The Damage We Do To Ourselves......

Medicine is BASED on generalizations made from large amounts of data. That's how science works.

Yes, there are often exceptions to established scientific patterns-- but not nearly as frequently as you'd think.

Yes; I have degrees and read research studies. Have also been a rare exception to most things my whole life. I teach logic so like to call out generalization. I know that science likes to exclude anomalies, but I am intrigued by exceptions to rules. As a psychologist, I'm more interested in the individual than the social group, or the effect that the social group's insistence on "norms" has on the individual. Soft science vs. hard science. Again, that said, I agree with the sentiments of the initial post.

LOL. Right?

But if kids listened to parents, my daughter would wear sunscreen when she refs little league!! (We are VERY fair-skinned Nordic stock, and she comes in almost every weekend sunburned.)

I hear you, Mary! I've just spent 3 days pretty much doing nothing because my new job required a lot of walking and standing, which I'm not used to, and I was out of my pain meds. Why? Because I have degenerative arthritis in both knees, caused from being SMO for over 30 years. I had no idea for the first 20 what I was doing to my knees. Now, of course, it's too late. At least having all this weight off is making it easier on them, and they don't hurt ALL THE TIME like they used to, but I do need cortisone shots now to keep me mostly pain free.

I used to suffer from really bad back pain as well--partly due to an injury when I was 30, but mostly because of all the extra weight. With the weight loss, it is so much better. I used to end up in bed for 2 days because it would "go out" several times a year. It hasn't done it once since I've lost all this weight.

Hindsight is 20/20...I wish I'd had a crystal ball to see what I was doing to myself.

I am sure that being overweight magnifies health problems and can create health problems. But, you can be born with health problems. My husband has had both rotator cuffs repaired and is scheduled for a shoulder replacement in June/2017. He had both kneecaps replaced (arthritis) and one total knee replacement. He has has had surgery on both feet with plates and screws for arthritis. He mostly weighed 185-195 until the last 10 years. He got up to 205 and is back to 190-195 for a 5'10" male. So, he is overweight, but he was always big into bodybuilding so he never looked fat, just a larger stomach and side fat of a couple of inches. It seems like every year he is either having surgery, in PT, or waiting for his body to heal. He is 65 and each surgery takes it's toll. He currently needs both shoulders replaced and the other knee for a total replacement. He is a bionic man. He is a strong person to deal with the amount of pain and courage to have so much surgery. He sleeps in his own room as he can not take the pain when I move around on the bed. He goes to the gym everyday as a measure to control the pain.

Ah, this sounds exactly like my husband! Takes a toll on you, too, no doubt. My husband was in peak physical condition his entire life (career Army). Now he is breaking down like a horse rode hard and put up wet. I am so much healthier than he is. None of us can remain what we were. I was never "thin" so really don't have a past me mourn or try to recover. Bless you both in your journey!

I don't know how to edit a post. But I wanted to say, that I feel your pain. I live with someone who has a difficult time getting off the sofa, he can't use his knees or his shoulders. I also didn't want you to beat yourself up over your health problems. You could have had them if you were not overweight. But losing weight will make life less painful. Good luck to you.

I hear what you're saying about weight not being the only contributing factor to health issues. My husband weighed around 150, did construction/roofing work, and had lots of problems.. He had rotator cuff surgery on both shoulders and had back and knee issues too. We, too, slept in separate beds because we both tossed and turned all night long trying to get in comfortable positions.

BTW...today's major pain: Right Knee.