Comments on: Medical Fun with Christmas Carols http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/?p=3167 Exploring issues and controversies in the relationship between science and medicine Fri, 10 Sep 2010 02:56:42 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Harriet Hall http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/?p=3167&cpage=1#comment-38051 Harriet Hall Sun, 27 Dec 2009 21:07:18 +0000 http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/?p=3167#comment-38051 Henchminion said "I just wish that people could have an actual science-based discussion on the subject once in awhile." We did: http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/?p=181 Obesity is conflated with over-eating because if you don't eat more calories than you burn you can't become obese. And there is only one way to lose weight; the devil is in the details. Henchminion said “I just wish that people could have an actual science-based discussion on the subject once in awhile.”

We did: http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/?p=181

Obesity is conflated with over-eating because if you don’t eat more calories than you burn you can’t become obese. And there is only one way to lose weight; the devil is in the details.

]]> By: Henchminion http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/?p=3167&cpage=1#comment-38050 Henchminion Sun, 27 Dec 2009 20:27:16 +0000 http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/?p=3167#comment-38050 In that case, according to the CDC's definition, about half of the athletes in the Ultimate Fighting Championship are "diseased". I think it's one of those cases where there's a blurry line between pathology and natural human variation. I mean, maleness could be considered a disease and a disaster. It also takes five years off your life expectancy, after all. From the perspective of an Australian, being American could be a disease too. That also takes five years off your life. What worries me is that obesity is routinely conflated with overeating and discussions on the subject always seem to end up loaded with moral outrage. Obese people are routinely instructed to repeat variations of the Minnesota Starvation Experiment, even though it's been pretty thoroughly <a href="http://mann.bol.ucla.edu/files/Diets_don%27t_work.pdf" rel="nofollow">discredited</a> as a treatment. I just wish that people could have an actual science-based discussion on the subject once in awhile. In that case, according to the CDC’s definition, about half of the athletes in the Ultimate Fighting Championship are “diseased”. I think it’s one of those cases where there’s a blurry line between pathology and natural human variation. I mean, maleness could be considered a disease and a disaster. It also takes five years off your life expectancy, after all. From the perspective of an Australian, being American could be a disease too. That also takes five years off your life.

What worries me is that obesity is routinely conflated with overeating and discussions on the subject always seem to end up loaded with moral outrage. Obese people are routinely instructed to repeat variations of the Minnesota Starvation Experiment, even though it’s been pretty thoroughly discredited as a treatment. I just wish that people could have an actual science-based discussion on the subject once in awhile.

]]> By: keleton http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/?p=3167&cpage=1#comment-37964 keleton Fri, 25 Dec 2009 21:05:31 +0000 http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/?p=3167#comment-37964 @ provaxmom Your OCD Jingle bells is reminiscent of my toddler's version. Love it! @ provaxmom

Your OCD Jingle bells is reminiscent of my toddler’s version. Love it!

]]> By: skepchick http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/?p=3167&cpage=1#comment-37934 skepchick Fri, 25 Dec 2009 05:45:19 +0000 http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/?p=3167#comment-37934 Sorry Henchminion, your information is erroneous. Obesity is a disease. According to the CDC, obesity is defined as a body mass index of 30 or higher. According to the NIDDK, it can also be an abnormally high percentage of body fat. Obesity has its own ICD-9 codes. No, I don't think obesity is funny at all; it is a health problem in and of itself, it is a public health disaster, and it is a risk factor for countless other diagnoses. But this post wasn't specifically about obesity or any other single diagnosis. It was about having a good belly laugh, a Santa-sized "Ho Ho Ho!" Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you and yours. Sorry Henchminion, your information is erroneous. Obesity is a disease. According to the CDC, obesity is defined as a body mass index of 30 or higher. According to the NIDDK, it can also be an abnormally high percentage of body fat. Obesity has its own ICD-9 codes. No, I don’t think obesity is funny at all; it is a health problem in and of itself, it is a public health disaster, and it is a risk factor for countless other diagnoses. But this post wasn’t specifically about obesity or any other single diagnosis. It was about having a good belly laugh, a Santa-sized “Ho Ho Ho!”

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you and yours.

]]> By: Henchminion http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/?p=3167&cpage=1#comment-37917 Henchminion Thu, 24 Dec 2009 21:58:55 +0000 http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/?p=3167#comment-37917 Hi Skepchick, I read the disclaimer, but I don't think humour or Christmas are good reasons to depart from scientific thinking. Obesity is a risk factor, not a disease in and of itself. Calorie deprivation has been found time and again to produce extremely limited results as a treatment. In fact, as the blog I linked to above shows, I think it's become one of those ridiculous universal panaceae. People are getting hurt and a certain part of the mainstream medical community is complicit in that damage. Hi Skepchick,

I read the disclaimer, but I don’t think humour or Christmas are good reasons to depart from scientific thinking. Obesity is a risk factor, not a disease in and of itself. Calorie deprivation has been found time and again to produce extremely limited results as a treatment. In fact, as the blog I linked to above shows, I think it’s become one of those ridiculous universal panaceae. People are getting hurt and a certain part of the mainstream medical community is complicit in that damage.

]]> By: JerryM http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/?p=3167&cpage=1#comment-37902 JerryM Thu, 24 Dec 2009 19:11:28 +0000 http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/?p=3167#comment-37902 Perky Skeptic; you mean nobody else is interested in a detailed explanation about the impossibilities of jesus being an apple tree? Perky Skeptic; you mean nobody else is interested in a detailed explanation about the impossibilities of jesus being an apple tree?

]]> By: Stuff « Nanobots Will Enslave Us All http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/?p=3167&cpage=1#comment-37825 Stuff « Nanobots Will Enslave Us All Wed, 23 Dec 2009 14:42:00 +0000 http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/?p=3167#comment-37825 [...] Medical fun with Christmas carols [...] [...] Medical fun with Christmas carols [...]

]]> By: skepchick http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/?p=3167&cpage=1#comment-37820 skepchick Wed, 23 Dec 2009 13:55:27 +0000 http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/?p=3167#comment-37820 OK Henchminion: We'll substitute "Prader-Willi" for all the uses of "obesity" but didn't you read the disclaimer? OK Henchminion:

We’ll substitute “Prader-Willi” for all the uses of “obesity” but didn’t you read the disclaimer?

]]> By: Jojo http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/?p=3167&cpage=1#comment-37815 Jojo Wed, 23 Dec 2009 12:22:58 +0000 http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/?p=3167#comment-37815 For the dyslexics: Satan Claus is Coming to Town. I was going to say The First Neol...Nole...Noel but I can't remember what the rule about when two vowels go walking. For the dyslexics: Satan Claus is Coming to Town.

I was going to say The First Neol…Nole…Noel but I can’t remember what the rule about when two vowels go walking.

]]> By: windriven http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/?p=3167&cpage=1#comment-37811 windriven Wed, 23 Dec 2009 05:21:56 +0000 http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/?p=3167#comment-37811 And for our dear friend Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA): Oh Come All Ye Faith Healers And for our dear friend Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA):

Oh Come All Ye Faith Healers

]]> By: Perky Skeptic http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/?p=3167&cpage=1#comment-37809 Perky Skeptic Wed, 23 Dec 2009 04:15:52 +0000 http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/?p=3167#comment-37809 JerryM, we could be really Aspergery and argue all night about the meaning and precise delineation of the condition while the other carolers drink all the eggnog? :D JerryM, we could be really Aspergery and argue all night about the meaning and precise delineation of the condition while the other carolers drink all the eggnog? :D

]]> By: Henchminion http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/?p=3167&cpage=1#comment-37804 Henchminion Wed, 23 Dec 2009 01:03:57 +0000 http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/?p=3167#comment-37804 *Sigh* I know you're trying to be funny and all, but could we please stop confusing obesity with binge eating disorder? I understand that you're trying to have a little bit of light-hearted, politically incorrect fun, but <a href="http://fathealth.wordpress.com/about/" rel="nofollow">look at the harm that it does</a>. *Sigh* I know you’re trying to be funny and all, but could we please stop confusing obesity with binge eating disorder? I understand that you’re trying to have a little bit of light-hearted, politically incorrect fun, but look at the harm that it does.

]]> By: JerryM http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/?p=3167&cpage=1#comment-37803 JerryM Wed, 23 Dec 2009 00:46:38 +0000 http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/?p=3167#comment-37803 perky_skeptic, that is by no means an asperger trait. Aspergers: Jesus Christ the Apple Tree. I don't get it. How can he be an apple tree? perky_skeptic, that is by no means an asperger trait.

Aspergers: Jesus Christ the Apple Tree. I don’t get it. How can he be an apple tree?

]]> By: skepchick http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/?p=3167&cpage=1#comment-37801 skepchick Tue, 22 Dec 2009 23:15:26 +0000 http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/?p=3167#comment-37801 Can't resist joining in the fun. Alzheimer's: "I Wonder as I Wander" Seasonal Affective Disorder: "In the Bleak Midwinter" Substance Abuse: "Angels We Have Heard While High" Pyromania: "Bring a Torch, Jeannette, Isabella" Obesity: "I Want a Hippopotamus (to eat) for Christmas" Hypersexuality: "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus, and Uncle Sam, and Elvis, and Every Other Man She Ever Met" Can’t resist joining in the fun.

Alzheimer’s: “I Wonder as I Wander”

Seasonal Affective Disorder: “In the Bleak Midwinter”

Substance Abuse: “Angels We Have Heard While High”

Pyromania: “Bring a Torch, Jeannette, Isabella”

Obesity: “I Want a Hippopotamus (to eat) for Christmas”

Hypersexuality: “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus, and Uncle Sam, and Elvis, and Every Other Man She Ever Met”

]]> By: Perky Skeptic http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/?p=3167&cpage=1#comment-37752 Perky Skeptic Tue, 22 Dec 2009 16:12:04 +0000 http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/?p=3167#comment-37752 I'll throw in my two conditions-- Asperger's syndrome: "The 1100 Days of Christmas" Bipolar disorder: "Have a Holly Jolly Blue Christmas" I’ll throw in my two conditions–

Asperger’s syndrome: “The 1100 Days of Christmas”

Bipolar disorder: “Have a Holly Jolly Blue Christmas”

]]> By: CW http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/?p=3167&cpage=1#comment-37750 CW Tue, 22 Dec 2009 15:40:30 +0000 http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/?p=3167#comment-37750 I'll poke fun at myself. I have a lisp and use to sing the following.... 'We wisth you a Merry Christhmasth, We wisth you a Merry Christhmasth... (and my favorite day from 'The 12 Days of Christmas'...) "On the Stheventh Day of Christhmasth...Stheven Swansth A' Sthwimming" I’ll poke fun at myself. I have a lisp and use to sing the following….

‘We wisth you a Merry Christhmasth, We wisth you a Merry Christhmasth…

(and my favorite day from ‘The 12 Days of Christmas’…)

“On the Stheventh Day of Christhmasth…Stheven Swansth A’ Sthwimming”

]]> By: provaxmom http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/?p=3167&cpage=1#comment-37748 provaxmom Tue, 22 Dec 2009 15:17:32 +0000 http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/?p=3167#comment-37748 Attention Deficit Disorder: Silent night, Holy.... oooh look at the kitten.... Paranoid ---Santa Claus is Coming to Town to Get Me Obsessive Compulsive Disorder ---Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle,Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells....just wait, I have to say it 20 more times before we can move on to the next stanza. Attention Deficit Disorder: Silent night, Holy…. oooh look at the kitten….

Paranoid —Santa Claus is Coming to Town to Get Me

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder —Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle,Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells….just wait, I have to say it 20 more times before we can move on to the next stanza.

]]> By: windriven http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/?p=3167&cpage=1#comment-37746 windriven Tue, 22 Dec 2009 14:56:50 +0000 http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/?p=3167#comment-37746 And for the substance abuse clinic- I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas And for the substance abuse clinic-

I’m Dreaming of a White Christmas

]]> By: Diane Jacobs http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/?p=3167&cpage=1#comment-37741 Diane Jacobs Tue, 22 Dec 2009 14:05:29 +0000 http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/?p=3167#comment-37741 Claus-trophobia. (Can't think of a song, hope the condition on its own will suffice.) Claus-trophobia. (Can’t think of a song, hope the condition on its own will suffice.)

]]> By: DevoutCatalyst http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/?p=3167&cpage=1#comment-37738 DevoutCatalyst Tue, 22 Dec 2009 13:41:48 +0000 http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/?p=3167#comment-37738 Agoraphobic: All I Want for Christmas is to stay Home for The Holidays. Agoraphobic: All I Want for Christmas is to stay Home for The Holidays.

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