Obesity epidemic: Letters to the Health editor
Shari Roan’s profile of Louisiana State University fitness and nutrition expert Melinda Sothern was excellent [“The Birth of Obesity,” Dec. 19]. Sothern postulates that the obesity epidemic may have roots in the 1950s because “a generation of young women … smoked, spurned breast-feeding, and restricted their weight during numerous, closely spaced pregnancies.”
We know that there is great work being done around the nation to combat this “obesity trinity.” Sothern believes we can reverse the epidemic and so do I. As a breast-feeding advocate, I support the surgeon general’s call to reduce the barriers to breast-feeding. This article helps to spread the word about the value in supporting a mother’s decision to breast-feed.
Karen Peters
Redondo Beach
The public has long accepted smoking as a dangerous behavior, particularly during pregnancy. Juxtaposing lack of breast-feeding with smoking clarifies for the reading public that breast-feeding is not just “optimal” and a lifestyle choice, but critical for the normal health and development of infants and children, and subsequently adults and the long-term health and well-being of society.
Deborah Myers, MS, CNS, CLE
Culver City
Myers is chief of nutrition services for the LA BioMed WIC Program.
Mothers in my ‘50s generation did not cause the gluttony of your age group. Never did my family eat all day long on fast food or snacks. Don’t blame my bottle-fed babies for your generation’s obesity and inability to control eating habits, coupled with inactivity (cellphones, computer addiction, etc.). Grow up and face your own bad habits and lifestyle.
Dawn Mellgren
Corona
Although I admire and have read Paul VanDevelder, and do not totally disagree with him, I feel a response is called for [“Rising PSA levels? Simmer down.” Dec. 19]. Many of us prostate cancer victims see the PSA as vital not only to diagnosis but to treatment. Had I chosen — and it was offered by my urologist — a wait-and-see approach, I wonder if I would be alive now, going into my seventh year since biopsy.
Imre Sutton
Fullerton
How is it possible that doctors and the general public do not see the logical conclusion to this situation [“Doctors ask for $350 administrative fee,” Dec. 19]? Doctors complain about paperwork that is not remunerated by insurance. Universal, single-payer healthcare would completely eliminate these extra costs. That is the point of single payer.
Eliminate the middle man and we save billions to be used for healthcare for all. It’s time to get the business out of health. The VA system works and Medicare would too.
Laurie Mokriski
South Boston, Mass.
