Big & Tall

Big & Tall

Many people who aren’t obese, or even a little overweight, are suffering from obesity fatigue: the weariness of having to constantly hear about obesity in the mainstream media.

Believe me – I’m tired of it too. Especially those news features that carry a slightly scolding tone, as if a little shame directed at everyone will somehow prompt sudden widespread exercise sprees and salad eating contests.

So today I offer some relief from obesity fatigue with three unique items that put the topic in a whole new light.

School daze

You would think school administrators would have have their hands full just tending to the challenges of teaching kids, feeding them a decent lunch, and making sure they’re not carrying firearms.

But no. Now they’re issuing obesity report cards.

In a national trend that’s actually become law in several states, public school officials are obligated to regularly weigh and measure each child in order to calculate body mass index (BMI – the ratio of height to weight). Then, when report cards go out, a BMI score is included, along with the child’s percentile ranking.

According to a New York Times report, children who score in the 5th through 85th percentiles are considered normal.

The Times report features a Pennsylvania school district that issues regular BMI scores. And you probably won’t be one bit surprised to learn that school cafeterias in the district continue to serve funnel cakes, pizza, ice cream sandwiches, and Rice Krispie squares. In addition, many students are scheduled for physical education classes for only half the school year.

As usual, the stubborn tunnel vision of lawmakers and bureaucrats leads them to believe that problems are solved with reports, statistics, percentile rankings, and pie charts, while the importance of obvious necessities – such as healthy food choices and regular exercise – seems to elude them.

One exasperated parent told the Times that her child’s school provides BMI information, but no education about what it means or how to put it to use.

Small comfort

Obesity may actually have an upside.

Mayo Clinic researchers recently examined data from nearly 1,000 patients who were diagnosed with a common type of kidney cancer. To their surprise, those with higher BMI scores were more likely to have less aggressive tumors, compared to patients with BMI rankings that put them in the normal weight or under weight categories.

Results of the study revealed the following five-year survival rates:

• Obese patients: 82 percent

• Overweight patients: 77 percent

• Normal weight patients: 62 percent

So how could obesity – a condition that sharply increases the risk of developing kidney cancer – reduce the risk of death associated with the disease? Dr. Alexander S. Parker, the lead researcher of the Mayo study, told Reuters Health that diligent screening of obese patients may result in earlier detection of the cancer, which tends to improve outcomes.

But the answer may not be that simple. Dr. Parker also allows that some aspect of obesity may actually make tumors less aggressive. He hopes that further research will reveal useful clues about the way kidney cancer develops.

Big as a dog house

Earlier this month, the FDA approved Slentrol, a new drug from Pfizer that addresses obesity. But don’t ask your doctor about Slentrol. You’ll have to ask your vet, because Slentrol is for dogs.

According to a report from MedPage Today, adverse reactions to the drug include vomiting, loose stools, diarrhea, lethargy, and loss of appetite.

Of course, there’s a two-part alternative therapy with no side effects: Less food and more walks. And dog walking provides excellent obesity-fighting exercise for the owner as well – something Slentrol can’t claim.

In fact, the FDA warns that humans who get the idea to try their pooch’s Slentrol may suffer headache, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal distention.

I don’t want to know how they found that out.