‘The Biggest Loser’ has nothing on Mike Huckabee.
It’s not a title that Mike Huckabee, Republican Presidential hopeful, likes to publicize at the moment, but he is a successful loser. Of weight, that is. Four years ago, he weighed in at 280 pounds with a body mass index of 39. In medical jargon, he was obese. But through determination and commitment, he was able to shed 110 pounds in 18 months.
A self-professed ‘foodaholic’, Huckabee reached a turning point in 2002 when he was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. Told by his doctor that he would probably be dead in 10 years if he continued with his current lifestyle, Huckabee decided to clean up his health.
He went on a strict diet and exercise regime and began to shed “…weight so rapidly that it was if he simply unzipped a fat suit and stepped out…” (NY Times). He then wrote a self help memoir, Quit Digging Your Grave with a Knife and Fork: A 12-Stop Program to End Bad Habits and Begin a Healthy Lifestyle.
He also became a public advocate on the fight against obesity and instigated the Healthy Arkansas program to fight his own state’s obesity problems. Arkansas, it seemed, ranked as one of the unhealthiest states in the country with 22% of it’s population considered obese and 8% diagnosed with diabetes.
Now there’s some debate as to how Huckabee actually lost all that weight so fast.
The official line is that he enrolled in the weight loss program run by the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. This UMAS program consists initially of a liquid diet full of nutritional supplements and a re-introduction and education into healthy eating habits.
But an interesting article has surfaced on the internet suggesting that gastric bypass surgery might have had something to so with the massive weight loss. Well written and researched, the article makes a compelling medical arguement that gastric bypass surgery played a part in the weight loss.
Is this just dirty politics or is there a ring of truth to it ?
And if it’s true, does it really matter ?
What do you think ?
Related Stories
POSTED IN: Diet, Fitness, Health, How To, Media, Obesity, Politics, Video
9 opinions for ‘The Biggest Loser’ has nothing on Mike Huckabee.
Heidi
Jan 3, 2008 at 8:53 am
I am not a Huckabee supporter. However, some things you have the right to keep private, even if you are running for president. Elective surgery is one of those things.
Who cares how he lost the weight. I think the people who are obsessed with how Huckabee lost all of that weight should stick with issues that really matter to the country.
km
Jan 3, 2008 at 2:01 pm
this is major surgery that has an effect on health. Health is always an issue when it comes to the presidency. And if he lied about this there is the question of how truthful he is. This I lost the weight by diet and exercise has been a cornerstone of his campaign. I would hate to think he ran his campaign on a lie. Yes it does matter to this voter.
Heidi
Jan 3, 2008 at 2:35 pm
Did he lie? Who knows. I don’t know if Mike Huckabee had weight loss surgery or not. I have read enough lies online to doubt any “reliable” source.
A natural weight loss platform as the cornerstone of his campaign? I don’t think so. Bragging about his new figure doesn’t make it the cornerstone of his campaign.
If you are looking for opportunities to catch Gov. Huckabee in a lie, you don’t need to check his calorie counter or exercise log to do it.
Liz
Jan 4, 2008 at 1:15 pm
Did he or didn’t he ? We might never know.
Does it matter ? Some voters will say yes, some will say no.
Will his weight loss be the cornerstone of his campaign? I doubt it.
This article started out as being only about Mike Huckabee’s amazing weight loss and his subsequent actions in instigating the Healthy Arkansas program. It was only by chance that I ran across the article questioning the weight loss technique. So I threw it into the equation as an option.
Why ? Because the article is so well written and researched that it does raise a few questions.
Read the article, you’ll see what I mean…
Liz
Liz
Jan 4, 2008 at 1:19 pm
Heidi,
Loved your article on Viral Blogging: What is the Price of Profiting from the Politics of Bigotry and Hate?. Well said. The internet has opened up so many more avenues for people to say, attack, and demonise those they don’t agree with. And often, with no actual facts or figures to back them up.
Heidi
Jan 4, 2008 at 2:15 pm
Thanks Liz. -And thank you for posting the link to my article.
Interestingly enough, last night online, I “fell victim” to the very bigotry that I wrote about. Sorrily, bloggers keep making my point for me.
What I liked about YOUR article is that you listed facts and links minus the the name calling and attacks. You also left open the fact that dirty politics may be involved.
I know some bloggers who could learn a lot from you!
Liz
Jan 4, 2008 at 3:45 pm
Thanks for kind words. I try for the balance unbiased approach.
I feel the 2008 presidental election is going to bring out the best and worst in people. We simply have to choose what we pay attention to.
HT Springer
Jan 10, 2008 at 3:28 pm
Heidi:
If Huckabee had gastric bypass surgery and then wrote a book telling everyone that he did it by diet and exercise, it is an issue. It demonstrates that he will tell lies to make money. I agree that there is no shame in gastric bypass surgery, but there is great shame in hypocrisy and lying.
Heidi
Jan 10, 2008 at 4:20 pm
My point is that we don’t know if he had a gastric bypass or not. Going on vacation for the same amount of time it takes to have the surgery does not make him guilty. I think even bringing up the association smells like a ploy of dirty politics.
Besides, don’t you think that the media would have been all over this if it were true by now?
I feel that Huckabee has been dishonest about other issues in his campaign, but I wouldn’t be so quick to say that his weight loss is one of them.
Have an opinion? Leave a comment: