Anyone else watch The Biggest Loser?

BTW Vioxx had indications of significant increase in blood pressure from the initial clincal trials. Outcome was predictable. The problem with Vioxx (and other drugs in that class) is the relatively selective inhibition of Cox-2, which was thought to be beneficial in that there would be sparing of the gastric mucosa (fewer ulcers). However, by failing to inhibit Cox-1, synthesis of thromboxane (which plays a role in platelet aggregation and clot formation) could continue. Aspirin (and other nonsteroidal antiinflammatory agents) are nonselective, inhibiting both Cox-1 and Cox-2. Again, what intuitively seemed like a good idea really wasn't in the end.

I don't watch this show but judging by my consumption the past few days I may be making an appearance! :rofl: Plenty of TFs for me this festive season!

Not to make this take even more of a political turn, but ... sentencing someone to death actually costs the system more than a life sentence ... the costs of the appeal and all out weighs the cost of keeping them in prison for life, yet all sorts of people still believe in the death penalty ... (I do not, but not for costs, and we certainly don't need to go down this road as I think it will NOT be pretty) So back to good ole transfats ... yum! haha

I din't see this mentioned. One problem with transfat, alcohol, and smokiing is that the state ends up paying greatly at the end-of-life of those who are over-weight, smoked or drank heavily. I once was told by a public health official that the state is more likely to pay for the end-of-life medical expenses for people who are morbidly obesse, who smoked, or who were very heavy drinkers than it is for people who die but were atheletic/healthy when living. Also, these expenses are greater fro people who are obese, heavy drinkers and smokers. The state does have a stake, if you will, in trying to control certain behaviors.

It is possible to be healthy and be obese (perhaps not morbidly so)...but being a heavy drinker or smoker makes being healthy nearly impossible. It is because of this that I feel the state could get more bang for it's buck by placing more emphasis on alcohol abuse and cigarette smoking. Perhaps cigarette smoking could be curbed by legalizing small amounts of marijuana. It appears to be much less carcinogenic than cigarettes and might actually have some health benefits.

Not to make this take even more of a political turn, but ... sentencing someone to death actually costs the system more than a life sentence ... the costs of the appeal and all out weighs the cost of keeping them in prison for life, yet all sorts of people still believe in the death penalty ... (I do not, but not for costs, and we certainly don't need to go down this road as I think it will NOT be pretty) So back to good ole transfats ... yum! haha Apparently breaststrokers are immune to the effects of TransFats too...man it is good being great!

TF's in the news today! money.cnn.com/.../index.htm

Hmm? I would have to disagree with you on that generalization. I stand by my statement that is is more likely for an obese person to lead a healthy life than for a smoker or heavy drinker. Being 40 pounds overweight will generally not wreak as much havoc with your body as inhaling carcinogens or consuming copious amounts of alcohol. Define copious amounts ... remember, I'm a flyer ...

Well, I would opine that anything over 2 drinks per day would be excessive. I have been known to drink more than that, sometimes within a half hour, but that is quite rare. I don't think that an occassional drunk fest is going to kill you but drinking a six pack or a bottle of wine a night is bound to have some ill effects on one's body. I think that's probably right, although it depends somewhat on age, size, sex, health and how fast you drink. But I know an awfully lot of folks having a couple of glasses of wine every night ... They aren't all flyers.

It is possible to be healthy and be obese (perhaps not morbidly so)...but being a heavy drinker or smoker makes being healthy nearly impossible. It is because of this that I feel the state could get more bang for it's buck by placing more emphasis on alcohol abuse and cigarette smoking. Perhaps cigarette smoking could be curbed by legalizing small amounts of marijuana. It appears to be much less carcinogenic than cigarettes and might actually have some health benefits. No it isn't. People who are obesse have end-of-life expenses that are very close to people who smoked. They also tend to have a wider variety of illnesses that smokers don't have.