As patients get supersized, caregivers are learning to cope

Arizona Star ^ | June 1, 2003 | Bonnie Henry

[Jason Kauppinen]

Why not just rent a forklift and save some taxpayers money?

[JennysCool]

While I have much sympathy for the "morbidly obese," does anyone have, er, figures on the percentage of those afflicted with a weight-hiking disease vs. those who just eat a lot? Would be interested in knowing.

[freekitty]

Yeah, but how many people are 700 lbs?

[Arpege92]

I'm deeply saddened!

[Archangelsk]

Not a lot, but check out how many 300 and 400 pounders are waddling around.

[Genesis defender]

Let me be the first to say: this is hugh!

[krunkygirl]

In my 5 minute visit inside Taco Bell yesterday to purchase a couple of tacos, at least 2/3's of the people buying and eating lunch were decidedly overweight to obese...approximately 1/2 of those were kids with their parents...to me it is frightening to see what Americans are doing to themselves and, most of all, the indifference(?) in allowing their children to be overweight and unhealthy at ages when, without question, the parents should be in charge of meals and setting the example...yesterday, of course, was just like a hundred other visits to Mc Donald's, Dunkin' Donuts, or Any Mall, USA---this trend is epidemic!

[AdA$tra]

Yeah, but how many people are 700 lbs?

Probably a few more than you think. They just don't get out much. I heard a call on my police scanner the other day where a fire unit was called to help lift a patient into the ambulance.

[Dec31,1999]

In these United States, food has become unprecedentedly inexpensive and ubiquitous. Hence; lot's of really fat people!

I took my family of four to Taco Bell yesterday. We had about 6 tacos for only 4.50, including 8% sales tax! Stopping in a Freindly's just a few days before came to $30 with tax and tip, and we couldn't finish all the food.

[FITZ]

Yeah, but how many people are 700 lbs?

Especially in hot places like Phoenix and Tucson where it can get over 120 degrees. I can see in cold climates maybe getting that big.

[FITZ]

In these United States, food has become unprecedentedly inexpensive and ubiquitous.

I wonder what the 700 pounders do for jobs. Grocery bills around here aren't that cheap ---maybe that's good.

[verity]

Even worse, you're too big for the ambulance.

What's the problem. Use two ambulances. :~)

[lepton]

I wonder what the 700 pounders do for jobs. Grocery bills around here aren't that cheap

Become classified as disabled, and get various government disbursements.

[whipitgood]

I think air conditioning, both in homes and cars, is a big part of the reason for the weight increase. Here in Texas, there are very many huge people. Given how the body attempts to cool itself in hot weather, it seems like a lot of these people will die if exposed to the heat for any length of time. Also, it is much easier to be indoors where it's cool than to go outdoors and endure the heat for any type of physical activity. More weight = more sluggishness. More sluggishness = more weight. Add the embarrasment that these people feel from their appearance and you have additional psychological reasons for eating.

[SLB]

I read somewhere in the past couple of weeks, maybe here of FR, where a man received permission to cremate his mother in her home. She was too large to get out safely and so the coroner and sheriff gave him permission to burn the house. He removed all the belongings and set it on fire. This was out in the country so there was no danger to nearby buildings.

Sad to hear things like this.

[Archangelsk]

I took my family of four to Taco Bell yesterday. We had about 6 tacos for only 4.50, including 8% sales tax! Stopping in a Freindly's just a few days before came to $30 with tax and tip, and we couldn't finish all the food.

And you call this substance food? :-)

Maybe we should start a grass roots movement to return to our own dining tables. My wife, a wonderful cook, handcrafts our meals and our whole family benefits from it. We may eat out maybe 10 times a year and we never go to corporate restaurants (we prefer family-owned, neighborhood places where they really value us as customers).

[Jeff Chandler]

>>percentage of those afflicted with a weight-hiking disease vs. those who just eat a lot? <<

You left out those people with big bones.

[Archangelsk]

You left out those people with big bones.

And super-sized excuses. (Sorry, I couldn't help myself).

[Cicero]

Its gurneys will hold 1,500 pounds.

The Incredible Hulk will be loose this summer.