On obesity

The Kansas City Star

Obesity is a critical factor in some of America's most debilitating and costly health problems, including diabetes, heart disease and some forms of cancer.

A recent rule change enabling Medicare to regard obesity as a disease is both sensible and worrisome.

While opinions differ on whether obesity is a sickness, it is a critical factor in some of America's most debilitating and costly health problems, including diabetes, heart disease and some forms of cancer. ...

Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy G. Thompson announced recently that Medicare would consider funding some obesity treatments. He left the door open for similar changes in Medicaid. ...

Weight loss has often been a field for hucksters, and the idea of federal reimbursements is likely to set off more of a deluge of new diet and exercise schemes.

Complicating the issue is the fact that obesity treatments often have high rates of failure. Losing weight and keeping it off require a patient's willingness to adopt lifestyle changes and new attitudes about food.

It makes sense for the government to tackle obesity before it leads to the more serious diseases.