Unlike most health conditions, obesity carries a stigma.
For decades, people who were overweight or obese were expected to lose weight with diet, exercise and sheer willpower. Medications, along with surgery, were considered a treatment of last resort, and the expectation was that patients would stop taking the medication once they reached their goal weight, even when it inevitably led to them regaining all the weight they had lost, if not more.
Now, obesity is more widely recognized as a biological defect of energy metabolism, and doctors are beginning to accept that it should be managed in the same way as any other medical condition.
In Cuyahoga County, where about 35% of residents are obese, that’s good news.
-Laura |
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The rise in popularity of the diabetes medications for weight loss have led to an overall positive shift in attitudes about obesity as a disease, and an acceptance of medications as effective therapies. (Novo Nordisk via AP) |
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Obesity drugs: Obesity -- once considered a problem of self-control -- is now being more widely recognized as a biological defect of energy metabolism, and as a result doctors are beginning to accept that it should be managed in the same way as any other medical condition. Gretchen Cuda Kroen reports that Ohio became the second to last state to change a rule governing weight loss drugs, allowing Ohioans more leeway in taking drugs for the condition.
Kids in custody: For a year, Cuyahoga County officials made the case that it was unacceptable for a child in county care to sleep even one night at the Jane Edna Hunter Social Services Center, and eventually committed nearly $11 million to create alternative housing for youth who are routinely denied other placements. Now, reports Kaitlin Durbin, county officials say it’s inevitable that some kids stay at the Jane Edna office, home to the Division of Children and Family Services, for a day or two.
State park drilling: While a new state law just opened the door to fracking in state parks, a little-known state body has leased out more than 31,000 acres of its land in oil and gas drilling deals under several pristine lakes and reservoirs in Southeast Ohio, reports Jake Zuckerman. The Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District (MWCD) earned a towering $278 million in leases and royalty payments between 2011 and 2022, selling rights to drill for fossil fuels under some of Ohio’s most beautiful attractions, like Tappan Lake. The deal could serve as a model for the drillers’ next big target: Ohio’s state parks.
Horse stables: Mayor Justin Bibb is reconsidering costly plans to build a new home for Cleveland police’s mounted unit, after The Plain Dealer and cleveland.com spent a week seeking answers about the facility’s growing price tag. Courtney Astolfi reports the estimated $16.5 million cost – well above what some cities have recently spent on their police stables – could raise questions about the future of the mounted unit.
Today in Ohio: Trump acolyte Jim Jordan wants to draft legislation that would protect “former and/or current Presidents from politically motivated prosecutions by state and local officials.” Does Jordan, an Ohio congressman, have a point that only federal prosecutors should be able to bring charges? We’re discussing on Today in Ohio, cleveland.com’s daily half-hour news podcast.
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Transportation budget: Gov. Mike DeWine on Friday signed into law a requirement for the state to build a controversial interchange between the cities of Strongsville and Brunswick. However, Jeremy Pelzer reports, the governor said he intends to “bring people together” in the coming weeks to try to negotiate a compromise that resolves the years-long dispute.
Jordan and Vance: U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan and U.S. Sen. JD Vance have built national profiles in part over their connection to former President Donald Trump. But with Trump now facing criminal charges stemming from a $130,000 hush-money payment to an adult-film actress, the two Ohioans likely will be positioned to take on an even greater role in his public defense, reports Laura Hancock.
Jordan move: As much as U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan might want to pass legislation that would block “politically motivated” prosecutions of current and former presidents like Donald Trump, legal experts predict he won’t get very far. Sabrina Eaton reports past U.S. Supreme Court decisions indicate presidents aren’t above the law, and the Democrat-controlled U.S. Senate and the current president would never sign off on legislation to protect Trump.
Campaign crimes: The indictment of President Donald Trump may be the biggest, loudest, and most consequential felonious campaign finance allegation these days. But Ohioans have seen campaign finance criminal cases before, reports Jake Zuckerman. Ohio state government offers a sordid and colorful recent history of campaign violations, including a former governor, state representatives and mayors.
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Drag protest: The much-anticipated protests over drag events in Chardon and Chesterland on Saturday ended without incident. Only a small group of protestors that included members of the Patriot Front organization arrived on Chardon Square Saturday morning for the start of a drag brunch at Element 41 restaurant, but beyond chants and shouts there were no violent confrontations. Only one protester showed up for the third event, a drag story hour at a church, reports Paris Wolfe and Kaylee Remington.
Wadsworth protest: When drag storytellers canceled their appearance at the “Rock-n-Roll Humanist Drag Queen Story Hour” in Wadsworth on March 11, a performer who appears under the stage name Robin Rue jumped in. Rue, who is transgender and now lives as a woman, told Paris Wolfe that with the protestors outside barriers and managed by law enforcement, she felt supported.
Climate plan: The Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency has been working on a climate action plan for the past year, with the hope of getting board approval in June. But staff at NOACA changed the name of the climate project to “Local Emissions and Weather Resiliency Planning” and removed a number of references to “climate” before presenting a new version March 10. Peter Krouse reports critics say the change is “dangerous” because it “appears to be an appeasement to climate denial, to climate change denial.”
Rock Hall: Cleveland’s City Planning Commission on Friday enthusiastically approved early-stage “conceptual” designs for the proposed $100 million expansion and renovation of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The unanimous approval keeps the project on track for a groundbreaking late this summer or early in the fall, reports Steven Litt.
Lake Erie hatch: Lake Erie’s walleye had yet another good spawning season last spring, an unprecedentedly abundant hatch for the seventh time in the past nine years, reports D’Arcy Egan. The Walleye Capital of the World saw a decline of about 7% in 2022, but after amazing sport catches in recent years, no one is complaining. |
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February gambling: Gamblers in Ohio placed $639 million worth of bets in February in the second month of legal sports gambling in Ohio, netting the state another $8.3 million in tax revenue. Sean McDonnell reports it’s a decline from the $1.1 billion in bets the state saw in January, though promotional credits from betting companies skew the numbers some.
COVID map: Cuyahoga County and its surrounding counties were classified green for low COVID-19 spread on the latest U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention map. Julie Washington reports this was the case for most of Ohio in the latest map updated late Thursday, with 75 of Ohio’s 88 counties now classified as the designation for the lowest level of COVID-19 spread. |
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Chase death: A man being chased by Maple Heights police officers early Friday died after he crashed into a tree in Garfield Heights, reports Olivia Mitchell. The crash happened shortly after 3 a.m. near Milo Avenue.
Molotov cocktail: A man who authorities say is member of an Ohio-based Neo-Nazi group was arrested Friday on federal charges that say he firebombed a Chesterland Township church to stop it from hosting a drag queen story hour, reports Olivia Mitchell. Aimenn Penny, 20, of Alliance, has been charged in U.S. District Court in Cleveland with malicious use of explosive materials and possession of a destructive device for his intent to burn down the Community Church of Chesterland on March 25.
Euclid officer: Euclid Police officer Michael Amiott was sentenced Friday to one year of probation and fined $1,000 in court costs, reports Molly Walsh. A Euclid Municipal Court jury found Amiott guilty in July of misdemeanor charges of assault and interfering with the civil rights of Richard Hubbard III during an August 2017 traffic stop that was captured on cellphone video and viewed millions of times online. |
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Melt sandwiches: Cleveland.com’s Best of Cleveland team taste-tested eight of Melt’s classic grilled cheese sandwiches and ranking them best to worst.
House of the Week: A renovated home with historic charm can double as an income property in one of the city’s hippest neighborhoods, reports Joey Morona. Built in 1890 in the classic Italianate style, the house on Clinton Avenue is a duplex with four bedrooms and three and a half bathrooms in total. |
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Most of the power knocked out in Greater Cleveland from Saturday’s storms has been restored Read more |
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