Chalk One Up for the Magic Bullet

Guess that ol' magic bullet gets another notch up on the pedestal today. Current research shows that surgically induced weight loss significantly reduces death as long as 10 years following the operation. Not only that, but this procedure also reduces diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol, as well as improves the quality of life for the former obese patient.

All right, I've got nothing against this concept. I think it's wonderful that people can get their lives back after becoming morbidly obese, but I'm afraid that news like this might do more harm then good. Any time a new magic bullet comes around, human health suffers.

A magic bullet is any drug, therapy, or procedure that is considered a miracle solution or cure. As I've discussed on the Dr. Nick Show (Episode 2), the concept of a cure is a fallacy. The body heals, plain and simple. It might have help, but it's the innate healing ability of the body that gives and preserves life. Whenever, medical science seems to find a magic bullet, it gives society a false sense of security, and practical wisdom goes out the window.

"Well, I know I'd be better off not drinking this 12-pack of Bud, but...well...aw shoot, what the heck, I'll try to exercise tomorrow, and if I can't, heck, I'll just get a stomach reduction." If it's good enough for Star Jones, dammit, then it's good enough for Al Roker.

Oh, by the way, I saw an incredible interview with Al Roker urging people not to get this surgery unless it's the most-absolute-gonna-drop-dead-tomorrow-last-resort they have (Read this icredible interview here). I gained a lot of respect for the man for that, and I couldn't agree more.

Once again, it's truly a blessing that we have a surgery like this to give people a second chance. But be careful not to rely on it as a magic bullet. The magic bullet fantasy is one of the major factors leading to our poor health status in this country today, and if we don't let it go, things will only get worse.