Most all of you have made valid points, and while some of you take offense to what is being said, there is some validity to all of these points. There are also myriad excuses being made, when there is obviously a lack of responsibility in this woman's situation--maybe not in all areas, but definitely in what she is eating. Now please don't think I'm one of those "skinny people who like to make rude comments when I can't relate" because I too am overweight. I was a professional tap dancer that was always heavier than the rest, but I broke my back and I gained weight due to not being able to move around a lot and also because I ATE myself fat. I take responsibility for my own actions. I gained 160 lbs in 18 months, and I've managed to lose 95 of that through diet and exercise (I am now back to dancing--not at the level I was once at, but I'm getting there through determination and desire to be back to the person I remember)
Ok, so enough about me. Genetics may play a role in disposition to be heavy, I understand that. However, that is not something that can be diagnosed simply by looking at the other people in your family. Most people may see that their parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, etc were overweight and think that because they were overweight that you are genetically predisposed to being overweight also, but how many people really know what those family members were eating. A lot of people are closet eaters, so you have no idea what people ate or eat behind closed doors. A genetic 'condition' is quite difficult to diagnose, and is typically done by a genetisist. Most people don't have access to these researchers, and their primary doctor usually cannot do this type of research--nor can it be done in your average lab (like labcorp, etc). This type of research is highly specialized and complex, and even researchers are still hunting for the specific 'fat gene'. So using genetics to explain weight is typically trivial at best.
Yes, conditions like lymphdema do cause people to look much heavier than they really are due to the large quantities of fluid in their systems; however, by DeeDee's own admission, and the video footage on the show, she eats much much more than she should. If her condition were solely caused by lymphatic problems, she would more than likely have suffered congestive heart failure by now.
Some of you have said that larger people are hungrier than average-sized people, which is true. But often we (all of us) mix up hunger and thirst. Many times, we may think we are hungry, when we are actually thirsty. (A large majority of us are borderline dehydrated and don't drink enough water) If DeeDee (I think that's her name) would drink a large glass of water when she feels hungry, she may find that her hunger pangs subside. It goes much farther than the 8 glasses of water that we are supposed to drink per day. Larger people require more water intake. If you divide your body weight in pounds in half, that is the number of ounces of water per day that you should drink. An easy way to accomplish this would be to follow the advice that Dr. Phil gave to MaLynn and replace the juices and soft drinks with water or unsweetened tea (if flavor is an issue) then she would be drinking enough water, and may find that she feels less hungry. Also, since her metabolic rate has slowed due to her weight, a change in diet to increase that rate would be helpful. Spicy foods have been known to increase metabolic activity due to their thermogenic properties--and they taste good! Also, protein tends to make you feel fuller faster, so increasing protein intake is a good way to lower caloric intake while still feeling full. Adding egg whites or grilled chicken to a salad can make a lot of difference, and also make you feel like you're eating real harty food and not something you should be feeding your pet rabbit. :-)
I'm glad that she has a strong family unit to help her in what is undoubtedly going to be an uphill journey, and I'm hopeful that the whole family can adopt healthier eating habits and help her win this battle. It may sound silly, but increasing activity even the slightest bit can help her to burn more calories. Tossing the TV remote she has to get off of the bed/sofa/wherever to change the channel or adjust the volume will help. It may not seem like much, but it will result in more activity. We all have to crawl before we walk and walk before we run. Good luck girl!!
And to MaLynn, keep dancing sweetie. That is one of the most beautiful forms of self-expression, so even if no one is watching, dance dance dance!! With your mom on your side, you'll do great. And all that dancing will be good practice for your senior prom in a few years!!
(Original Air Date: 04/27/06) Morbid obesity changes the dynamic of two entire families … and tears them apart. DeeDee weighs over 700 pounds and hasn't left her house in more than a year. She has become a burden to her friends and family by constantly demanding their help and company. Is DeeDee ready to get real and make a change, or will she continue to blame her weight gain on other circumstances? Also, her children explain why they resent their mother and feel hostage to her demands. Then, MaLynn is only 14 years old, but she already weighs 419 pounds, and her obesity is causing problems in school. Her mother, Shari, admits she can't say no to her daughter when it comes to food. Dr. Phil shows MaLynn how she can easily lose 86 pounds, and he gets this mother-daughter team to work together to save their relationship and their lives. Talk about the show here.
