Whilst searching for the actual Oregonian article that sensationalized the NEJM study, I found this reponse by an associate professor at OHSU. Thank God someone in the medical field responded.
I still think this issue needs to be discussed further in a public forum. And I’m still really pissed.
Oh…and here’s the article that ran in the Oregonian.
3 responses so far ↓
Old Man // July 28, 2007 at 6:08 pm |
Well, the guy heading it up is a Dr of medical sociology…a unique combo. I am however, surprised by the prestigious rag publishing the article. Guess it loses some credibility in my estimation. Brings it down to the tabloid level. Well, it doesn’t say that it ‘is’ a virus. Just that there are societal thing that contribute to obesity, much like a virus. I’d say 90% of it is a crock. I see both at sides at work. I’d say it’s 50-50- if the patient is obese, so is family/or not.
Old Man // July 28, 2007 at 6:34 pm |
I thought it was kind of funny, the article is sponsored by the Simpson’s Movie, where there’s a donut with a bite taken out it. I guess that sums up the American diet at large.
I guess a person can say certainly, that one’s social network can influence a persons health. If you hang out together, you’ll be eating in the same joints, sharing much about life in general. So I guess it has some points, but it’s still a ‘novelty’…junk.
Anyway, life moves on, and I’m not giving anymore thought or energy to this article. Ain’t worth it to get all lathered up about it.
mclargehuge // July 28, 2007 at 9:23 pm |
hey pa!
yeah…i tend to agree that family influences your lifestyles…but unless you hang out with a friend 24/7…i don’t see how anyone can be influenced enough to actually participate in the obese person’s lifestyle.
and i’m not saying that the entire concept is false, but the attention it’s getting in the mainstream media concerns me because there are plenty of people out there who can’t think for themselves. one woman on a weight loss community i’m in told me that another lady had a friend drop her because of the article!!! WTF??
anyway…it should be a huge deal, but i guess what i have a beef about is the way the media is handling it. i mean…it was FRONT PAGE NEWS in the oregonian!! ridiculous.
anyway…thanks dad.