Obesity is a big subject, with evolutionary, genetic, biochemical, and cultural components. And it affects us all, directly or indirectly. In my job as chairman of the department of nuclear medicine at California Pacific Medical Center, Ive observed increasing numbers of overweight patients.
Obesity is a problem that frustrates both patients and physicians.
In order to undergo nuclear scans, patients have to lie on a table above or below an imaging device. Until a few years ago, we used tables that would support a maximum of 250 pounds and rarely had patients too heavy for them. But as the number of patients who couldnt use the tables began to swell, we got a table that could handle 350 pounds without breaking. Before long, though, we were turning away patients and had to acquire a table capable of carrying 400 pounds. In the past year, weve had several individuals too hefty even for that platform.