The 750 lbs Man - Obesity on TV

SissyC0109 · #1 12-12-2005, 08:42 AM

Okay, so did any of you catch "The 750-pound Man" and the "The 627-pound Woman" on TLC last night? I watched both shows and had totally different feelings about them.

The man -- The whole thing was so sad. But, it didn't seem like he ever got to the point where the severity of the situation sank in. He's lying there in bed, unable to do so much as turn over from his right side to his left, and he's still eating potato chips, popcorn and cookies! In his hospital bed!!!

What I'm wondering is how other people may have perceived his wife. Now, I feel bad for her loss, but she's the one who bought his junk food. He was bedridden for seven years and she's bringing him twinkies!

I'm wondering how people feel about this. Was she just trying to make him happy -- ya know, be a good wife? Was she just super ignorant? And say you had a spouse in that situation. Could you be accused of murder if you deliberately fed him/her nothing but junk until they died?

The woman -- She was so sweet and kindhearted. I immediately liked her. It's tough because with that kind of obesity you can't blame anyone else. What I connected with, though, was what she was saying about getting to a certain weight and feeling that she was no longer a woman. And then beyond that, she was no longer a person. I think a lot of women can relate to that, even if they have no more than 10 or 20 extra pounds.

What do you think?

If you missed the show there's an article on the man here: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...062501286.html

lifesaver · #2 12-12-2005, 02:18 PM

I saw it. She was a nice lady. I hope she's healthy now.

As for the guy, it was sad. What was more sad was that he was married. I cant get a date, yet he got somebody. So tragic (me being single, not him being all big).

enigma_AKA · #3 12-12-2005, 02:46 PM

HHAAAAHHAHAHHAA. Ok, that officially cracked me up. I know i shouldn't be reacting like this, but...oh, well.

And it is sad--for both, I mean. Does that mean you're right if you love someone so that you want to see them happy at all costs--even if it means literally killing them----or does it mean you're wrong if you say 'Screw it. I love you so much I want you to live', denying them simple, if not deadly, pleasures ?

*Le sigh* There has to be hope.

enigma_AKA

Quote:

Originally posted by lifesaver
As for the guy, it was sad. What was more sad was that he was married. I cant get a date, yet he got somebody. So tragic (me being single, not him being all big).

aephi alum · #4 12-12-2005, 08:36 PM

I haven't seen either of these shows, but, how sad.

In the man's case, it sounds like he couldn't put down the snack foods, and his wife was more than happy to keep providing them to him. Both the man and his wife are at fault here - him for continuing to eat junk food, and her for providing it.

This reminds me of a story that my mother, a doctor, told me. Some years ago, she treated a woman who weighed over 600 lbs. She could not fit through the door of her apartment. She would cook and eat an entire box of spaghetti... as a snack. Her husband, who weighed around 400 lbs himself, was her enabler - he did the shopping because she couldn't leave the apartment, and he would buy junk food. When she suffered such severe health complications that she had to be taken to the hospital, she was taken out from her apartment's balcony by piano movers. She had to lie on her side, because if she lay on her back, she would suffocate. One day, two nurses came into her hospital room to turn her from one side to the other. They got her onto her back, but couldn't turn her the rest of the way onto her other side, and she died.

AOX81 · #5 12-12-2005, 09:41 PM

This isn't to be mean or anything but they should make a show kind of like The Biggest Loser to help people like this. I know they aren't going to be able to jump on a treadmill and workout like crazy but they could start by showing them how to eat properly. Cutting out half the shit that they eat would probably help them drop some of the weight...they don't need to be sitting there eating Cheetos!! I'm not saying every case is the same but a lot of their weight is from water. Modifying their diet might eventually get them to the point where they might be able to exercise someday. If they did it now they would probably have a heart attack.

lifesaver · #6 12-12-2005, 11:46 PM

Its on again, right now on TLC, and I cant quit looking at that damn size 27 wedding ring he wearin.

James · #7 12-12-2005, 11:49 PM

Thats a nice law suit.

Quote:

Originally posted by aephi alum
She had to lie on her side, because if she lay on her back, she would suffocate. One day, two nurses came into her hospital room to turn her from one side to the other. They got her onto her back, but couldn't turn her the rest of the way onto her other side, and she died.

Coramoor · #8 12-13-2005, 02:34 PM

How can anyone feel bad for these people?

I don't feel any sympathy. I know people that are obese, though not nearly to that degree. They are fat because of their extremely unhealthy eating habits and no exercise. Those of you out there making up excuses for them are only making it easier for other fat people to stay that way.

Note: I'm not saying we should make fun of them and torment them into losing weight.

Basically, it's like feeling bad for someone that goes out and drinks all night before a test and then score a 0 on it. They made their decision...and it was a stupid one.

I'm not going to waste any effort on feeling sympathy for someone like that. Too many other people out there have to deal with situations out of their control.

sugar and spice · #9 12-13-2005, 05:41 PM

People don't become morbidly obese because they think it's a good idea to eat Doritos all day. They do it because they have serious problems processing emotional issues. It's not as easy as "Put down the Doritos."

That said, I think that no matter how many emotional issues you have, there has to be a point where you look at yourself and say, "WHAT am I doing?" But denial is a powerful tool. And by the time most of these people are willing to acknowledge there's a problem, the habits are so deeply ingrained that they're hard to break.

aephi alum · #10 12-13-2005, 08:12 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by James
Thats a nice law suit.

AFAIK, there was no suit, but you're right - her husband might have walked away with a mint.

KSUViolet06 · #11 12-14-2005, 02:46 AM

Alot of these people have SERIOUS emotional issues and try to make themselves feel better with food. Just like people do the same thing with drugs and alcohol.

But I agree that the wife certainly isn't helping. A better way to help would be for her to try to talk to him about what's bothering him emotionally, not helping the man kill himself.

uksparkle · #12 12-14-2005, 03:08 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by lifesaver
I saw it. She was a nice lady. I hope she's healthy now.

As for the guy, it was sad. What was more sad was that he was married. I cant get a date, yet he got somebody. So tragic (me being single, not him being all big).

Yeah....but did you see his wife? She was no prize. I'm assuming that you would rather be single than have her, unless you like the dirty in a bad way type.

lifesaver · #13 12-14-2005, 03:59 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by uksparkle
Yeah....but did you see his wife? She was no prize. I'm assuming that you would rather be single than have her, unless you like the dirty in a bad way type.

Good point. Her grille was all jacked up. It was like her mouth went on strike and all her teeth on the left side got up and walked out on the job.

uksparkle · #14 12-14-2005, 03:09 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by lifesaver
Good point. Her grille was all jacked up. It was like her mouth went on strike and all her teeth on the left side got up and walked out on the job.

Apparently they meet on a telephone dating service. He proposed over the phone. Maybe if you try that you can find a beauty like her.

RioLambdaAlum · #15 12-15-2005, 09:06 PM

why would a person want to get that big?