Who hurts the US Healthcare system worse?

I read this on Facebook recently. It's from the Guardians of the Constitution - you can look it up on Facebook.This is what it says, claiming to come from an actual Dr.:

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Dear Mr. President:

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During my shift in the Emergency Room last night, I had the pleasure of evaluating a patient whose smile revealed an expensive Shiny gold tooth, whose body was adorned with a wide assortment of elaborate and costly tattoos, who wore a very expensive
Brand of tennis shoes and who chatted on a new cellular telephone equipped with a popular R&B ringtone.

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While glancing over her Patient chart, I happened to notice that her payer status was listed as "Medicaid"! During my examination of her, the patient informed me that she smokes more than one costly pack of cigarettes every day and somehow still has money to buy pretzels and beer.

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And, you and our Congress expect me to pay for this woman's health care?

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I contend that our nation's "health care crisis" is not the result of a shortage of quality hospitals, doctors or nurses. Rather, it is the result of a "crisis of culture", a culture in which it is perfectly acceptable to spend money on luxuries and vices while refusing to take care of one's self or, heaven forbid, purchase health insurance.

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It is a culture based on the irresponsible credo that "I can do whatever I want to because someone else will always take care of me". Once you fix this "culture crisis" that rewards irresponsibility and dependency, you'll be amazed at how quickly our nation's health care difficulties will disappear.

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Respectfully,
STARNER JONES, MD

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Now, granted, there is no way to check on the validity of this (Unless Theodoric wants to go on a mission) but I'd like to focus on the underlying tone of the message.It is clear to anyone being honest that the person who wrote this is talking about a black woman who they feel is the main cause of the US's healthcare "difficulties" - as they put it. I'm also quite sure many here at EvC share this very sentiment.Obviously - or at least obvious to me - this person has some issues with race. And while I admit that SOME people in the black community try to hustle the system, they ARE NOT, by any means, the main source of any difficulties within the healthcare system.I continue to believe that the over weight, unhealthy people living in the US (that includes people of all race, gender, and income bracket) are the main source of the difficulties.Anyone care to enlighten me on this? Perhaps we can even touch on whether or not there is an issue with people believe the black community are the biggest burden on the government.- Oni

But don't seniors have their own healthcare system provided by the government?I've always seen seniors in their own catagory, while the rest of those not retired are in a separate pool of healthcare.- Oni

Well again, I'm not talking about dealing with seniors since they're on Medicare. Old age is not relevant.Ages 65 and younger, who are working and paying for insurance, these are the people who, for the most part, should not have any degenerative diseases. They should be able enough to be as healthy as possible, given that they eat right and exercise.The leading cause of illnesses and health problems for people under the age of 65 can ALL be linked to poor eating habits and poor/non-existing exercise habits. I don't see how they can't be the biggest burden on the healthcare system?- Oni

I'm not arguing that. My point is, all things being equal - under ANY healthcare plan - the biggest burden on the system will be those who are overweight and under exercised.My point was to address those who believe, like the letter in the OP expressed, it's minorities wasting government money on benefits when they don't need it - because they have gold teeth and a nice cellphone - as the letter in the OP suggests. This is more on topic...Isn't it equally as abusive, and more so of a cost burden, to not take care of your health, to over eat, to not exercise and then spend hours at the doctors office treating everything that is wrong with you because of one's lifestyle?- Oni

I'm not following your point.The person writing the letter has placed the blame on those who are abusing the government funded healthcare, while being able to afford their own personal insurance.My point was that, even if that were true, that some abuse the system, surely the bigger burden on the healthcare system are those who don't take care of their health.I don't follow what you're trying to say with your examples.- Oni

Ok, that actually fully explained everything I was asking. I would argue though, that these aged people were for the most part unhealthy adults. I don't think it's a secret that that generation knew very little and/or didn't have healthy eating and exercising habits. Also, very big smokers.Being a health person above the age of 65 and well into your 80's needed little medical care beyond the routine check-ups is quite possible. Which I feel could realistically be the solution to the increasingly aged population and their burden on the healthcare system.- Oni

Which isn't an unreasonable number. Also, car payment for an overly expensive car, etc. I've never heard of numbers like that. Is "several thousand a month" common insurance prices?I don't have any insurance myself, I'm waiting for Obamacare to kick in so I can figure it all out with an insurance provider and find out what I can get. I've heard the same said for those on welfare, unemployment, etc...If anyone is abusing the system of course that's fucked up. But I don't think it's as prevelant as many on the right try to make it seem like.I'm hoping someone like Coyote or the none socialist foreveryoung or any of that ilk would chime in to defend that opinion.- Oni

Well I wouldn't say they were fatty fat fats like today's little monsters, but they were extremely unhealthy such as eating too much red meat, not worried about cholesterol, they have clogged arteries, high blood pressure, they were big time smokers and drinkers, etc.Today's problem isn't so much smoking and drinking, although still relevant. Today's problem is fast food related and a seriously outrageous rise in obesity.So I think both are, and will be, a problem with senior healthcare. I've searched as much as I could for this thread and the other thread, and really didn't find any studies that looked into it. So it's hard to say. But it makes sense to me that it would help.- OniEdited by onifre, : No reason given.

...fatties ...lazy So if the person got a job and began to eat healthy, and exercise regularly, it's safe to say their insurance rates would drop dramatically? Cure Diabetes through diet and exerciseThat's good to know.- Oni

I guess it can be a bit misleading, but it's quite easy to determine if someone is overweight by checking their body fat and overall weight.Sure, exceptions are made for Shane Carwin of the UFC, but I'm also thinking his body fat percentage is very low. Also, that body size can be a health risk too. His heart may be working overtime to pump blood to all those muscles, especially during his fights. That's why he sucks after the first round. We may have, but it still doesn't mean you were right.Being obese is a major health factor. Having high body fat is one too. Any medical doctor will agree with that.- Oni

Well I guess in that example specifically it's not. But I'm not convinced that's the norm. I also said I excluded those over 65 as they have their own healthcare system.Now, as crash pointed out, the letter the MD wrote does relate to seniors as they are more of a burden on medicare than poor people. His point I agreed with.But, UNDER 65 - where one isn't at the end of their life for the most part, it seems to me that the biggest users of healthcare are those who don't take care of their health. Those who are overweight, eat junk food, don't exercise, and possible, to add to those horrible life choices, smokes too. I don't think I said anything about banning anyone. More so, my point is one of awareness and cultural change. I would support a banning on fast food places and the manufacturing of junk food though.But to somewhat cover your point, I wouldn't support giving someone who doesn't want to work welfare or any thing like that. Someone who IS out looking for work and isn't finding one, however, I would help out or support a system that helps them out.- Oni

Have you ever been to a gym and done a body fat percentage test? It's actually quite simple and involves easy math. Source

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Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Polka Dot/Getty Images Some fat is necessary for your body to function properly. Fat helps support and protect organs from damage. Too much body fat, however, can contribute to health problems like cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure and high cholesterol. A range of 18 to 30 percent body fat is recommended for women, while 10 to 25 percent body fat is the ideal range for men. You can estimate your body fat percentage using a few calculations; however, for a more accurate percentage, see an exercise science professional at a fitness club or research center.

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Step 1
Step on a scale to determine your weight in pounds. Ensure that the scale is on a level, hard surface for greater accuracy.

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Step 2
Wrap a tape measure around the widest part of your waist. Measure your waist in inches.

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Step 3
Calculate your lean body weight estimate. Multiply your body weight by 1.082. This is the first number in the equation. Next, multiply your waist measurement by 4.15. Subtract this second number from the first number. Add 98.2 to the third number. This final calculation represents your lean body weight estimate. The complete equation looks like this: (body weight x 1.082) - (waist measurement x 4.15) + 98.2 = lean body weight estimate.

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Step 4
Calculate an estimate of your body fat percentage. Write down your body weight and subtract your lean body weight estimate from it. This number is an estimation of your body fat in pounds.

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Step 5
Divide the estimated body fat in pounds by your total body weight. Multiply this number by 100. This last calculation represents your estimated body fat percentage.

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I don't know, I keep thinking I'm very right. That I agree with. That I agree with as well.In those cases, the person is not unhealthy BUT there could be some future health risks due to the obesity when or if they stop being active - ike in cases with football players or heavyweight fighters.But there is also another example highlighted in shows like The Biggest Loser and Honey Boo Boo, where people are obese and there is a major health risk due to said obesity. It also follows that these obese people tend to not be active at all.I'm not saying in all cases obesity equals unhealthy. I'm saying in some cases which seem to be the majority, obesity does equal unhealthy. At least in America, the majority of obese people are not heavyweight athletes. They seem to be uunhealthy, obese over eaters.But again, I agree it's not automatically a health factor. At least not in the present moment when they are active.- Oni

Fair enough, I'll concede on that point. I'll see what I can find. I've looked before and haven't found much. This is mostly anecdotal. I think this is just what our culture has dictated to us. The older genrations lived an unhealthy life due to poor eating habits, drinking and smoking. This has lead to the current issues the elderly face. Our current problems have now shifted to obesity and zero exercise. This will present future problems for the elderly when they get there...if they get there.If people these days, eat healthy and exercise, and not smoke and do minimal drinking, we can get to a future where the only healthcare issues for people are normal, degenrative ones caused by old age and not any added ones caused by an unhealthy lifestyle. I would lead the charge too. I'm not saying get rid of bacon or fatty foods. I'm saying get rid of the places that feed you garbage. We need fat, sugar and protein from meat - shut up vegans. It's where you get this stuff that matters.There is a major difference between bacon at McDonalds and grass fed pork products, or beef. I wasn't joking in the humor thread (ironically enough) when I said I had to gain weight for a role in a friends short film. Gained about 20 pounds for it. Just ate fast food and junk food, it was easy. I've since changed to an all grass fed diet - I buy it onliine and it's cheaper than a grocery store - in part due to Joe Rogan and his podcast where they interviewed this guy - Dave Asprey and the Bulletproof dietCultural change is what I'm talking about where the products we eat are the best on the market. No doubt. People need insurance, they need to be seen by doctors, no one should ever be turned away. That should be a concern for all of us to make sure every person has these rights.But what should also be a major concern to us, is to NOT allow major corporations to feed us poison that can be linked to most health problems facing Americans today. It's defintely a corrupt system that allows companies to sell you poison (like fast food and junk foo) then turns around and profits from all the health problems you get from those things.One answer is to have a healthcare system that is NOT for profit. But the other answer is to not allow companies to sell these products.- OniEdited by onifre, : No reason given.

No, that's why I've asked if you've done a body fat percentage test. BMI is determined by height and weight, and that's why it can be a poor indicator of obesity.Body fat percentage test, as you can see from the quote I provided is different, and gives you an accurate percentage of your body fat. Someone like Shane Carwin would register with very low body fat. Someone like Roy Nelson would register with high body fat, yet both guys come in at about the same height and weight. Roy Nelson is obese, Shane Carwin is not.BMI and body fat percentage test are two different things. What in what I said was wrong? This didn't help.- OniEdited by onifre, : No reason given.

In steps 3-5 after it's measured your weight and waist.- OniEdited by onifre, : No reason given.