US Healthcare Failed The Hefty Lefty

US Healthcare Failed The Hefty Lefty

Hearing about the death of a young person makes me sad.  But hearing about the death of Jared Lorenzen at the age of 38 made me both sad and angry. Jared died on July 3, 2019 after being hospitalized for six days with an infection, kidney and heart issues. These conditions were likely related to Jared’s obesity which he publicly battled for over two years.

Jared’s Football History

Jared had a tremendous career as quarterback of the University of Kentucky (UK) in the tough Southeastern Conference.  He holds the UK records for career total offense (10,637 yards), career passing yards (10,354), career pass attempts (1,514), career completions (862), single-season passing attempts (559) and single-game passing yards (528). He ranks second in program history in career passing touchdowns (78) and 300-yard passing games (15).

Jared was one of the most beloved athletes in UK history for both his athletic skills and for his atypical quarterback physique. He had amazing quarterback skills in an offensive lineman’s body. You don’t often see 300 lb. quarterbacks – especially ones that perform at such a high level.

The Hefty Lefty

Athletes are often given nicknames and Jared was no exception.  Some of the most creative names he was given include “The Pillsbury Throw Boy”, J-Load” and “The Round Mound of Touchdown”.  But “The Hefty Lefty” appeared to be the most popular.  The nicknames did not seem to bother Jared as he told the USA Network in 2007: “If you want to joke, we can joke about my weight all day. “I get a kick out of it. You have to have a niche. That’s mine.”  Jared played a few years as a backup quarterback with the National Football League (NFL) NY Giants followed by various stints in indoor football leagues. In 2014, he suffered a career-ending broken leg playing for the Northern Kentucky River Monsters of the Ultimate Indoor Football League.

After Football

By 2017, Jared’s weight grew to 571 lbs.  It was no longer a joking matter.  He was in trouble and he knew it.  He launched the “Jared Lorenzen Project” to chronicle his weight loss journey and help support others battling with obesity.

In April, 2018 he told USA Today that he lost close to 100 Lbs. His diet included a whole lot of skinless rotisserie chicken. Snacks were strawberries and unsalted cashews. He drank shakes for lunch.  If he craved ice cream, he chose frozen yoghurt instead. He allowed himself to have a steak occasionally.

I think it is likely that Jared was advised by caring, well-meaning clinicians who provided recommendations that they thought would be most helpful to Jared.  My anger is not with them.  They probably did not know that such a diet high in animal protein has been shown to be damaging to kidneys in people at high risk for developing kidney disease.

My anger is with a healthcare system that failed Jared. I think he would have had a better chance for a longer, healthier life if he was directed to a Lifestyle Medical Doctor.  Jared was almost assuredly unaware that Lifestyle Medical Doctors exist because there aren’t all that many of them.  A major reason is that in the US healthcare system, Lifestyle Medicine is not all that lucrative because it is difficult for Lifestyle Medical Doctors to receive reimbursement from insurance companies.  In 2009, Dr. Dean Ornish petitioned Congress to pass a bill to help remedy the situation, but not surprisingly, it went nowhere.

I understand that there are no guarantees in life; the Pleasure Trap is extremely difficult to beat, but Jared would have had a better chance of escaping the trap if he had access to a Lifestyle Medical Doctor.

Until there are some major changes in the US health care system, Americans like Jared Lorenzen will continue to suffer and die prematurely.  It pisses me off.

Stay Healthy and Strong