Dr John M

cardiac electrophysiologist, cyclist, learner

  • Home
  • About
    • About Me
    • About the Blog
      • General Cardiology and Internal Medicine
    • Six Reasons why I Blog
    • What’s Electrophysiology?
    • ICD/Pacemaker
    • Electrophysiology Column / Medscape
    • Contact
  • Afib
    • AFib
    • AF in Athletes
    • The best tool to treat AF
    • Know your CHADS-VASC Score
    • 3 non-warfarin anticoagulants
    • AF ablation
      • 13 things to know about AF
      • Atrial Fib Ablation -2012 Update
      • Gender-Spec results of AF ablation
    • Female gender and stroke risk in AF
    • My AF Story
  • Heart Healthy
    • Heart Disease (by DrJohnM)
    • Healthy Living
    • Exercise
    • Nutrition
    • inflammation
  • Policy
    • Policy
    • Health Care
    • Health Care Reform
  • Doctoring
    • Doctoring
    • Knowledge
    • Reflection
    • General Medicine
      • Does your cholesterol level matter?
    • General Cardiolgy – Medicine
      • What is a normal heart rate?
      • Cardiology/Internal Med
      • General Cardiology
      • Athletic heart
        • The ECG of an athlete
      • General Medicine
      • Stroke
      • Statins
  • Cycling
    • DrJohnM on Cycling
    • How I became a bike racer
    • My top 12 Likes on Cycling
    • Cyclocross
      • A CX-Primer
    • Fitness
    • Athletic heart
    • The Mysterious Athletic Heart

Not funny…anymore

August 20, 2010 By Dr John

As most know, a good laugh is indeed good for the heart.  I get this.

However, in the case of using a donut bacon cheeseburger as a vehicle for making fun of the abysmal nutrition of KY state fair goers, the blurry line separating funny from not funny is clear, at least for me.

What is responsible journalism?

I am no expert, but am fairly sure that this report in our hometown newspaper is not an example of such.   Both the article and accompanying video make light of this nutritional cluster bomb.  No mention in the article that this 1000 calorie disaster is a pictorial metaphor for our state’s obesity epidemic.  No link to this Washington Post expose on obesity in Kentucky.

Here is an excerpt from this fine piece of journalism…

I finished without having a coronary or chest pains, but I did take two Tums tablets as a pre-emptive strike against acid reflux.

So two thumbs up from this cheeseburger guinea pig. Just think twice before a second and third after you get hooked — there’s a funnel cake stand nearby.

To one who witnesses the disasters of obesity nearly every day, making light of a donut cheeseburger seems akin to making fun of cancer or heart disease–which surely wouldn’t be tolerated.

Until the paradigm changes, a sea change in a nation’s view of obesity and sedentarism, there will be little movement in overcoming one of our country’s most pressing (and most expensive) diseases.

Some things used to be funny, but times change.

JMM

h/t: A very conscientious cardiac cath lab nurse, who would not touch a donut.

  • Email
  • LinkedIn
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • More
  • Reddit

Related posts:

  1. If I was Surgeon General…
  2. Medical innovation cannot cure fatness…
  3. Wonder pill versus good choices…
  4. "People of Size?" Really…

Filed Under: Health Care, Healthy Living Tagged With: Heart Health

John Mandrola, MD

Welcome, Enjoy, Interact. john-mandrola I am a cardiac electrophysiologist practicing in Louisville KY. I am also a husband to a palliative care doctor, a father, a bike racer, and a regular columnist at theHeart.org | Medscape

My First Book is Now Available…

Email Newsletter

Search the Site

Categories

Find me on theheart.org | Medscape Cardiology

  • Electrophysiology commentary on Medscape/Cardiology

Mandrola on Medscape

  • My Medscape column on general medical matters

For patients...Educational posts

  • 13 things to know about Atrial Fibrillation — 2014
  • A new cure of AF
  • Adding a new verb to doctoring: To deprescribe is to do a lot
  • AF ablation — 2015 A Cautionary Note
  • AF Ablation in 2012–An easier journey?
  • Atrial Flutter — 15 facts you may want to know.
  • Benign PVCs: A heart rhythm doctor’s approach.
  • Caution with early Cardioversion
  • Decisions of 2 low-risk cases of PAF
  • Defining success in AF ablation in 2014
  • Four commonly asked questions on AF ablation
  • Inflammation and AF — Get off the gas
  • Ten things to expect after AF ablation
  • The medical decsion as a gamble
  • The most important verb in our health crisis
  • Wellness Requires Ownership

loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.