Ind. hospital's obesity billboards stir debate

HOBART, Ind. (AP) - A northern Indiana hospital that erected billboards with the message "Obesity is a disease. Not a decision" is facing a public backlash from people who find the signs offensive.

The staff at St. Mary Medical Center's Healthy 4 Life weight-loss program expected some people would disagree with the billboards.

But director of bariatric services Lorri Field says no one anticipated the "ugly debate" they've generated through angry phone calls and emails over the root cause of obesity.

Winfield resident September Vawter says obesity is a choice and there's "no disease that makes your hands unwrap a candy bar."

St. Mary Medical Center spokeswoman Mary Fetsch tells The Times of Munster (http://bit.ly/v8cHQ5 ) that the Hobart hospital has no plans to take down early its billboards in Lake and Porter counties.