Jabba Alarm

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"If there's one number that's a predictor of mortality, it's waist circumference," Dr. Michael A. Newman, an internist for the late Tim Russert, has told N.Y. Times reporter Denise Grady.

It's significant when a high-profile death from heart failure results in a restating of a basic truth that millions choose to ignore -- i.e., a bulky, rotund or Jabba-sized paunch is a probable indicator of less time on the planet earth. No ifs, ands or buts.

Newman adds, however, that "most people would rather focus on their LDL cholesterol, instead of taking measures to reduce their waist size. Studies have found a waist of over 40 inches in men and 35 inches in women is a risk factor for heart disease." Is Jabba Nation listening? Will moms and dads start to change lifestyle habits and diets of their obese children in the wake of this? Sure. For two or three weeks.

"Mr. Russert's cholesterol was not high," Newman tells Grady, "and medicine controlled his high blood pressure pretty well. But, he added, Mr. Russert was 'significantly overweight..' He also had a dangerous combination of other risk factors: high triglycerides (caused by sugar, alcohol, dairy products, red meat), a type of fat in the blood, and a low level of HDL, the 'good cholesterol" that can help the body get rid of the bad cholesterol that can damage arteries.

"If there is any lesson in Russert's death, his doctors said, it is a reminder that heart disease can be silent, and that people, especially those with known risk factors, should pay attention to diet, blood pressure, weight and exercise -- even if they are feeling fine.

"It is not clear whether Mr. Russert's death could have been prevented. He was doing nearly all he could to lower his risk. He took blood pressure pills and a statin drug to control his cholesterol, he worked out every day on an exercise bike, and he was trying to lose weight, his doctors said on Monday. And still it was not enough."

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Posted by Jeffrey Wells on June 18, 2008 at 6:37 AM

comment #1

Mgmax, le Corbeau says ...

At least I won't have to live with all those drawn-faced, pleasure-denying 80-year-olds.

Posted by Mgmax, le Corbeau at June 18, 2008 6:55 AM

comment #2

Mgmax, le Corbeau says ...

Seriously, while there are predictors, and behaviors, and all that stuff, the fact is that certain people will drop dead at certain ages no matter what they do. As important as recognizing that there are things you can do for yourself is recognizing that ye know not what hour your Lord doth come, no matter how many hours you put in on the stairmaster.

Posted by Mgmax, le Corbeau at June 18, 2008 6:58 AM

comment #3

Discman says ...

Didn't a piece of cholesterol plaque break off, causing a blockage, or clot, that led to Russert's fatal heart attack? I'm not sure how those meds lower cholesterol levels, but I wonder if the meds caused the piece of cholesterol to break off, leading to his death.

It's just a theory from someone who knows very little, but I know enough from reading Gary Taubes' "Good Calories, Bad Calories" not to trust the reported research on the grand benefits of cholesterol meds. IIRC, Taubes says those meds do reduce cholesterol, but that the MORTALITY rate among those taking the meds shoots up over the rate for those who AREN'T taking the meds. No one asks why those people die in greater numbers, because it's not directly attributable to cholesterol, apparently. So what's making them drop like flies? Why don't we hear about this?

Posted by Discman at June 18, 2008 7:05 AM

comment #4

Zimmergirl says ...

Stress was the key factor, clearly. If he were the same guy living on a beach in Hawaii and relaxing he would have lived longer. At least he died doing what he loved to do I guess.

Posted by Zimmergirl at June 18, 2008 7:05 AM

comment #5

Mgmax, le Corbeau says ...

"At least he died doing what he loved to do I guess."

You know, I was feeling sort of stupid for wading into this one-- basically my feeling is, no culture has ever thought so hard about losing weight, to so completely opposite a result-- but if I had a point, which I'm not sure myself, I think Zimmergirl's point above would be it. Longevity is important but a long miserable unfulfilled life is a gift horse well worth looking in the mouth. It's not just about the time, it's about what you do with it. Russert wouldn't have wished to die so soon but it seems hard to imagine he wasn't a very fulfilled man in most of the ways that count besides time on earth. That's important too.

Posted by Mgmax, le Corbeau at June 18, 2008 7:20 AM

comment #6

vansmith says ...

he was fat , and by the time he tried to change it was too late, plus the stress. hey you go to a gym you see the 50 -60 yr old heavy leg guy, jowly, trudging around trying to get it off and it works until it doesnt. but like the guy in no country for old men said - you cant stop whats coming, thats vanity..

Posted by vansmith at June 18, 2008 8:01 AM

comment #7

George Prager says ...

Have you ever seen these longevity freaks interviewed on TV? They think that if they eat nothing but broccoli rabe they'll live until they're 150. Besides being some of the whitest people on the planet, they're all emaciated, boring and self-amused. I'm glad I'm not them.

Overweight adults who get adult onset diabetes are the ones that scare me. Instead of keeling over and dying, you live another 10-20 years and your quality of life decreases to the point that you want to die. This is the disease that we should be warning 40 year old boys and girls about, not heart attacks.

Posted by George Prager at June 18, 2008 9:04 AM

comment #8

whirlofagirl says ...

i'm not so sure a lot of the people who have heart disease are all that enthusiastic to make the necessary lifestyle changes, and why this dead horse has been so beaten is that it's a reminder of what will happen if you don't. every day on an exercise bike isn't going to help if you're not doing enough keep your heart rate up for at least 20 minutes.

Posted by whirlofagirl at June 18, 2008 9:07 AM

comment #9

Mr. Muckle says ...

What almost no one wants to face, especially in western culture (including Hollywood), is that death is the great mystical uncertainty of life. Our lack of knowledge about it is absolute and this is supposed to put everything else in perspective. It separates the trivial and temporary from the unknowable reality.

But we talk our whole lives about cholesterol and heart abnormalities, or buck ourselves up with hopeful theories about the afterlife, or wallow in sentimental regrets for companions who have passed away, and never come closer to the necessary perspective that might make life at least tolerable, if not happy, for those few years we do have to waddle around here chasing absurdities.

Hence, the point: Nobody knows anything. Where did I hear that? Robert Evans, wasn't it? An ignorant genius.

Posted by Mr. Muckle at June 18, 2008 9:09 AM

comment #10

robbiefantastic says ...

"eat food, not too much, mostly plants"

great advice given in the book "in defense of food". it's not just about what you eat but how you eat it. plus throw this nutrienalism out the window. eat food your great grandmother would have prepared. you'll be healthier and feel a whole lot better about yourself.....

Posted by robbiefantastic at June 18, 2008 9:14 AM

comment #11

Rob says ...

"a waist of over 40 inches in men and 35 inches in women is a risk factor for heart disease"

Yeah, no shit. 40 inches is really big. I would be surprised if Russert had a 40-inch waist.

I personally think the best way to live life is to exercise enough so that you can partake of alcohol, sugar, meat and dairy products (all of which, let's face it, kind of make life worth living) without being seriously overweight.

Posted by Rob at June 18, 2008 9:24 AM

comment #12

btwnproductions says ...

Have an annual checkup. (Repeat: Have an annual checkup.) Eat sensibly; fresh fruit (not sugary, carb-loaded fruit juices) and vegetables (not fried to a crisp or covered in cheese) may not give you eternal life, but they won't kill you, either. Exercise, or at least get off your Laz-E-Boy or car seat and walk. All good things to help ward off heart disease and adult-onset diabetes. Remember: You can't rant, rave, or argue on HE if you're dead.

Posted by btwnproductions at June 18, 2008 9:52 AM

comment #13

supertaster says ...

Is Jabba Nation listening?

My question is: so what if they're not? This is effectively natural selection in action. The 20th century was the beginning of the fat cycle, so there are today a disproportionate number of overweight people. But several generations from now, as fat people continue to breed children with habits towards obesity, their numbers will decline as fewer and fewer survive to pass on their genes.

We are unique to the animal kingdom -- we are the only species that looks out for the species as a whole and not just our immediate familes. We are compassionate and sympathetic beings, and therefore our hearts and intellects trump the natural forces of evolution.

We fight so hard to defend natural selection in the classroom, yet do our best to ensure that it doesn't occur outside of it...

My sentiment is not that we should not help people, it's that we are waging war against the most powerful unseen force in biology. We may have mercy, but mother nature does not.

Rereading this i realize this is an utterly pointless comment...just an observation i guess...oh well, i wasted time on it, might as well post it...something interesting to consider at least.

Posted by supertaster at June 18, 2008 11:04 AM

comment #14

BurmaShave says ...

I can't decide if supertaster was masturbating himself with a piece of pie while he wrote that or crying while he whipped himself with a chain.

Seriously though, being here in the DC area, my father and I attended Russert's viewing last night at St. Alban's. Seeing his casket and shaking hands with his son really put things in stark light. I don't want to only have 31 years left. My current weight of about 235 is unacceptable. Within the next two years, while I'm young, I plan to erase it.

Wells please keep being an asshole to us fatties. We're not the god damn Hebrew people, or some protected class.

Posted by BurmaShave at June 18, 2008 1:02 PM

comment #15

supertaster says ...

Burma, you'll have to tell me -- what's your secret? For someone who's fingers must be greasy all the time, how do you keep your posts so free of typos?

Posted by supertaster at June 18, 2008 3:38 PM

comment #16

supertaster says ...

who's = whose ... now back to the greasy fingers

Posted by supertaster at June 18, 2008 3:43 PM

comment #17

filmfestivalgeek says ...

robbiefantastic dead on - I"n Defence Of Food" is a great book and people should be thinking in terms of food and not "nutrituion".

But Mgmax also has it right...let's face it, no matter how hard you push, no matter how much you do things to try to put more steps in front of you than behind you, the fact is when your number gets called, it gets called!

Posted by filmfestivalgeek at June 18, 2008 5:27 PM

comment #18

filmfestivalgeek says ...

robbiefantastic is dead on - "In Defence Of Food" is a great book and people should be thinking in terms of food and not "nutrition".

Posted by filmfestivalgeek at June 18, 2008 5:28 PM

comment #19

hcat says ...

Don't worry burma, you're still young. I was the same weight at your age, simply joined a gym and got down to 200 within a year.

You dont have the life of a quaker to have longevity, simply burn more calories that you take in. I have major weaknesses for beer and ice cream and problems with portion control (I view every container as a single serving size) but try to run it off afterwards. Isn't another sixty years of life without donuts better than fourty five years with?

Posted by hcat at June 19, 2008 8:12 AM

comment #20

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Posted by jany at April 22, 2011 7:39 AM

comment #21