http://asmbs.org/resources/access-to-care-for-obesity-treatment

ASMBS Statement for Access to Care for Obesity Treatment

• Obesity is a medical condition that meets all criteria as a disease, including a genetic predisposition and personal, societal and environmental factors that contribute to expression of the disease.
• Obesity is an independent risk factor for heart disease and is predominant in patients with hypertension, high cholesterol, and Type 2 Diabetes.
• People who suffer from the disease of obesity should be free from prejudice and discrimination in accessing care for obesity.
• People who suffer from the chronic disease of obesity should have access to evidence-based medical, pharmaceutical, behavioral, and surgical care similar to the access provided for the evaluation and management of other chronic disease.
• Prevention of obesity through new strategies of healthy lifestyles should complement the commitment to treat those currently suffering from the metabolic consequences of the disease.
• Weight Loss Surgery is effective, durable and increases quality and quantity of life. Obesity should be treated.

I am loving these six bullet points, hopefully someday we can have stigma reduction and access for all to the treatment we require. My friend and I were having a discussion yesterday, and she feels the BMI scale needs to be revamped to reflect what we are as a population. I disagree. I feel that the BMI is based on an IDEAL for the human body, and maybe we should reduce our body weight to match the BMI chart. I mean, the children being born today will have a shorter lifespan then us as their parents do, because of the comorbidities associated with obesity.

I am happily receiving treatment for my disease in Mexico next Friday. I will be getting the tools I need to manage my disease for the rest of my life. I am grateful that I can pay out of pocket, but I deeply feel for those in my situation that do not have the financial means to access the treatment they require. My province is focused on the super morbid obese who are costing the health care system the most. Do they not realize that in a few short years that will be me, and 1000's of more like me? It just makes me sad.

Good Luck Sweetums! Hope you have an easy journey to Mexico, a safe and easy surgery, and an uneventful recovery

Good luck with everything! I was at OCC in December and had a great experience. Dr. Jimenez was my favorite, even if he is a Vikings fan.