Obesity=disability?

Do you think obese people have a right to claim that they are disabled?

I had a patient. He was morbidly obese and so was his mother. His mother could barely get up to go to the bathroom two feet away and was on oxygen. Obviously, had a hard time working (if that was even possible) and special beds and wheel chairs are needed in hospitals for the obese.

Do you think obesity is a legit claim for disability checks? And do you think society should conform for the obese by making special chairs, beds, bigger clothes, etc for them, or should obese people conform to society by losing the weight themselves?

I think it should be considered a disability if they have some sort of medical issue.

If they are obese because they can't control what they eat, and do nothing but sit at home all day, then no.

Quoting ღ my ☼:" I think it should be considered a disability if they have some sort of medical issue. If they are obese because they can't control what they eat, and do nothing but sit at home all day, then no."

She even admitted to the nurse that they were addicted to food.

Anything that stops you from working is a disability, even if it is a result of something you 'did to yourself'.

A person who is that overweight without a serious medical issue underlying to cause it should of course be working toward losing the weight so they are no longer disabled, but they still suffer a temporary disability in the interim which may require some financial assistance because a job cannot be held down.

I think whether or not "society" wants to conform depends on whether or not there's a market for larger objects. Commerce has never been rooted in ethics, but in what people will buy and what will make money. If enough of the population is large enough to warrant an expansion into making larger objects, it'll happen, guaranteed.

C.

Everyone should be treated equal fat,skinny, black, white etc.. well thats how i feel anyway

Here in NZ obese people cant claim a disability benefit though

Smurf no unless it's due to a medical condition.

Quoting Back to Noob Status:" She even admitted to the nurse that they were addicted to food."

No. I don't think that should be considered a "disability" then.

They should go to counseling and get help, but I don't think they should receive a check for something like that.

I don't think it's right. I hate seeing an obese person taking the handicapped parking spaces and seeing a little old couple who has to drop off their loved one by the door in their wheelchair and have to park far away because some lazy fat ass can't walk cuz they shovel food in their faces.

My father collects disability due to his obesity. It didn't happen overnight. It was a slow process. By the time he had his first health scare, and decided to start losing weight, it was too late. His knees were destroyed from the excess weight, and he had developed diabetes. In his case, it wasn't as simple as "just losing weight", because the damage had already been done (he has lost quite a bit of weight, but it won't make a difference at this point). Yes, it was his fault, but a lot of people that collect disability are in some way responsible for their ailment.

So what do you propose they do if they cannot hold down a job? Die?

If they're that overweight, you think they can come up with the resources to get a healthy lifestyle and pay the bills if they can't work and can't get disability payments?

I could see a stipulation of receiving the benefits be showing that you are engaged in a plan to drop the weight, and having that monitored, but simply denying them when they can't work helps no one.

C.

Quoting God:" So what do you propose they do if they cannot hold down a job? Die? If they're that overweight, you ... [snip!] ... engaged in a plan to drop the weight, and having that monitored, but simply denying them when they can't work helps no one. C."

See, I have a hard time deciding, especially if that obese person has children (but my patient was almost thirty).

I mean...my fear is that some people will intentionally eat themselves to obesity to gain disability checks. Plus, America's obesity rate is climbing outrageously and I doubt we can afford to have half of the population "disabled."

Quoting Back to Noob Status:" See, I have a hard time deciding, especially if that obese person has children (but my patient was almost ... [snip!] ... Plus, America's obesity rate is climbing outrageously and I doubt we can afford to have half of the population "disabled.""

I figure if someone wants to ruin their health just to get that cheque... eh, let 'em. If they're intentionally doing that, putting the weight on fast like that, it's really going to hurt their body, and they probably will die soon enough not soaking up that much money.

C.

Quoting God:" So what do you propose they do if they cannot hold down a job? Die? If they're that overweight, you ... [snip!] ... engaged in a plan to drop the weight, and having that monitored, but simply denying them when they can't work helps no one. C."

Unfortunately, I think a lot of people do feel that way. I see the looks my dad gets when we're out in public. People look at him like he's some disgusting creature. It breaks my heart. Yes, he should have controlled his appetite and taken better care of his health, but I still don't think it's fair the way obese people get treated. People who smoke themselves to death via lung cancer or emphysema don't even get treated like that.

Quoting God:" I figure if someone wants to ruin their health just to get that cheque... eh, let 'em. If they're intentionally ... [snip!] ... like that, it's really going to hurt their body, and they probably will die soon enough not soaking up that much money. C."

I agree.

I also like your suggestion on giving people stipulations for losing weight if they are put on disability.

From what I understand, you have to be pretty obese to not be able to work. I worked with women who were my height, 350lbs... they waddled sure but could still work.

C.