Brazil's obese too embarrassed to use horse x-ray machines

There's an epidemic out there... of obesity. Over one billion people are overweight; 300 million are classified as obese. The developed world's kids and adults are just plain too fat and too unfit. Too many people eat too much, and eat too much of the wrong foods.

Some people can't stop. Is that an illness in itself? Perhaps, and yes, fat people should have access to health care that will help them stop eating too much.

But to demand and expect hospitals to buy expensive equipment just for them... that's going too far. I just can't feel any sympathy here.

A organization called the Group for Salvaging Self-Esteem and Citizenship of the Obese (GRACO) is staging protests outside the legislature in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, trying to twist arms to get the government to require that hospitals puchase larger, stronger equipment.

Currently, obese people are being sent by hospitals to the Jockey Club when they need a tomography, or multiple X-raying of body sections, which is normally carried out inside a chamber. A tomography is required before stomach reduction surgery can be performed.

Why the Jockey Club? Because the club has medical equipment designed to be used on horses.

Rosimere Lima da Silva, head of GRACO, said many patients feel embarrassed to go there.

"The obese patients already suffer from a lot of prejudice and having to be treated where animals are is not helping their self-esteem. Many simply refuse to go," she said.

Boo hoo! To refuse to accept medical attention that you want and need, and that has become necessary because of your own actions (of eating too much), because you're embarrassed to go....

Look in the mirror. Revel in your embarrassment.

Then use that feeling to propel yourself towards a positive change in your lifestyle.

Get up and do something about your situation. Stop sitting in front of the TV expecting your government or private hospitals to buy you things to quell your embarrassment.

Change things now, before they have to use a boat hoist to bury you.

Source: Reuters, in the Sydney Morning Herald

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