whatever it is ... I have to deal with it because I am determined to lose the weight I want to lose by September!

The weekend had its ups and downs but for the most part I am happy with the foods I ate. I've been buying lots of fresh fruit and vegetables for the family. On the down side, it's expensive! It just isn't fair that the good stuff has to be so darn costly.

I took my daughter to the doctor today and we were there for awhile. We were hungry when we left and so I went over to Subway -- no McDonald's, thank you! Right next door was a Salad Works. We'd never been there before and so we went to check it out ... and it's good but very pricey!

I guess I'll go so broke eating healthy stuff I won't have anything left for junk. :P

On Saturday, we went to see War of the Worlds, which is an excellent movie! Since I was a kid, popcorn has always been a part of the go-to-the-movies experience. The last few times I've gone, (the time before was seeing Madagascar with my granddaughter) I haven't gotten any popcorn and I have to say ... it's been very weird. Not only have I not gotten popcorn, I haven't gotten anything, not even soda or water. Once the movie starts I'm okay with it but it's been really tough during the time you wait for it to start. All around me was the smell of popcorn and I could hear people crunching and smacking. I wonder if I'll ever get used to it? It's kind of a drag to have to struggle with the buy-it-don't-buy-it issue for 30 minutes every time I go...maybe I'll just rent the movies from now on. :P

On My Way

Today is Day One of my renewed resolve to get the pounds off. I set a goal of losing 18-20 lbs in the next 9 weeks, before my surgery.





For the last couple of years, I've been having 2% milk in my coffee. It was my "treat" because I don't like the taste of skim or 1% in coffee. I might as well drink it black and I really hate coffee like that. I've always been of the "a little coffee with my milk" school. Today, though, I put 1% in the coffee and will not buy 2% anymore...at least not for the next 9 weeks. It's a small thing but weight loss is made up of small changes.

I realize the most important thing I need to do is exercise and I'm getting my brace adjusted this afternoon. Meantime, my blister's not so swollen anymore so I think I could walk 10 minutes or so without a brace on my foot. I can get around the mall, I can manage 10 minutes today. I will feel so much better about myself. When I get the brace back I'll be back to walking 30 mins at a time again.

I found this article in my inbox. It sure is the truth! Insurance companies have got their priorities totally screwed up. For example, I wanted to see a nutritionist but I have to have diabetes or heart disease or the insurance company won't cover it. Meanwhile, my condition will likely lead to one of these conditions. Wouldn't it save money to try and prevent that from happening? Stupid third party carriers! :P

Here is the article:

Obesity brings up health care costs
By Amanda Gardner, HealthDay Reporter
Source: HealthDay

(HealthDay News) -- Americans' widening waistlines are the main force behind rising U.S. health care costs, a new study shows.

Between 1987 and 2002, the proportion of private health spending attributable to obesity increased more than tenfold, researchers report, from $3.6 billion to $36.5 billion.

In the year 2002, obesity-related medical care spending accounted for 11.6 percent of all private health care spending compared to just 2 percent in 1987, concludes an article published today in Health Affairs.

"We can focus on obesity and we should be," said study lead author, Kenneth Thorpe, the Robert W. Woodruff professor and chair of the department of health policy and management at Emory University in Atlanta. "We need to have the same type of societal attention on this issue that we gave to smoking 20 years ago," Thorpe added.

There's been no question that health care costs in this country are soaring. The question has been, "Why?"

"You can break health care spending into two things," Thorpe explained. "One is that we're treating more people who are sick, and second is that it costs more to treat those patients."

To find out which factor was predominant, Thorpe and his colleagues looked at data from the 1987 National Medical Expenditure Survey and the 2002 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, both nationally representative samples. Specifically, they were concerned with spending among privately insured adults aged 18 to 64 for the top 20 medical conditions.

As it turned out, more than half of the growth in health care spending was attributable to increased prevalence of disease rather than an increase in how much it cost to treat each person.

"We found overwhelmingly that the rise in private insurance spending was traced to the fact that we were treating more and more people with a variety of chronic health conditions," Thorpe said.

In other words, more people are sick now than before; predominantly with conditions linked to obesity such as diabetes and high blood pressure. This means that in 2001, obese adults with private health insurance spent $1,244 more per person per year on health care than normal-weight adults. Back in 1987, that number was just $272.

Obese individuals are being treated for more conditions, too, the study found. In 2001, for example, 15.5 percent of obese adults were treated for six or more medical conditions, nearly double the 1987 percentage.

There have also been changes in the way clinicians treat patients. "They're more likely to give you a blood pressure pill today at a lower threshold than 15 years ago," Thorpe said.

Finally, new, expensive technology is also driving costs upwards, the study found.

"Obesity is a very expensive health problem and, unlike some other health problems, doesn't appear to be topping out. It appears to be accelerating," said Dr. Tom Farley, co-author of Prescription for a Healthy Nation and professor of community health sciences at Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine in New Orleans.

"We all pay for these costs," Farley pointed out. "It's not just people who are obese. All of us have higher premiums, higher taxes. This is a society-wide problem and we need society-wide solutions."

Unfortunately, the debate on how to curb this growth in obesity and its related expense is focusing on the wrong issues, Thorpe said.

"The private insurers are doing nothing to deal with this issue," he said. "They're looking at consumer-driven plans, increasing co-pays. If you think about it, those are going to do nothing to affect the 60 percent increase in diabetes."

Rather than trying to decrease the cost per case, we need to look at the bigger picture, he said.

"We're looking under the wrong light here," Thorpe said. "We need to fundamentally focus our attention on how to control costs."

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More information: For more on overweight and obesity, visit the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

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