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(1) RIP Jared Lorenzen, 38 years old.
I don't follow football and had never heard of him before today. Very sad loss.
I write about medical issues and celebrity deaths. His is a salutary tale.
I don't follow football and had never heard of him before today. Very sad loss.
I write about medical issues and celebrity deaths. His is a salutary tale.
(2) According to this report, he died of heart and kidney problems complicated by an infection.
A standard set of issues that affect most people who reach 571lb (259kg). Lorenzen weighed that just two years ago.
nydailynews.com/sports/footbal…
A standard set of issues that affect most people who reach 571lb (259kg). Lorenzen weighed that just two years ago.
nydailynews.com/sports/footbal…
(3) The most effective & safe ways to lose weight differ for the overweight, obese, morbidly obese, & super morbidly obese. He was the latter.
It appears that he did not have bariatric surgery & opted to lose weight with lifestyle changes.
This isn't the best approach.
It appears that he did not have bariatric surgery & opted to lose weight with lifestyle changes.
This isn't the best approach.
(4) At age 38 and 571lb he needed to lose the weight as quickly as possible.
IDK what medical advice he sought or obtained at that time.
The standard of care for doctors licensed in this area would be to recommend full bariatric surgery & close medical supervision.
IDK what medical advice he sought or obtained at that time.
The standard of care for doctors licensed in this area would be to recommend full bariatric surgery & close medical supervision.
(5) There are different types of bariatric surgery that suit different levels of weight problem, & individual needs & preferences. There is a threshold above which the full surgery is the best option.
I read that his weight at birth was 13lb 3oz. This is relevant.
I read that his weight at birth was 13lb 3oz. This is relevant.
(6) Often, a big baby is a clue that the mother might have had gestational diabetes, diagnosed or not.
Recent research into diabetes is suggesting that a genetic predisposition to the disease can contribute to compulsive overeating from a young age onward.
Recent research into diabetes is suggesting that a genetic predisposition to the disease can contribute to compulsive overeating from a young age onward.
(7) Most people think overeating causes type 2 diabetes. That is now being questioned. What if there is a genetic cause to the cravings that lead to overeating in some people?
That would have major implications for obesity medicine, & the way fat people are treated in society.
That would have major implications for obesity medicine, & the way fat people are treated in society.
(8) Yes OF COURSE people get fat because of what they choose to eat.
If you have never had the kind of cravings that compulsive overeaters get all day every day, then maybe that is why you think in this narrow, binary, inconsiderate way.
If you have never had the kind of cravings that compulsive overeaters get all day every day, then maybe that is why you think in this narrow, binary, inconsiderate way.
(9) It's generally accepted by scientists who are qualified to know, that around 95% of weight loss diets fail.
Would you undertake a medical treatment that had a 5% chance of success?
Of course not. But everyday, large numbers of people do.
Would you undertake a medical treatment that had a 5% chance of success?
Of course not. But everyday, large numbers of people do.
(10) Currently the only realistic treatment option for the morbidly obese is bariatric surgery that removes the part of the stomach with the cells that feed back satiety signals to the brain.
As such, it is relatively inexpensive. Compared to the alternative of 24/7 cravings.
As such, it is relatively inexpensive. Compared to the alternative of 24/7 cravings.
(11) I consider it malpractice not to inform patients of this option and the pros and cons of not using it.
If a patient is adequately informed, then the choice not to have the surgery is on them.
Here's some things Lorenzen said about his weight:
If a patient is adequately informed, then the choice not to have the surgery is on them.
Here's some things Lorenzen said about his weight:
(13) 2017: "Stepping on the scale last year for the first time since he left the NFL in 2008... "
Wait. He did not weigh himself between 2008 and 2016?
That tells us something, doesn't it?
Neither he nor those close to him were facing the elephant in the room.
Wait. He did not weigh himself between 2008 and 2016?
That tells us something, doesn't it?
Neither he nor those close to him were facing the elephant in the room.
(14) I've been there myself, but never to that extent. Denial & fear are common in people with compulsive behaviors.
"He had a sense he was putting on too much weight each time he had to go up a shirt size — 3XL to 4XL — but nothing prepared him to see that number." (508lb)
"He had a sense he was putting on too much weight each time he had to go up a shirt size — 3XL to 4XL — but nothing prepared him to see that number." (508lb)
(15) "It’s embarrassing, it’s life-altering, it’s scary," Lorenzen [said] "When I watched the little screen ... I looked at myself and even then, I thought, 'I’m not that guy.'"
Are you starting to see why it's called a mental health problem not a choosing to overeat problem?
Are you starting to see why it's called a mental health problem not a choosing to overeat problem?
(16) Again, from 2017:
""I was to a point where I realized that if I went to bed and didn’t wake up, people would say, 'Well look at him, he’s huge.' It wouldn’t be unexpected. That’s where it hit me: Oh, my God, I could die."
""I was to a point where I realized that if I went to bed and didn’t wake up, people would say, 'Well look at him, he’s huge.' It wouldn’t be unexpected. That’s where it hit me: Oh, my God, I could die."
(17) "But Lorenzen, who is a dad to a 14-year-old daughter and 7-year-old son, is going on offense... embarking on a healthier lifestyle to lose weight as part of a planned video initiative called "The Jared Lorenzen Project."
He should have listened to a doctor instead.
He should have listened to a doctor instead.
(18) I can't guarantee that having surgery back then would have been enough to save his life now. No one knows.
But he would have had a better chance of staying alive.
Whose interests were being served by the Reality TV project?
But he would have had a better chance of staying alive.
Whose interests were being served by the Reality TV project?
(19) I think he had the best of intentions at the time.
"I would get kids come up to me all the time, telling me, 'I’ve been a quarterback because you’re big and I’m big,' said Lorenzen, whose nickname during his career was "The Hefty Lefty."
"It means the world...
"I would get kids come up to me all the time, telling me, 'I’ve been a quarterback because you’re big and I’m big,' said Lorenzen, whose nickname during his career was "The Hefty Lefty."
"It means the world...
(20) " ...that these kids were quarterbacks because of me, but I also want them to realize there’s a stage where you have just got to be healthier."
"The docuseries is the brainchild of filmmaker Anthony Holt, who previously made a documentary... "
"The docuseries is the brainchild of filmmaker Anthony Holt, who previously made a documentary... "
(21) " ...about ex-NBA star Antoine Walker's post-retirement financial troubles.
Lorenzen met Holt at the University of Kentucky Athletics Hall of Fame ceremony in 2015, where he and Walker were inducted for their stellar college careers."
Lorenzen met Holt at the University of Kentucky Athletics Hall of Fame ceremony in 2015, where he and Walker were inducted for their stellar college careers."
(22) "It wasn’t until I went to the induction and heard Jared speak, and the way he captivated a room telling a story during his induction speech," Holt recalled, "that I knew... "
(23) " ...he was someone that — if he wanted to do this and really dedicate himself to this — could really inspire and change the lives of millions of other people."
That's why I'm interested in this case: It is of public interest.
That's why I'm interested in this case: It is of public interest.
(24) "Holt plans to start shooting footage next month.
"I have very important reasons for doing this," ... "I look at my daughter every day and say if I continue, I’m not going to see her get married. I look at my son, he’s 7, I want to watch him grow up and play ball."
"I have very important reasons for doing this," ... "I look at my daughter every day and say if I continue, I’m not going to see her get married. I look at my son, he’s 7, I want to watch him grow up and play ball."
(25) Throughout Lorenzen's life & particularly his playing career, medical assessment & advice was available to him.
Long before he reached 500lb let alone 571lb, there were opportunities for him to (a) see the problem & (b) medically address the problem.
Long before he reached 500lb let alone 571lb, there were opportunities for him to (a) see the problem & (b) medically address the problem.
(26) I don't call the problem "addiction," bc I think that clouds the issue.
I call it compulsive overeating, & I refer to various pieces of medical knowledge about it.
CO has different causes, including genetic & environmental factors.
I call it compulsive overeating, & I refer to various pieces of medical knowledge about it.
CO has different causes, including genetic & environmental factors.
(27) Cases like Lorenzen's can be utilized to raise awareness & ultimately save lives. I think that's what he would have wanted.
I've done similar threads after other tragic celebrity deaths:
Their death affects others: loved ones, and the public.
I've done similar threads after other tragic celebrity deaths:
Their death affects others: loved ones, and the public.
(28) Much of the paid media coverage about Lorenzen's death will miss the mark.
This happens every time.
So I have a message for anyone interested in children, youth, medicine, obesity, celebs, & sportsfolks' post-playing careers:
This happens every time.
So I have a message for anyone interested in children, youth, medicine, obesity, celebs, & sportsfolks' post-playing careers:
(29) Life and health should always come first - before money, fame, or feelings.
If you or your loved one is obese, talk about it today.
And see a good doctor for advice. Tomorrow is too late.
END
If you or your loved one is obese, talk about it today.
And see a good doctor for advice. Tomorrow is too late.
END
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