Committed to a Diet

Chris Leppard, a 23-year-old Brit, suffers from a rare condition that prevents his stomach from properly signaling his brain when he's full. He has, as one might imagine, become quite obese. British authorities decided this made him a danger to himself, and have had him involuntarily committed under laws normally applied to the mentally ill.

Comments

WSDave | February 23, 2005, 11:37am | #

If this catches on in the States, will we see fat people demanding disability benifits?

Tim | February 23, 2005, 11:51am | #

As far as I understand they already do this. Where do you think they get the money for those Rascals? Something in my brain tells me to eat McDonalds twice a week even though I know it is bad for me to do so. Therefore I am a danger to myself not only from the unhealthy food but I'm also at risk of losing my mind while waiting in line for my food that is supposed to be "fast" food while watching some mouthbreathing teen try to figure out the cash register.

(If I didn't properly detect the sarcasm in you comment please disregard this message.)

Todd Fletcher | February 23, 2005, 12:00pm | #

Be fair, Britain is a small place: the guy just might have all the food on the island.

matt | February 23, 2005, 12:06pm | #

"Angry Libertarian Alliance spokesman Dr Sean Gabb said: “What on earth justifies the intervention of the police and compels him to have medical treatment?”"

Wow. I didn't know there were any libertarians in Britain anymore.

SPD | February 23, 2005, 12:08pm | #

You don't have to be crazy to gain weight, but it helps.

aaron | February 23, 2005, 12:17pm | #

Is there a Happy Libertarian Alliance, too?

Phil | February 23, 2005, 12:22pm | #

This story is patently false, since wise H&R regulars have repeatedly informed us that being obese can only come as the result of freely choosing to be a sedentary, Twinkie-devouring lazyass.

Jennifer | February 23, 2005, 12:32pm | #

Actually, I've always figured that becoming obese was the result of a variety of factors, none of which are any of the government's damned business.

sage | February 23, 2005, 12:38pm | #

"since wise H&R regulars have repeatedly informed us that being obese can only come as the result of freely choosing to be a sedentary, Twinkie-devouring lazyass."

I note that they don't mention his activity level in the story. But I'm sure that with all that caloric intake he could easily run 10-12 miles/day. But the same brain that fails to tell him that he's full also fails to tell him to get off his ass and move a little.

On a different note, wouldn't his stomach explode or wouldn't he throw up if he was full? Of course, that's probably why he has four stomachs. :-)

thoreau | February 23, 2005, 12:46pm | #

Actually, I've always figured that becoming obese was the result of a variety of factors, none of which are any of the government's damned business.

Amen! Sing it, sister!

Phil | February 23, 2005, 12:50pm | #

Oh, I agree, Jennifer -- it isn't any of his government's business. I'm just noting that -- since, as sage assures us, obesity can never be the result of an uncontrollable medical problem -- the story never happened, so there's nothing to worry about. See how easy that is!

PintofStout | February 23, 2005, 12:57pm | #

It's wafer-thin!

Ira Weatheral | February 23, 2005, 1:02pm | #

East Sussex County Council said “all proper procedures have been followed” — and such orders were “in the interests of that person’s health or safety or to protect other people”.


Thank goodness he's been incarcerated before he sits on somebody, maybe even some CHILDREN!

David | February 23, 2005, 1:18pm | #

I don't mean to pick on the guy but just because his stomach isn't sending the proper signal means he doesn't realize that what he just ate? Poor bastard.

sage | February 23, 2005, 1:20pm | #

Phil:
"since, as sage assures us, obesity can never be the result of an uncontrollable medical problem"

Strawman. I would not say "never." But "rarely," is a word I would use in this case. In fact, the story notes that the condition is indeed "rare." Hardly justifies an avalanche of obesity legislation. Or does it?

dhex | February 23, 2005, 1:21pm | #

phil's note is true, mostly, of h+r and many other places.

of course, it takes a lot longer to say "well, excluding the population hit with some form of illness which makes their weight gain inevitable or difficult to treat, america's obese population became so from a number of factors, involving personal choice of diet, a lack of exercise, time constraints, difficulty in shopping in areas where fresh produce is more difficult to find and harder to get to, hereditary factors, body type and childhood eating patterns."

though, i will not deny the enjoyment derived from asking a fat taxer about personal income fat taxes or, my personal favorite, a national exercise quota.

B.P. | February 23, 2005, 1:24pm | #

Weird. And Joe was pointing out just yesterday the connection between craziness and obesity among the homeless.

pococurante | February 23, 2005, 1:35pm | #

Why can't this guy just take appetite suppressants? Or would they not work on him with his condition?
Britain, though one of the loveliest and most interesting places on earth, has become frighteningly un-free and statist -- gradually since 1939, then rapidly since 1979 (Thatcher's ascent). British papers' domestic news pages are scary reads.

Phil | February 23, 2005, 1:40pm | #

Not too much straw in that man, sage -- after all, when presented with an actual medical case, your first instinct is to ask why he doesn't get off his lazy ass and exercise more. I shouldn't need to point out that a medical condition that prevents your body from realizing that it's already full might cause all sorts of metabolic fuck-uppery if you suddenly start burning through calories like crazy by running several miles a day, but I guess I do. If your body thinks it's still hungry when you're really full, what do you think it will do when it thinks it's starving?

I agree, in any case, that none of any of this requires any laws, taxes, policies or involuntary commitments.

Gary Gunnels | February 23, 2005, 1:47pm | #

How Free Is Britain?

Anthony Daniels answers this question over the "Social Affairs Unit" blog:

http://www.socialaffairsunit.org.uk/blog/archives/000301.php

sage | February 23, 2005, 1:47pm | #

Phil:

"Not too much straw in that man, sage "

I beg your pardon. You said "I'm just noting that -- since, as sage assures us, obesity can never be the result of an uncontrollable medical problem "

Now since that was not even close to anything I said, and since it makes your arguement that much easier to hit home, that is in fact a strawman.

But the fact that this guy has a medical problem causing his obesity is rare indeed, at least IMO. Look at any study you want and I'll wager that most obesity cases are the result of more calories taken in than burned each day.

"I agree, in any case, that none of any of this requires any laws, taxes, policies or involuntary commitments."

Well at least we agree on that. Peace.

Stevo Darkly | February 23, 2005, 2:17pm | #

That does it. I have to do some push-ups before I go crazy.

NoStar | February 23, 2005, 2:32pm | #

Help Me! Help Me! Send the government quickly to help me.

I read all the Hit&Run blog items and all the comments and my brain doesn't know when I've had enough.

It could be worse, I suppose. Just imagine the horror of being addicted Salon or Slate.

kevrob | February 23, 2005, 2:47pm | #

Is there a Happy Libertarian Alliance, too? - aaron

A Silly L.A. might be more fun.

Kevin

thoreau | February 23, 2005, 3:03pm | #

If the British government continues to violate the freedom of its citizens in this manner then I see no option short of invasion! ;)

The Lonewacko Blog | February 23, 2005, 3:09pm | #

He's since been released and he intends to sue.

NoStar | February 23, 2005, 3:34pm | #

"He's since been released and he intends to sue."

I hope he can find, in that Nanny State, a barrister who can stomach a case like his.

British Libertarian | February 23, 2005, 6:54pm | #

If the British government continues to violate the freedom of its citizens in this manner then I see no option short of invasion! ;)

If you could it would be appricated :D (as long as bush isnt in charge (shudders))

Isaac Bartram | February 24, 2005, 5:31pm | #

British Libertarian

When we come we'll burn down the Parliament and No 10 Downing Street to even the score. :)