Are we really facing an obesity 'epidemic'?

[NATURAL ANKLING]

Hi,
The memory that sticks in my mind is that out on bike about 15 - 20 years ago and passed a school class walking along main road.
It struck me that they were mostly overweight at an age of say 8-10 year olds.......this was a local prep school.

[Mick F]

If you look at the school photos when I woz a lad, we didn't have a fat person in the class. Probably not in the whole school.
These days, many kids are overweight ............ maybe half in each class?

[Psamathe]

I do wonder the part personal bias plays in "blaming" the causes for such obesity:
1. I blame the food corporations - sell junk full of fat, sugar , salt and everything else because that maximises profits and blow the impact on consumers. May or may not be true but I have a natural inclination to blame the big corporations in their drive for ever increasing profits without the regard their products and practices are having on society. So whilst I happily blame them, are they really part of the problem - most know the impacts of what they sell yet many still buy them.

2. I blame the computers. In my day we were out on our bikes, outside, just being active. Kids these days are at home chatting to their friends over their computers, sitting pretty stationary taking virtually no exercise. So many adults just sit around passing time rather than getting up and doing something active. But as I'm being what is thought to be "the right thing" it gets very easy to blame people who don't as bringing their weight problem on themselves through their laziness (because I don't consider myself lazy).

etc.
Basically I seem to chose to believe to causes some rubbish TV program might tell me because it fits-in with my existing beliefs/opinions - many of which are probably due to unfounded attitude reasons (i.e. "I'm not guilty of doing that").

Whilst I'm sure there is more than one underlying cause, I am naturally sceptical about those sufferers who are so quick to blame their metabolism (i.e. not their fault it's just their metabolism). Maybe such reasons apply to a few but I don't believe the big increase in numbers can be put down to changes in the metabolism of so many in some societies.

Whether an epidemic or not seems to be arguing about vocabulary. I believe it is certainly a problem that is costing people their health and is costing money (e.g. diabetes treatments, buying special ambulances to cope with larger people, etc.).

And as for the article arguing that it is longevity that is costing the NHS so much - sort of suggests to me that the author has missed the point of the NHS (and healthcare in general).

Ian

[beardy]

My "bias" is to blame cars, both directly for the users and indirectly forcing non-drivers (and drivers) out of the public spaces they used to get exercise in and pollution causing illness causing inactivity causing weight gain.
I also blame the TV, the computer is just taking over or adding to what it has done.

Then there is mechanisation, everything from minidiggers to electric screwdrivers. All these things which we have because we are rich are causing us the problems.

[661-Pete]

If you look at the school photos when I woz a lad, we didn't have a fat person in the class. Probably not in the whole school.
These days, many kids are overweight ............ maybe half in each class?

You may be spot-on there. People can look for themselves, thanks to an old thread which I've just 'bumped'.
viewtopic.php?f=15&t=71561
Certainly not too many 'fatties' in my old school.

[TonyR]

Perhaps the solution is to narrow the entrances of food shops and restaurants so only the slim can indulge.

[Mick F]

Also, instead of weighing your luggage when you check in at airports, they weigh YOU as well as your luggage.
You pay per Kg total weight.
Light people pay less than fat people.

Same on trains, busses and taxis.

Maybe a service charge in restaurants, pubs and fast food joints for anyone over a certain weight.

Do away with shopping trollies in supermarkets. You have to carry what you buy.

[661-Pete]

I once complained to Tesco, that at our local branch there were too many of the big trolleys and not enough of the smaller, half-depth trolleys - which were often running short. But my main reason was slightly different: if you fill one of the smaller trolleys the load will still comfortably fit into four panniers . A full load in the large trolley, won't. But we seldom buy that much at one go anyway - we prefer to go more frequently and buy less. After all, on the bikes, it's not costing any more!

In French supermarkets the checkout aisles are typically rather narrower - usually only wide enough to push a trolley through with an inch or two to spare. You certainly can't squeeze past your trolley - even if you're of normal girth. But then there are fewer obese people in France than in UK. And I think the reason for that arrangement, is more to deter shoplifters from sneaking past with goods hidden under their clothes. They also have bleep-gates at the checkouts. Someone over there must be worried.....

[Sweep]

At the risk of heading off topic, i know a few italian supermarkets which are really paranoid. You have to seal any bags you take in into a plastic sealing thing and they won't let you pass through the checkout lanes without having bought anything - you are supposed to head back to the entry point and security to be allowed to leave.

[TonyR]

Also, instead of weighing your luggage when you check in at airports, they weigh YOU as well as your luggage.
You pay per Kg total weight.
Light people pay less than fat people.

[youtube]z74EqQfWMUA[/youtube]

[maxcherry]

But how much of the 'Obesity Epidemic' is caused by Poor health, medication,mental health, finance, lack of understanding, etc. It's all very well saying 'Your fat' and fat shaming (which is cruel) but we don't know why and how a person is the way they are.

I understand that food has changed a great deal and the chemicals and ingredients that go into them does not help, also fast food places line the street compared to when I was young and there was only a fish and chip shop in a 20 mile area.

Just saying that there is more to being obese than what the media ignores.

[661-Pete]

At the risk of heading off topic, i know a few italian supermarkets which are really paranoid. You have to seal any bags you take in into a plastic sealing thing and they won't let you pass through the checkout lanes without having bought anything - you are supposed to head back to the entry point and security to be allowed to leave.

In many French supermarkets and DIYs you have to look for the Sortie sans achats, which may have a barrier which can only be opened by a member of staff. They may check your bags.

[661-Pete]

Back on topic. I get a feeling that there is a general blasé feeling towards obesity. Is this anything to do with the cultural taboo, I wonder? Especially the fact that for generations it has been considered rude - offensive even - to allude to another person's obesity? If people were more open about the subject, and not afraid to air it in public - perhaps there would be more incentive to fight it.

Certainly I'd have no problems if people called me a 'fatty'. But it's less likely to happen now - I've had moderate success and no longer look obese (according to Mrs P, who's in the best position to know! ). But the scales still deliver a constant warning...

On the other end of the scale (literally) - many of you will have read the sad story a couple of weeks ago, about the death of Britain's heaviest man. The sadness didn't begin with his death, of course - it ended there. What are the risks of anyone ending up in that state?

[Vorpal]

http://www.worldobesity.org/site_media/ ... ated_4.pdf

This is based on BMI, but I doubt it's due to increasing muscle mass

[Vorpal]

I don't think that we can blame any one thing. I suppose that the motor vehicle contributes significantly to sednetary lifestyles, but there are also many fewer people working in manual labour and physical jobs. People eat more prepared foods, eat out more, eat more sugar, etc. People can financially afford to eat more and do less.