| On July 16, 2004 the headline posted all
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| | discounting the effectiveness of stomach
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| over America was "WASHINGTON (AP) --
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| | bypass surgery. On the contrary, it is
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| Medicare now recognizes obesity as an
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| | perhaps the best solution for some
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| illness, a change in policy that may
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| | people. However, for the vast majority of
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| allow millions of overweight Americans to
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| | Americans, regular cardiovascular and
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| make medical claims for treatments such
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| | resistance exercise is will provide much
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| as stomach surgery and diet programs."
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| | better and long-lasting results.
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| (cnn.com)
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| | Further along in the article from The
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| It was almost impossible to miss this
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| | Associated Press we find this quote:
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| story, since it was plastered on
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| | "Some health plans subsidize gym
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| virtually every front page in the nation
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| | memberships, but it is unlikely that
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| and received heavy rotation on all the
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| | Medicare would, despite the undeniable
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| major news networks.
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| | benefits of exercise." The folks at
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| The government representative in front of
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| | Medicare just don't seem to get it.
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| the cameras said all the right things
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| | They're missing the obvious solution to
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| about the dangers of excess body fat:
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| | obesity.
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| Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy
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| | The plain and simple fact of the matter
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| Thompson said, "Obesity is a critical
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| | is that liposuction, stomach bypass
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| public health problem in our country that
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| | surgery, and other surgical forms of
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| causes millions of Americans to suffer
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| | obesity control do not convey the same
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| unnecessary health problems and to die
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| | benefits as exercise. That is an
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| prematurely."
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| | undisputed fact. Yes, fat-loss surgical
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| Treating obesity-related illnesses
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| | procedures work for some people and have
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| results in billions of dollars in health
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| | even saved lives. If you think you may be
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| care costs, Thompson said.
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| | a candidate, then by all means please
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| "With this new policy, Medicare will be
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| | talk it over with your physician. Odds
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| able to review scientific evidence in
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| | are good that your doctor will discuss it
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| order to determine which interventions
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| | with you and then recommend (prescribe?)
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| improve health outcomes for seniors and
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| | a healthier diet and regular exercise.
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| disabled Americans who are obese,"
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| | There are two basic reasons why exercise
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| Thompson told a Senate panel on Thursday.
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| | is superior to fat-loss surgery. First,
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| (end quote from cnn.com)
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| | the simple act of removing fat from your
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| That is all 100% true and accurate;
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| | body does not make your heart healther
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| obesity DOES cause a multitude of health
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| | (as exercise does). Surgically taking fat
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| problems in the United States and around
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| | off your body (via liposuction) will also
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| the world. Fitness professionals around
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| | not prevent diabetes or hypertension (as
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| the nation have joined together in
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| | exercise does). In short, although
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| congratulating the Department of Health &
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| | surgical procedures will make you
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| Human Services in finally taking a much
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| | healther they will not convey the same
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| more pro-active role in obesity
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| | benefits as regular exercise.
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| prevention.
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| | The second reason that exercise is
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| However, we must take issue with what
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| | superior to surgical solutions is that we
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| appears to be the main focus of this new
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| | must change our behavior if we are to
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| initiative: fat loss results through
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| | make life-long changes in our body
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| surgery. On July 21, 2004 the Idaho Press
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| | composition. Think about it. What if we
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| Tribune (idahopress.com) ran a much more
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| | could magically take 20 lbs. of fat off
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| in-depth story on this issue (written by
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| | our body today? Poof! It's gone. Now
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| Mark Sherman of The Associated Press). In
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| | doesn't that feel (and look) good? What
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| part, this story stated that "Now willing
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| | will happen if we don't change our diet
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| to pay for a treatment that works,
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| | or activity level....will that 20 lbs.
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| Medicare is shunning fad diets to focus
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| | come back? Of course! Similar to the
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| on one of the more radical solutions,
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| | yo-yo diets many of us have experienced,
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| stomach bypass surgery. Despite the
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| | without permanent changes to our
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| claims of various diets and surgical
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| | lifestyle and/or dietary habits,
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| procedures, most researchers agree that
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| | permanent change is next to impossible.
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| no approach to weight reduction has been
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| | So, while we applaud the folks at
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| proven to be effective over the long
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| | Medicare for their added emphasis on
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| haul.....officials said they would
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| | obesity, we are alarmed that exercise
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| consider paying for something, but only
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| | will not (for the time being, at least)
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| something that can be shown to work."
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| | play a role in their new initiative. In
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| We are shocked and dismayed that anyone
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| | the meantime, let's continue to work out
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| at the Department of Health & Human
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| | regularly and try to keep our diets
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| Services would not automatically endorse
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| | 'clean'. Let's talk to our doctors about
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| and promote exercise as the number one
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| | our goals.....the odds are good that
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| proven remedy for obesity!
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| | they'll continue to recommend regular
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| Please understand that we are not
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| | exercise and a healthy diet.
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