Super Size Ambulance BBC1 now

[Lady Whistledown]

How utterly undignified to find yourself needing a specially reinforced ambulance and double width wheelchair to get into hospital. The two technicians are bloody funny, not that they'll be laughing when they both end up with long term back problems from lifting all the fat people all day.

So....the chronically obese patients being lined up for gastric band surgery on the NHS...just playing devil's advocate for a second...fair enough as their related health problems would cost the taxpayer a fortune anyway, or should they be told to get some willpower and go to WeightWatchers? What say NSC?

 

[Barrel of Fun]

It's quite sad. I don't think willpower and WeightWatchers is sufficient to cover every case.

There is surely going to be an underlying reason in most instances why someone will gorge themselves to death. Sadly, most addictions can be avoided, whereas one can't avoid eating.

 

[rool]

I quite like the idea of 'cheap' processed foods/take aways that are full of fat, sugar and salt having a higher rate of VAT or Vatable in the first place to contribute towards the obesity epidemic.
It seems that those on lower incomes will buy these foods in the belief they are getting VFM. It's a message that Hugh Fearnley Whitingstall and Jamie Oliver are trying to get over to the general public.

 

[Lady Whistledown]

The programme is quite voyeuristic really, but there are some gobsmacking comedy moments.

The arse-cleaning toilet, for example Having to jetwash down all the giant red bags they put the obese patients in

 

[rool]

I watch a lot of these programmes. I struggle with weight in my own little way due to the medication I am on. It is voyeuristic but it does help me put things into perspective. There was a series about an Australian guy a few years back called Fat Man Slim or something like that, he took a year out to lose something like 15 stone (I can't quite remember). By the end of the series he met his targets and I was gutted to hear on the final credits that the poor geezer died a few months later from an unrelated illness.

 

[Lady Whistledown]

I'm just curious though- say someone weighs forty stone. Presumably they're not that mobile, ie they can't get to the shops to buy food. So if they ate a normal healthy diet, ie the diet and portions (or even smaller) that a person of ten stone ate- the weight should absolutely fall off shouldn't it? Most of the people on the programme have carers, so what are they feeding them that they're still chronically obese? Surely they should be told to try eating normally, before being put in for potentially life threatening major surgery.

 

[rool]

See the the guy with the blind girlfriend, what are they eating? A bloody microwave ready meal no doubt made with mechanically recovered meat and full of fat, salt and sugar.
Some of the worst cases I have seen on similar programmes are not always the most intelligent people with partners who love them and think they are showing that by giving them what they want like take away pizzas, burgers, chips, coke etc etc etc. Unbelievably they don't seem to understand they are killing them.

 

[Lush]

See the the guy with the blind girlfriend, what are they eating? A bloody microwave ready meal no doubt made with mechanically recovered meat and full of fat, salt and sugar.
Some of the worst cases I have seen on similar programmes are not always the most intelligent people with partners who love them and think they are showing that by giving them what they want like take away pizzas, burgers, chips, coke etc etc etc. Unbelievably they don't seem to understand they are killing them.

Even worse when it's parents stuffing their kids. Cos it sure as hell isn't the kids going to the supermarket and buying that amount of rubbish food with their pocket money

 

[Robbie G]

I'm just curious though- say someone weighs forty stone. Presumably they're not that mobile, ie they can't get to the shops to buy food. So if they ate a normal healthy diet, ie the diet and portions (or even smaller) that a person of ten stone ate- the weight should absolutely fall off shouldn't it? Most of the people on the programme have carers, so what are they feeding them that they're still chronically obese? Surely they should be told to try eating normally, before being put in for potentially life threatening major surgery.

It might also be a sort of vicious cycle whereby people eat sugary foods etc for comfort and to make them happier, when really it is just making the problem worse.

 

[8ace]

I quite like the idea of 'cheap' processed foods/take aways that are full of fat, sugar and salt having a higher rate of VAT or Vatable in the first place to contribute towards the obesity epidemic.
It seems that those on lower incomes will buy these foods in the belief they are getting VFM. It's a message that Hugh Fearnley Whitingstall and Jamie Oliver are trying to get over to the general public.

I don't agree with this at all, I enjoy eating crisps and sweets and I'm not overweight. Why should I have to spend more money just because some salad dodgers can't exercise some self-control.

 

[beorhthelm]

strong case for electric shock therapy or what ever it takes to cure them of cake-in-hand disease. could be done in the home, not fannying around wasting hospitals time with gastric bands, many of which dont even work.

 

[Art Vs Science]

Bullshit snobbery as far as i am concerned. Have you ever seen the town/city centre on a saturday night? millions losing self control en masse and leaving a trail of desctruction and violence week in week out along with the scagheads

 

[adrian29uk]

Its easy to say to someone who is fat, to just lose weight. For seriously obese people its also a mental issue. Its very difficult to get these people moving when they are constantly being judged by people around them.
Every single magazine you see either shows a six pack or some other woman looking like a lollipop stick.

I am overweight myself. I am classed as obese on the BMI scale. 2 years ago I dieted and exercised. I managed to lose about 2 stone. It was good, it was working but its was bloody hard to maintain.
I eventually made the mistake like everyone else does, I started eating crap again, stopped exercising and over the year I put all the weight back on again. I am going to have another shot.

The worst parts for me was cutting down on bread. My wife suggested I swapped bread for Ryvita. I did this, but soon got fed up with it. And then when I saw that Ryvita advert that said "For Ladies that lunch" it put me off eating them after that, so I had wraps instead. I also swapped Green Top milk for the Red Top. This stuff is like water and totally disgusting with cerial. I swapped Crisps for fruit, cut out the steak and kidney pies and eat plenty of vegetables. I also cut down my portions. So instead of four fish fingers I had two. These are the choices you need to make but you need to stay motivated.

 

[Seagull over Canaryland]

I was very pleased to see such a programme broadcasted. Firstly I acknowledge there are many genuine bariatric cases where this condition is a consequence of, or has triggered a spiral of other health problems, and therefore these types of medical interventions are unavoidable and essential.

What does concern me is the burden placed on the emergency services i.e. the tying up of valuable (and potential life saving) resources on those bariatric cases where the patient could have helped themselves - but chose to ignore the medical advice. It is very time consuming and difficult to physically move a bariatric patient safely (both for them and those assisting) with care and dignity, particularly when they are located on an upper floor of a building. This is all before the patient has arrived at hospital. Often these procedures have to repeated on multiple occasions, and the scale of this work is not insignificant - and is increasing. Therefore it is good to see the programme promoting awareness of this matter and maybe prompt some reflection among those who may be able to do something about their condition.

 

[Lush]

Maybe people who get injured/ill through their own fault - too many pies, too much beer on a Saturday night, potholing - should get sent the bill.