You simply cannot equate smoking and obesity

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Date published: 9/7/2005

As an obese member of society, I read with interest Jerry Mazza's assessment of us "fatties" as compared with the "cancer stickers" ["So why isn't obesity treated the same way as smoking?" Aug. 30].

Soon to be 58, I am relatively healthy, active, motivated, educated, and not a burden to society. As an obese female, my health insurance premiums are automatically higher than those of a nonobese person and higher than those of my male counterpart, healthy or not.

Unfortunately, greed in the medical profession and the insurance industry has placed an unfair burden on society both in terms of health insurance premiums and the cost of medical care in general.

Food is necessary to sustain life. Those on a struggling budget must often choose foods that promote obesity.

Often, obesity is an emotional issue. Generally, the medical profession and those with Mr. Mazza's mentality prefer not to acknowledge that some of us fatties are genetically predisposed to obesity.

These factors create a complex answer to maintaining a weight that is acceptable to society. It's a complexity that is much more than the ability to control the appetite or to work out.

Tobacco is not a prerequisite to sustain life; thus the decision to smoke has more of an element of selfishness. When obese people are out in society, their obesity doesn't transfer itself to other people.

But secondhand smoke can and does transfer, causing lung cancer among nonsmokers.

As a civilized society, we will have burdens to bear, including monetary burdens, and, one hopes, with compassion for all "classes of ill."

Carroll Carr Jordan

Falmouth

Date published: 9/7/2005