DISQUS

Ann · 2 years ago

I agree with this completely, thanks for the post.

Unum · 2 years ago

Thanks for your comments Ann and Well Woman.

What I have found over the years is that physicians are quick to write prescriptions but few take the time to go over the risks and that includes any that they may deem unimportant such as weight gain. In the meantime, the patient is rapidly gaining weight and getting more depressed which calls for more medication and the cycle continues.

My mother took an antibiotic for a bladder infection which had a litany of side effects one of which was flu like symptoms. She got terribly sick with flu like symptoms but kept taking the antibiotic not knowing that it was what was making her sick. It almost killed her.

The most important thing to remember when starting any medication, is to ask lots of questions and be knowledgeable about side effects because few physicians will take the time to inform you.

Thanks again for your comments. Hope to see you again on our site.

Anne · 2 years ago

Hello,
I came across this sight while researching a college paper on the cost of obesity in the U.S. From what I can find, the cost has increased by roughly about a billion dollars a year in the last 16 years, and I got to wondering why. We are certainly "doing" more to try to combat the problem. So, I thought of the loved ones I know who face the problem and then of all the people I could think of. Few of them are "slobs" who eat all day and never work purely because of whim. Many of them WERE on prescription drugs, however, and while I know it is not the only factor, I'm hoping to make the point in my paper that is definitely IS a factor I'm afraid many in the Fitness Industry overlook. These people on prescription drugs HAVE tried to lose weight and those who are fighting illness most assuredly do not lack the "grit." There ARE legitimate reasons as to why they have not met with sucess when it comes to weight-loss. Thank you bringing up the point that medications (which are so readily prescribed) are definitively a cause mandating further investigation.

Kathy · 1 year ago

Thank you for writing this article. I have noticed this trend for some time, yet no one wants to believe that drugs cause obesity.
The only problem of your article (from my limited view)is that you are blaming the patient for being "without a clue". It is my firm belief that it is the doctors who are clueless, whining that they don't have "time". Doctors are not schooled in adverse reactions. They have way too much money to make by being drug pushers. And, hey, if they make the patient sicker, the more profit for them.
The last time I went to a doctor, I asked about the adverse reactions. His quote was "My books don't go there"!
Time and time I have read newspaper articles which state that our drug use is going up radically. Also, they report that obesity is going up radically. Why can't anyone connect the dots?

Cerebrl · 1 year ago

Kathy -- thank you for commenting. I do have to agree that we are a drug addicted society. I tend to blame the people as well, though. We are not a mindful people anymore. We are so complacent that we are allowing anyone that is an authority figure to abuse their power and literally kill us, just so we don't have to think for ourselves.

Andrea · 1 year ago

This is a very informative article. My mother used to take prednisone for her asthma many years ago. The doctor would advise her that losing weight would help her asthma, all along giving her a drug that may have increased her obesity. Wow!