I found this article on webmd.com -

Obese Likely to Spend Last Years Disabled

Thought I'd bump up this very important article.

My dearest aunt has dementia and two knee replacements due to long term obesity; spends all her time sitting in a chair. How sad I can no longer have those spirited discussions with the aunt who was my true champion.

We need to pay attention, take care of ourselves today, and not just cross our fingers and hope our bodies will take care of themselves.

I think this article is completely true - for people who have been VERY obese for a long time. My mom is a classic example. Her weight has been hard on her body (she's been extremely overweight since she was in her late 20's) and now, her knees are so bad, she can barely walk. The doc won't do the surgery she needs until she loses weight, because the reason her knees are bad is because of all the extra weight she has been carrying around. I think it's great when seniors take on a healthier lifestyle - it's never too late. But for the younger crowd, they need to understand that if they don't get moving and take on a healthier lifestyle, they will end up with phyical problems later in life.

Mel

There is no doubt that we know being fat does affect your lifestyle and your health. But I wonder sometimes if some of the info given out, even by reputable magazines on health and websites isn't more a scare tactic than anything else. The facts have shown that heavier people can have a healthy lifestyle if they exercise and keep active. Yes, they still open themselves up to a higher incidence of major diseases and maladies...but I think we have to be very wise consumers and take what is meant as information and compare the facts.

Many seniors who are in their late 60's and 70's some well into their 80's are just beginning exercise programs of stretching, yoga, swimming, and walking...yes some walk with their walkers...but they are getting healthier by the moment. Many heavy people are doing the same thing, taking aerobics, swimming, yoga and walking and keeping healthy...just not loosing the pounds.

As for me, I am getting healthier, it is a goal of mine for me....I made that choice. Some make other choices. Can we accept their other choices as theirs? We can only change ourselves and provide visible role-models for others.