Obesity 'Epidemic' - so what?

[NoVetec]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-14669209

"In fact, it is getting so bad that experts are beginning to question the ability of the individual to take responsibility for their own actions because of factors such as the increasing availability of cheap, fast food."



"In September, Hungary will introduce a tax on pre-packaged foods containing high salt and sugar content, such as crisps and chocolates."

At least that made me giggle inside, a bit.

[Regiment]

The 2 things i have to say to that is:

1. The obesity statistic probably comes from BMI which is highly inaccurate anyway for anyone that isn't completely 100% average in every way possible, and
2. The reason it's an issue isn't because convenience foods are too cheap but that the majority of westernised people are inherently lazy.

[Happy82]

How long until a UK fatty tax on anything containing more than 5 calories do we think with government proclaiming to be world leaders in anti-obesity technology etc ?

I'm sure others remember when global warming was a 'ticking time bomb' just before 'green' taxes were introduced and we found our economy penalised by media / government scaremongering.

[Kwai Chang Caine]

Obesity epidemic = underclass epidemic, non?

[Rouleur]

Regiment said:

2. The reason it's an issue isn't because convenience foods are too cheap but that the majority of westernised people are inherently lazy.

I don't think laziness is the main cause of people being fat, it's really just down to them eating and drinking far too much - it takes more effort to consume more calories than you need rather than just enough. Why they do this is a mystery to me, I can never understand why they can't control themselves.

[Bing o]

Rouleur said:

I don't think laziness is the main cause of people being fat, it's really just down to them eating and drinking far too much - it takes more effort to consume more calories than you need rather than just enough. Why they do this is a mystery to me, I can never understand why they can't control themselves.

Lack of self-respect/self esteem, same reason that a lot of British think tracksuits are acceptable day wear.

[RemainAllHoof]

Well, it does make you think about why people are generally getting fatter and fatter.

The BMI isn't a bad measurement; in fact, it's perfect for this. Most people are not rugby players or pro weight lifters so BMI tells fat people they are fat. But it isn't down to high salt and sugar content in food, and any government who creates such a tax under the guise of it being a fat tax believing that they are correct displays their ignorance on the matter. (And I will throw a virtual straw man at anyone who says "So if I eat 50 bags of crisps I won't get fat?")

Kwai Chang Caine said:

Obesity epidemic = underclass epidemic, non?

No... I don't think there's a link - I know people from all walks of life and I can't say that the richer they are, the slimmer they are.

[RemainAllHoof]

Bing o said:

Lack of self-respect/self esteem, same reason that a lot of British think tracksuits are acceptable day wear.

Your first part touches on why many fat people are fat.

As for tracksuits, it's got worse - I see people walking around in shorts, t-shirts and flip flops now. You'd think we're in Marbella. Mind you, I should be grateful they keep their t-shirts on (and shorts, obviously).

[The Black Flash]

The usual bunch of medical "experts" for whom the answer is always more state control and higher prices. To whom I give my usual answer, which is "go fk yourselves".

[wolves_wanderer]

Obesity epidemic=another problem to be "solved" with lots of lovely tax

[Disgusted]

It may go some small way to helping with the pensions "crisis" and an ageing population. Obviously fatties' greater susceptibility to illness will bring higher costs to public healthcare, but if lardies are encouraged to die sooner this could balance out. Every cloud etc.

[ringram]

RemainAllHoof said:

Your first part touches on why many fat people are fat.

As for tracksuits, it's got worse - I see people walking around in shorts, t-shirts and flip flops now. You'd think we're in Marbella. Mind you, I should be grateful they keep their t-shirts on (and shorts, obviously).

If that upsets you dont go to NZ or Oz, thats the national dress!

[Regiment]

Rouleur said:

I don't think laziness is the main cause of people being fat, it's really just down to them eating and drinking far too much - it takes more effort to consume more calories than you need rather than just enough. Why they do this is a mystery to me, I can never understand why they can't control themselves.

The reason they can't control themselves is laziness, plain and simple.

They get to a point where they realise they're consuming more calories than they burn in the average day and have the option of eating less or being more active, this inturn means getting themselves out of their current daily pattern and into a new one, which they can't sustain because of their laziness.

Losing weight can be put down to the most basic of mathematics, take the calories you consume and then take the calories you burn. If you have a negative figure at the end, you're losing weight, if you have a positve, you gain weight and if it's roughly 0, you sustain your weight.

For example

Calories consumed in average day 3500 - 3800 calories burnt in the average day = -300, this means you lose weight. So fat people who so they can't lose weight no matter what, either are lying, are lazy or have some rare condition.

[Kermit power]

Rouleur said:

I don't think laziness is the main cause of people being fat, it's really just down to them eating and drinking far too much - it takes more effort to consume more calories than you need rather than just enough. Why they do this is a mystery to me, I can never understand why they can't control themselves.

Large Big Mac meal and a McFlurry = 1,500 calories.

Is it really that difficult to understand how people do it?

[SplatSpeed]

Kermit power said:

Rouleur said:

I don't think laziness is the main cause of people being fat, it's really just down to them eating and drinking far too much - it takes more effort to consume more calories than you need rather than just enough. Why they do this is a mystery to me, I can never understand why they can't control themselves.

Large Big Mac meal and a McFlurry = 1,500 calories.

Is it really that difficult to understand how people do it?

you are not helping my diet!

[SlidingSideways]

I was chatting the the O/H about this over breakfast.
Surely half the problem is that it's cheaper to feed a family on oven chips and turkey twizzlers than it is to buy fresh fruit and veg etc...
A decent chunk of the population do this as it's the only way they can afford to eat.

Now I appreciate taxing this stuff will part solve the problem as these folks won't actually be able to afford to buy food any more (nothing loses weight like starvation), but surely a better way would be to subsidise the healthy stuff?

[98elise]

Adding a few pence tax to something does not stop people doing it, it just makes it more expensive.

Cigarettes are a classic example. My mother smokes, and her cigarette habit is probably her single biggest outgoing each month, and will end her life early. Its up to her what she does with her life/money, not the governement.

[Xaero]

Regiment said:

The reason they can't control themselves is laziness, plain and simple.

They get to a point where they realise they're consuming more calories than they burn in the average day and have the option of eating less or being more active, this inturn means getting themselves out of their current daily pattern and into a new one, which they can't sustain because of their laziness.

Losing weight can be put down to the most basic of mathematics, take the calories you consume and then take the calories you burn. If you have a negative figure at the end, you're losing weight, if you have a positve, you gain weight and if it's roughly 0, you sustain your weight.

For example

Calories consumed in average day 3500 - 3800 calories burnt in the average day = -300, this means you lose weight. So fat people who so they can't lose weight no matter what, either are lying, are lazy or have some rare condition.

There are far more ways of dropping weight/fat than calorie counting too. Just none are particularly comfortable.

Michael Phelpes consumes 15000 calories a day and has a olympic body from it. Not because the spends the calories in exercise (that is a hell of a lot of exercise) but because he spends several hours in a pool. Thermo dynamics in action here means far lower body fat.

How many fatties are willing to sit in an ice bath instead of reduce calorie count though?

[hollydog]

Rouleur said:

Regiment said:

2. The reason it's an issue isn't because convenience foods are too cheap but that the majority of westernised people are inherently lazy.

I don't think laziness is the main cause of people being fat, it's really just down to them eating and drinking far too much - it takes more effort to consume more calories than you need rather than just enough. Why they do this is a mystery to me, I can never understand why they can't control themselves.

would you say the same to an anorexic or bulimic.look at the amount of tax payers money is spent on that .at the end of the day that a persons choice. but is classed as a mental problem or eating disorder.beening over weight is another eating disorder.needs to be under stood . its the last acceptable predergast which is wrong . if every one thinks that overweight people eat to much then they are already paying more tax due too buying more food , that in most cases is not right . all bodies metabolise food at differant rates . some people can eat more calories and naturally do not put weight on . most overweight people naturally should consum lower calories because if they can eat the same amount as thinner people but still put on weight . there has been studies on twins 1 is normal size and the other bigger .yet they eat the same . alot overweight people start getting overweight in childhood due to bullying buy thinner children .that lowers a childs self confidence and self esteemed then it causes mental scrares for the rest of there lifes .lets take some responsibility and get to the root causes of there is a weight problem in adults .iam not saying every one that is overweight is in this category . but there is normaly mental issues why they can,t control they calorie intake . in life every 1 is not the same its about time in this day and age we all understood that .(and also fats in food has been proved to being highly addictive to some pepole that could be an issue as well )

[roachcoach]

Just as soon as they get a measure for 'obese' that does not include just about every professional athlete except distance runners I'll start to give a st.


Hell I got a lecture at a BUPA healthcheck thing because my BMI had me slightly 'overweight'. That my body fat %age was nearly single figures and height to waist ration was ridiculous didn't seem to matter to the silly bint. Just nod and smile.


ETA:

hollydog said:

but there is normaly mental issues why they can,t control they calorie intake

bks. some yes, most no. For me, I was edging 16 stone and a 36" trouser were getting tight so I addressed it and I'm never going back.

It's not THAT hard to do some training.

I appreciate a minority will have genuine issues, but people need to stop finding excuses to blame everyone but themselves and start taking responsibility for themselves.

Edited by roachcoach on Friday 26th August 15:04