Life Government will require all Americans by 2014 to have a Obesity Rating - Page 11

teedubya · 07-16-2010, 12:55 PM

I'm Doooooooomed. LOL.

http://cnsnews.com/news/article/69436

Obesity Rating for Every American Included in Stimulus-Mandated Electronic Health Records

New federal regulations issued this week stipulate that the electronic health records--that all Americans are supposed to have by 2014 under the terms of the stimulus law that President Barack Obama signed last year--must record not only the traditional measures of height and weight, but also the Body Mass Index: a measure of obesity.

The obesity-rating regulation states that every American's electronic health record must: “Calculate body mass index. Automatically calculate and display body mass index (BMI) based on a patient’s height and weight.”

The law also requires that these electronic health records be available--with appropriate security measures--on a national exchange.

The new regulations are one of the first steps towards the government’s goal of universal adoption of electronic health records (EHRs) by 2014, as outlined in the 2009 economic stimulus law. Specifically, the regulations issued on Tuesday by Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and Dr. David Blumenthal, the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology, define the "meaningful use" of electronic records. Under the stimulus law, health care providers--including doctors and hospitals--must establish "meaningful use" of EHRs by 2014 in order to qualify for federal subsidies. After that, they will be subjected to penalties in the form of diminished Medicare and Medicaid payments for not establishing "meaningful use" of EHRs.

Section 3001 of the stimulus law says: "The National Coordinator shall, in consultation with other appropriate Federal agencies (including the National Institute of Standards and Technology), update the Federal Health IT Strategic Plan (developed as of June 3, 2008) to include specific objectives, milestones, and metrics with respect to the following: (i) The electronic exchange and use of health information and the enterprise integration of such information.‘‘(ii) The utilization of an electronic health record for each person in the United States by 2014."

Under this mandate in the stimulus law, Secretary Sebelius issued a regulation--developed by Dr. Blumenthal--that requires that all EHRs keep track of a person’s Body Mass Index (BMI) score. Body Mass Index is a ratio between a person’s weight and height, and is used to determine whether or not someone is overweight or obese. It is the preferred method of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for measuring obesity.

Michelle Obama has made dealing with the problem of childhood obesity the main theme of her term as First Lady.

U.S. Surgeon General Regina Benjamin. (Photo by Penny Starr/CNSNews.com)
According to the CDC, “BMI provides a reliable indicator of body fatness for most people and is used to screen for weight categories that may lead to health problems.”

A person’s BMI score is used as a tool to screen for obesity or excessive body fat that could lead to other health problems. While it does not actually measure body fat directly, according to CDC, the BMI scores generally correlate with a person’s body fat percentage.

The new regulations also stipulate that the new electronic records be capable of sending public health data to state and federal health agencies such as HHS and CDC. The CDC, which calls American society “obesogenic” – meaning that American society itself promotes obesity – collects BMI scores from state health agencies every year to monitor obesity nationwide.

“Electronically record, retrieve, and transmit syndrome based public health surveillance information to public health agencies,” the regulations read.

With the spread of electronic health records, the CDC apparently will be able to collect such data more efficiently and with greater accuracy because the electronic record keeping systems can send the data automatically, eliminating the need for government – both state and federal – to keep, send, and process physical records.

**Kyle DeLexus** · 07-16-2010, 03:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoChiefs

I was sitting in a movie theater the other day, and this big ad started playing with a giant soda and popcorn. The soda was fizzing and sparkling, the popcorn had butter running over it...it looked so inviting.

Before that ad I wasn't even thinking about popcorn or soda. After it, I had to resist temptation.

Watch Morgan Spurlock's Super Size Me and tell me the food industry isn't to blame....

Sure advertising works...companies wouldn't spend billions every year on it if it didn't, but It's still about choice. People sure resist temptation when they see a 24 hour fitness ad. I know I don't blame advertising when I decide to have fastfood...I blame myself for being a overindulging fatass.

AndChiefs · 07-16-2010, 03:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Silock

What are your stats? Height and weight? I bet you're not actually obese according to the BMI scale.

6'2, 210, 27 BMI.

And you're right Silock...I just double checked it and I'm only "overweight". For some reason I was thinking 25 was obese not 30.

DJ's left nut · 07-16-2010, 03:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoChiefs

I was sitting in a movie theater the other day, and this big ad started playing with a giant soda and popcorn. The soda was fizzing and sparkling, the popcorn had butter running over it...it looked so inviting.

Before that ad I wasn't even thinking about popcorn or soda. After it, I had to resist temptation.

Watch Morgan Spurlock's Super Size Me and tell me the food industry isn't to blame....

You don't recognize the irony in you citing a faux documentary as the foundation for you blaming "the food industry" for America being fat?

No, of course you don't.

Just Passin' By · 07-16-2010, 03:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoChiefs

Go watch that video Zach posted the other day.

People didn't even know they wanted chunky-style spaghetti sauce. They told Prego they wanted something entirely different.

Then Prego started giving them options...

People wanted a particular style of sauce. They hadn't been able to put that desire into words in such a fashion that the spaghetti sauce industry could cater to their desires. Once that desire was discovered, the food was made, Prego sales improved and the spaghetti sauce industry was changed dramatically.

What part of "consumer driven" are you missing there?

RJ · 07-16-2010, 03:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoChiefs

If you go back and read my previous posts, I'm not advocating legislation or control. Rather an effort to make losing weight, exercising and eating healthy easier and cheaper.

That's really all they can do. Or should do.

Okay, that at least makes more sense to me than trying to legislate advertising.

ClevelandBronco · 07-16-2010, 03:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoChiefs

I was sitting in a movie theater the other day, and this big ad started playing with a giant soda and popcorn. The soda was fizzing and sparkling, the popcorn had butter running over it...it looked so inviting.

Before that ad I wasn't even thinking about popcorn or soda. After it, I had to resist temptation.

Watch Morgan Spurlock's Super Size Me and tell me the food industry isn't to blame....

Why "blame" anyone? You have vulnerabilities, but you're not to "blame" for them. Everyone has them.

Just Passin' By · 07-16-2010, 03:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoChiefs

If you go back and read my previous posts, I'm not advocating legislation or control. Rather an effort to make losing weight, exercising and eating healthy easier and cheaper.

That's really all they can do. Or should do.

And seat belts will just be a suggestion, like non-smoking regulations will just give people a small area of freedom in an enclosed space full of smokers.

Hammock Parties · 07-16-2010, 03:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RJ

Dude, it's not a movie, it's freaking food. There's not a living thing on this planet that isn't born wanting it.

We're talking about a specific type of food, though.

It's like stuffed-crust pizza. Before I knew about stuffed-crust pizza, I had no desire for it. It never thought to myself, I want some pizza with cheese stuffed in the crust. I never thought to myself, this pizza would be so much better if it's crust was stuffed with cheese.

The thought never entered my head.

Then pizza hut started advertising pizza with CHEESE STUFFED INTO THE CRUST!!!!!!!!!

I had to ****ing have it.

And so I started eating even more fattening and caloric-ridden slices of pizza.

Hammock Parties · 07-16-2010, 03:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

You don't recognize the irony in you citing a faux documentary as the foundation for you blaming "the food industry" for America being fat?

No, of course you don't.

Super Size Me is fake?

ClevelandBronco · 07-16-2010, 03:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoChiefs

If you go back and read my previous posts, I'm not advocating legislation or control...

But you are advocating a government-sponsored weight-loss program,and that's enough reason to ridicule you.

DJ's left nut · 07-16-2010, 03:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoChiefs

We're talking about a specific type of food, though.

It's like stuffed-crust pizza. Before I knew about stuffed-crust pizza, I had no desire for it. It never thought to myself, I want some pizza with cheese stuffed in the crust. I never thought to myself, this pizza would be so much better if it's crust was stuffed with cheese.

The thought never entered my head.

Then pizza hut started advertising pizza with CHEESE STUFFED INTO THE CRUST!!!!!!!!!

I had to ****ing have it.

And so I started eating even more fattening and caloric-ridden slices of pizza.

Yup.

The Federal Government loves you.

AndChiefs · 07-16-2010, 03:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoChiefs

We're talking about a specific type of food, though.

It's like stuffed-crust pizza. Before I knew about stuffed-crust pizza, I had no desire for it. It never thought to myself, I want some pizza with cheese stuffed in the crust. I never thought to myself, this pizza would be so much better if it's crust was stuffed with cheese.

The thought never entered my head.

Then pizza hut started advertising pizza with CHEESE STUFFED INTO THE CRUST!!!!!!!!!

I had to ****ing have it.

And so I started eating even more fattening and caloric-ridden slices of pizza.

Just because you personally didn't tell them you wanted it doesn't mean others did not. They don't just put something in the marketplace and start advertising and selling it without someone telling them they want it.

Hammock Parties · 07-16-2010, 03:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by luv

Just because an ad comes on doesn't mean I'm going to go out and get popcorn unless I want it.

Well, some people are fairly open to suggestion and can be swayed easily.

**Donger** · 07-16-2010, 03:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoChiefs

Well, some people are fairly open to suggestion and can be swayed easily.

Indeed, just look at the 2008 election.

Silock · 07-16-2010, 04:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AndChiefs

6'2, 210, 27 BMI.

And you're right Silock...I just double checked it and I'm only "overweight". For some reason I was thinking 25 was obese not 30.

See, even for guys that go to the gym regularly, BMI isn't TOO far off. It's not totally accurate, but hardly anything that's generalizable is. For instance, if I let my diet go a bit and don't stay shredded, my BMI creeps up into overweight. But if I stay at a very low body fat, I can keep all my muscle mass and still be considered "normal" bodyweight, albeit at the higher end.

Part of the problem for guys who work out is that they think they need to weigh more than they actually do to maintain muscle mass or be "big." As for what that means for BMI, if the gov't is going to use it in some calculations, then there needs to be an exemption for people who teeter on the normal/overweight boundary pending a doctor's exam.

07-16-2010, 12:55 PM
teedubya Most Valuable Poster Join Date: Oct 2003 Casino cash: $8993042	Government will require all Americans by 2014 to have a Obesity Rating I'm Doooooooomed. LOL. http://cnsnews.com/news/article/69436 Obesity Rating for Every American Included in Stimulus-Mandated Electronic Health Records New federal regulations issued this week stipulate that the electronic health records--that all Americans are supposed to have by 2014 under the terms of the stimulus law that President Barack Obama signed last year--must record not only the traditional measures of height and weight, but also the Body Mass Index: a measure of obesity. The obesity-rating regulation states that every American's electronic health record must: “Calculate body mass index. Automatically calculate and display body mass index (BMI) based on a patient’s height and weight.” The law also requires that these electronic health records be available--with appropriate security measures--on a national exchange. The new regulations are one of the first steps towards the government’s goal of universal adoption of electronic health records (EHRs) by 2014, as outlined in the 2009 economic stimulus law. Specifically, the regulations issued on Tuesday by Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and Dr. David Blumenthal, the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology, define the "meaningful use" of electronic records. Under the stimulus law, health care providers--including doctors and hospitals--must establish "meaningful use" of EHRs by 2014 in order to qualify for federal subsidies. After that, they will be subjected to penalties in the form of diminished Medicare and Medicaid payments for not establishing "meaningful use" of EHRs. Section 3001 of the stimulus law says: "The National Coordinator shall, in consultation with other appropriate Federal agencies (including the National Institute of Standards and Technology), update the Federal Health IT Strategic Plan (developed as of June 3, 2008) to include specific objectives, milestones, and metrics with respect to the following: (i) The electronic exchange and use of health information and the enterprise integration of such information.‘‘(ii) The utilization of an electronic health record for each person in the United States by 2014." Under this mandate in the stimulus law, Secretary Sebelius issued a regulation--developed by Dr. Blumenthal--that requires that all EHRs keep track of a person’s Body Mass Index (BMI) score. Body Mass Index is a ratio between a person’s weight and height, and is used to determine whether or not someone is overweight or obese. It is the preferred method of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for measuring obesity. Michelle Obama has made dealing with the problem of childhood obesity the main theme of her term as First Lady. U.S. Surgeon General Regina Benjamin. (Photo by Penny Starr/CNSNews.com) According to the CDC, “BMI provides a reliable indicator of body fatness for most people and is used to screen for weight categories that may lead to health problems.” A person’s BMI score is used as a tool to screen for obesity or excessive body fat that could lead to other health problems. While it does not actually measure body fat directly, according to CDC, the BMI scores generally correlate with a person’s body fat percentage. The new regulations also stipulate that the new electronic records be capable of sending public health data to state and federal health agencies such as HHS and CDC. The CDC, which calls American society “obesogenic” – meaning that American society itself promotes obesity – collects BMI scores from state health agencies every year to monitor obesity nationwide. “Electronically record, retrieve, and transmit syndrome based public health surveillance information to public health agencies,” the regulations read. With the spread of electronic health records, the CDC apparently will be able to collect such data more efficiently and with greater accuracy because the electronic record keeping systems can send the data automatically, eliminating the need for government – both state and federal – to keep, send, and process physical records.
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