Curing Obesity through Sterility (California)

That's weird. I don't believe obesity can be blamed on genes except maybe to a limited extent in a limited share of cases. It also looks like treating some people like worse humans than the rest. Reverting vasectomy can be very dangerous if they decide they want children later.

 

Really!? This seems absurd to me. How about offering free vascectomies to people with histories of cancer in their family? Better get them out of the gene pool... Really, this can't be serious. Especially as behavior patterns have as much or more to do with obesity than genetics. And being slightly obese isn't really that unhealthy.

And who would take advantage of this? "Cool,a free vascectomy just because my genes are inferior! All right!"

 

I just had to answer Chev, of course obesity is due to genetics. Just as hair colour and length. The only difference with obesity is that the genes dont come through unless you let them. Both appetite and how efficient your body burns energy is largely due to genetics. You still have personal responsibility but it is the same personal responsibility that a kid growing up in the projects with junkie parents have to not embark on a path of crime. It can be done but it takes a helluva lot more work for that kid than the kid from suburbia with two loving parents.

 

Genes *and* environmental factors are influences. The main problem is overeating. If everyone consistently overeats, they will all become obese. Some people are more prone to it than others (they are always hungry), and become obese far easier - and this is genetic, and probably related to leptin levels.

 

Well, if it is voluntary, I don't see a problem with it. Anyone who's dumb enough to believe you can eliminate obesity by sterilizing fat people really needs to be taken out of the collective gene pool for the betterment of our society as a whole. And of course McDonald's has absolutely no responsibility in making us the fattest nation in the world. Peh.

 

Hoax ahoy!!!

 

Word to the wise. Sadly it wont have any effect whatsoever and the vast majority of the people who heard of this story in the first place will not hear about the disclaimer.

 

I don't know... I did a quick google search using some of the keywords (california, obesity, eugenics), and I didn't turn up a single real news source, credible or otherwise.

It did turn up dozens of blogs and forums though. I think I might be agreeing with Tal on this one. I think these guys might be more part of the problem than the solution.

 

I mean, look at ArtEChoke's avatar; you just know he was particularly concerned...

 

Hey! The avatar doesn't even have genitals to begin with!

Put that in your cap and stick it!

 

I thought the site was great.

I seem to recall a joke article published in a medical journal that discussed the dangers of milk. The article emphasized the ridiculous nature of some tests and conclusions drawn -- but was taken seriously by some. I wish I could find the article, but it was about intravenous ingestion of milk into lab rats. One of the comments was how after injecting a liter of milk in the rats they became lethargic and unable to move. A significant number of rats even died. What a hoot! I can just imagine these rats blown up like balloons wiggling their feet like in cartoons. The authors received several requests from 'concerned medical professionals' for more detailed information.

We may have discussed another great site on here before:

Dihydrogen Monoxide

Purely educational websites that smack down greedy journalists looking for a quick score are just fine with me.

From the FAQ page of DHMO:

One ditz legal assistant in California actually got a ban of styrofoam cups on the city agenda because there were trace amounts of dihydrogen monoxide in styrofoam. Priceless.

Tal: In your efforts to be diligent in reporting the oddball things that happen around the world you were taken for a ride.