The Fallacy of the "Healthiest City"

[Bridget Conant]

If we are to believe the Cleveland Clinic and our city "leaders," we don't need a hospital in our city of 50,000 plus people. What we need instead, is a "healthy" lifestyle, one where we walk, ride, or otherwise exercise ourselves to health! We won't need doctors or hospitals if we just "get with it" and eat better and exercise! It will cure all our ills and prevent us from ever getting sick or needing inpatient care!

No one challenges this ridiculous postulate.

I have previously posted links showing that corporate wellness programs, while saving companies money, rarely result in increased employee health and outcomes. Rather, they merely shift the cost to the employee from the company. There is NO clinical evidence that shows wellness programs actually improve health.

Further, the idea that all disease is preventable, while certainly in vogue right now, is seriously flawed.

For example, heart disease is primarily a genetic disease, in spite of beliefs to the contrary. Yes, cigarette smoking and poor eating habits may accelerate disease, but it doesn't "cause" the illness. We all know someone who smoked their entire life and never got lung cancer or had a heart attack.

For proof that we don't have complete control over our genes, and hence our destiny, look at the information gleaned from examining "Otzi," the frozen man found in the Alps. He lived 5300 years ago - long before there were cigarettes, computers, or fast food. However, scientists found he had atherosclerosis, or what we commonly refer to as "hardening of the arteries."

His cardiovascular disease status was a shock to the scientists. Upon further examination, it was determined that he had certain genes associated with CVD, pre-disposing him to heart disease.

http://www.livescience.com/47114-otzi-h ... genes.html

The point is, we are all vulnerable to disease, no matter how well we eat or how much we exercise. Cancer, with few exceptions, is also primarily the result of genetic mutations that we cannot control.

Let's be realistic - no one is getting out alive. We will all someday need medical care for a serious issue, and likely we will be hospitalized at some point. You cannot think otherwise. Heart disease and cancer are the top two causes of death and both require hospital treatment at some point.

Why are we so willing to believe the BS they try to feed us?

The city has offered no plan for their grandiose idea of being the "healthiest city." What exactly do they plan to do to make us healthier? Why isn't anyone asking these questions? WHERE IS THE PLAN? WHERE IS THE EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE?

The only way I see that we appear "healthier" is that now some of us will go to die at Metro, Fairview, or Avon. Does that count as less sick and dying people in Lakewood?

[Michael Deneen]

Are they still pitching the "Healthiest City" routine? I thought they pulled the plug on that absurd sales pitch.

However, they did a nice job promoting the very healthy "Wing Crawl".

[Bridget Conant]

Well at least the "wing/bar crawl" got some people out on the streets of "downtowN."

Otherwise, it's been looking like a ghost town. Drive along Detroit near the carcass of "bricks and mortar" midday and see how few people are around.

[Brian Essi]

Perhaps they gave this fallacy up because it was bad for the Lakewood bar and restaurant businesses.

[tom monahan]

Bridget:

Excellent post. Fact-filled, unlike some who like to see their name in print and offer convoluted opinions just to disrupt everyone else.

The day I heard that "people will be coming from all over the country to see how healthy we are," comment , I almost convulsed with laughter.. That probably was the start of the pack of lies crowd that has been feeding the people nothing but garbage about their great dream.

We are off to another season of lies and deception.

[Bridget Conant]

Tom

Yes, the absurdity of the claim is laughable, but the issue is certainly NOT. It's very serious.

We are being told we do not need a hospital because we can be healthier without one!

Avon and Mentor DO need an inpatient hospital.

We have been deceived, robbed, and condescended to as if we were cretins.

That is how a small group of powerful people in this town view the rest of us.

[Michael Deneen]

Let's not forget the "Wine and Craft Beer Festival" on September 10!

There is a deeper cynicism to what City Hall and the Clinic are selling. They are trying to tell us that Hospital beds are not as important because people will be healthier in the future.


This theory ignores the fact that America (including greater Cleveland) is getting older, fatter, and sicker.
Consider the following:
The aging baby boomers are going to have falls and break hips. The aging population means more of a wide range of medical problems.
Many busy, overworked, highly stressed people are going to eat fast food instead of healthy food. Diabetes and heart problems will continue to grow.
Young people will continue to drink and party, facilitated by many of these civic events from our City Leadership. In fact, Lakewood is marketing itself as a "drinking town".
Mental health will continue to grow as a health problem, as will addiction issues. (We're already seeing this with heroin).

There will not be a shortage of illness and injuries in Lakewood....but there will be a shortage of privately insured people with these issues.
The insurance part is the only thing the Clinic cares about. The Clinic is just "following the money" to the outer burbs.
To their eternal shame, our City Hall has jumped in bed with them to redline our own community.

[Bridget Conant]

As always, follow the money.

That's what the Clinic is doing!