VIEWPOINT | American health care needs a lifestyle revolution

Guest column by Dr. Heidi Prather, Hospital for Special Surgery physiatrist

Imagine being one of the millions of Americans in need of a hip or knee replacement due to osteoarthritis. Severe pain, reduced physical activity, an inability to perform many routine tasks -- the symptoms can be truly debilitating.

But if you're obese or overweight, there's a good chance that your orthopedic surgeon will refuse to provide care. As one patient told the New York Times of her doctor, "He told me to come back when I had lost 30 pounds."

VIEWPOINT | South Dakota's open meetings laws couldn't be wimpier