Week 8 Post 3

 I had realized that children may actually be approved for bariatric procedures. I have watched a lot of those shows on TLC like "My 600-lbs Life" or "1000-Pound Sisters" so I have some, but obviously a very limited, knowledge of the prerequisites to obtaining a surgery of this risk. For a child, it is most likely no fault of their own that they reached this weight, and there post-operative health will remain out of their control. To combat this, these children are required to see doctors frequently and continue with behavioral treatment. These are great steps in ensuring the safety of the children and maintaining a healthy diet. I must ask, if this could be affective after surgery, why can't we start this before a child even reaches obesity  classification? I suppose maybe that would contribute to eating disorders but regularly seeing your doctors and attacking the problem before it becomes an issue seems ideal. I am also torn because I believe that when a person has decided to lose weight and turn their life around, they should have access to weight loss surgeries. In fact, these surgeries may actually be underperformed and overly expensive. But, why has America done more research as to how to successfully perform these surgeries than how to prevent them? It is further evidence that the health care system is a business and is not designed for patient health. 

What steps should parents take to reduce their risk of chronic illness? Are there steps teen can take to control their own health? Do we have more research on bariatric surgeries than preventative measures? Why is Nauru and other Samoan countries so obese? Why is Taiwan so slim? There are one million questions I could ask. I would most like to know how to overcome the American medical system and ensure the health and safety of the next generation. The chronic illness epidemic is a prime example of government control over the lives of its people and most people don't even realize it.