# my 600 lb life....I thought Penny was bad....

Thank you and no, I do not actually. I've just been around a really long time with a passion for this whole "battle obesity and win" thing and like to share my experience. You're new (welcome!) - stick around, you'll be sick of hearing from me in no time. ;)

Actually I think it's good that they are showing us the other side. They constantly state that there's only a 5% success rate for people in this weight range. 

What's surprising to me is how many people out there are bedridden and need full time care. It's actually very sad.

People like Pauline end up on full disability and their caregivers are paid by the U.S. government.  She would lose income for herself and her son if she were to get better.  They would both have to go to work instead of being paid for her sickness.  It becomes a trap because they are so well compensated that they would not make it on their resources.

I don't get this -- how well can they be compensated?  I have an uncle who is the primary caregiver for my disabled aunt.  She is crippled from the waist down and developmentally disabled with an ability of an average 9 year old.  She cannot be left alone for more than 20 minutes to a half an hour and requires full time care.  He worked in a hospital for years, but after he had a major heart attack and was diagnosed with cancer, he became her full-time caregiver in his home.  Anyhow, they both receive disability and they are very poor.  I would never define them as "so well compensated" -- in fact, there are times that I've found them eating ramen noodles for lack of food.  Is there an assistance program that I am not aware of?  Is there special compensation for morbidly obese that isn't available to them?

I'm wondering as well. Despite being Canadian and our compensation process/structure having fundamental differences from the States, I certainly don't know anyone personally who is on disability and "well compensated". (Well, other than a couple of people I've heard of pretty much abusing the system, but that's another issue)