Obesity Crisis: Theres not much we can do.

[Dartzap]

Beeb

Obesity 'not individuals' fault'
Individuals can no longer be held responsible for obesity and government must act to stop Britain "sleepwalking" into a crisis, a report has concluded.

The largest ever UK study into obesity, backed by government and compiled by 250 experts, said excess weight was now the norm in our "obesogenic" society.

Dramatic and comprehensive action was required to stop the majority of us becoming obese by 2050, they said.

The government pledged to draw up a strategy to address the issue.

But the report authors admitted proof that any anti-obesity policy worked "was scant".

Nonetheless, they said every level of society, from individuals to the upper echelons of government, had to become involved in the campaign against a condition which carried such great social and economic consequences.

In 2002, those who were overweight or obese cost nearly £7bn in treatment, state benefits and indirect costs such as loss of earnings and reduced productivity.

n 40 years' time, that figure could reach nearly £46bn, as health services struggle to cope with the ill-health such as type 2 diabetes, cancer and stroke which can be associated with excess weight.

An obese person dies on average nine years earlier than somebody of normal weight, while a very obese person's life is cut short by an average of 13 years.

"There is a danger that the moment to act radically and dramatically will be missed," said Sir David King, the government's chief scientific adviser and head of the Foresight Programme which drew up the report.

"It is a problem that is getting worse every year."

So hard

Obesity, the authors concluded, was an inevitable consequence of a society in which energy-dense and cheap foods, labour-saving devices, motorised transport and sedentary work were rife.

Dr Susan Jebb of the Medical Research Council said that in this environment, it was surprising that anyone was able to remain thin, and so the notion of obesity simply being a product of personal over-indulgence had to be abandoned for good.

"The stress has been on the individual choosing a healthier lifestyle, but that simply isn't enough," she said.

From planning our towns to encourage more physical activity to placing more pressure on mothers to breast feed - believed to slow down infant weight gain - the report highlighted a range of policy options without making any concrete recommendations.

Industry was already working make healthier products available, the report noted, while work was advanced in transforming the very make-up of food so it was digested more slowly and proved satisfying for longer.

But Sir David said it was clear that government needed to involve itself, as on this occasion, the market was failing to do the job.

Shock tactics?

Health Secretary Alan Johnson described the report as "nothing, if not challenging" and said a national debate was needed about the best way forward.

He said: "As this report starkly demonstrates, people in the UK are not more gluttonous than previous generations and individual action alone will not be sufficient.

"Solutions will not be found in exhortations to greater individual responsibility or in the futility of isolated initiatives."

Public Health Minister Dawn Primarolo said it was too early to say whether the same "shock" approach seen in public health warnings against smoking would be adopted with obesity, or whether a tax on fatty foods, highlighted in the report but widely dismissed as unworkable, would be considered.

"The most important thing is there has to be public consent and understanding of the issues you're trying to challenge," she said.

"A mandate for change will be difficult because it has to be preceded by an understanding of the dangers of obesity."

She said the main aim now was to reduce the proportion of overweight and obese children to 2000 levels by 2020.

But the British Heart Foundation (BHF) accused the government of backtracking on promises, saying this was a "softer, more distant" target than one originally proposed - to halt childhood obesity rates by 2010.

But the Royal College of Physicians said it thought the report was "encouraging".

"The emphasis on cross-governmental initiatives is particularly welcome, as is the importance of addressing issues across society whilst avoiding blame," said its president, Professor Ian Gilmore.

The Food and Drink Federation said it understood its role in tackling the problem.

"Our industry is now widely recognised as leading the world when it comes to reformulating products; extending consumer choice; and introducing improved nutrition labelling," a spokesperson said.

Andrew Lansley, the Shadow Health Secretary, said: "The government has been asleep for the last decade while the alarm bells have been ringing."

He said a cross-government strategy would be developed to respond to the challenge of obesity.

Not to worry, the effects of climate change will sort all of that out, what?

[Zwinmar]

My opinion is that obesiety is a byproduct of industrialization. Historically, the only fat people were the wealthy, everyone who had to work for their food, (farmers), were not fat.

[Kanastrous]

Is absorb fewer calories and expend more calories really *that* difficult for people to grasp...?

I realize that some people do have a metabolic disposition toward obesity, but it's hard to believe that the explosion of porculence is driven by heredity, rather than plain old-fashioned indolence and lack of discipline.

[General Zod]

My opinion is that obesiety is a byproduct of industrialization. Historically, the only fat people were the wealthy, everyone who had to work for their food, (farmers), were not fat.

There's also the fact that the really fatty foods that we have today just weren't as prevalent as they are today. (I'm looking at you, High Fructose Corn Syrup . . . ).

[Sidewinder]

I was surprised to learn that the UK is facing the same damn problem the US is. I thought the British still valued hard work?

[Einhander Sn0m4n]

Here's a thought: Let's find out how much the food industry overlaps with the weight-loss industry. Hello Invariably Highly-Profitable Conflict of Interest!

[Dartzap]

I was surprised to learn that the UK is facing the same damn problem the US is. I thought the British still valued hard work?

We do. We work the most hours in Europe, and have the lowest number of holidays. The trouble is that many of the "hands on" (lacking for a better term) jobs have moved abroad, or if they are still here, then we dont want want to do it, due to shit wages, which is where the Polish immigrants and others come in, who don't mind starting on the lower rungs to get to the top.

We do work hard. It just happens to be in front of a computer instead of in a factory.

[Lord Pounder]

Obesity will not be a problem come peak oil, all the really fat fucks are gonna have to start walking. I am a little overweight and it's entirely down to me that I am. I refuse to live in a blameless society any more.

[Kanastrous]

Obesity will not be a problem come peak oil, all the really fat fucks are gonna have to start walking.

If we don't round them up and render them for biofuel, first.

[Aaron]

Obesity will not be a problem come peak oil, all the really fat fucks are gonna have to start walking. I am a little overweight and it's entirely down to me that I am. I refuse to live in a blameless society any more.

I agree, I used to be 75 pounds overwieght. I lost 25 pounds just by stoppig drinking and I lost 40 further pounds by following the old Weight Watchers plan I still have ten to go. But it was no ones fault but my own. Bad eating habits such as having Mcdicks every second night or Wendy's or eatng when I was bored lead to it. And the drinking to excess didn't help things either. Why people refuse to take responsability for their own actions is beyond me.

[Einhander Sn0m4n]

Obesity will not be a problem come peak oil, all the really fat fucks are gonna have to start walking. I am a little overweight and it's entirely down to me that I am. I refuse to live in a blameless society any more.

I agree, I used to be 75 pounds overwieght. I lost 25 pounds just by stoppig drinking and I lost 40 further pounds by following the old Weight Watchers plan I still have ten to go. But it was no ones fault but my own. Bad eating habits such as having Mcdicks every second night or Wendy's or eatng when I was bored lead to it. And the drinking to excess didn't help things either. Why people refuse to take responsability for their own actions is beyond me.

Thirded. There's really no one blameless, as much as I rail against the food industry engineering an obese population by purposely underpricing junk food, there are ways around it. Ride a bike, find a few gym buddies (or organize a gym club), find lower-stress jobs, try to save more money by doing things that exercise you more, and GET ENOUGH SLEEP! Stop worrying about stupid shit you can't control, and fix the things you can. Putting down the Big Mac helps a lot as well. Try buying meat as unprocessed as you can, then butcher it yourself to save some bucks and literally trim off the fat.

Hell, get a Wii, it's what the thing's designed for!

These tactics will directly attack your weight problem through better eating and exercise, and some will also indirectly assault it by lowering your stress levels, with a balanced budget bonus and a social-life pickup bonus!

[Einhander Sn0m4n]

Long term strategies for weight management would be political in nature. Organize movements to disentangle and reform the food industry to disentangle the conflict of interest I spoke of earlier. Reform the insurance and health-care industries to encourage people to see their doctors more often. Reengineer city planning to revolve around walking and biking neighborhoods and cities for a direct attack on sedentary lifestyles. Strip and rebuild the Farm Bill from the ground up to stop the Corn Syrup Plague and encourage more fruits and veggies. Ignore the pleas and lobbying from the weight-loss industry as it withers and dies; they not only have interests in keeping everyone morbidly obese, but increased productivity from healthy workers will offset the small loss; the charlatans will not be missed. Make gym memberships tax-deductible, and build more recreational areas like parks and bike paths.

Bonus: Less cars means less carbon as well. Corn can then be used for more ethanol production, though I'd really prefer jatropha and hemp be used, along with more nuclear plants built. Again, just shoot any NIMBYs and BANANAs who resist; they are just being selfish.

[Ubiquitous]

I was surprised to learn that the UK is facing the same damn problem the US is. I thought the British still valued hard work?

We do. We work the most hours in Europe, and have the lowest number of holidays. The trouble is that many of the "hands on" (lacking for a better term) jobs have moved abroad, or if they are still here, then we dont want want to do it, due to shit wages, which is where the Polish immigrants and others come in, who don't mind starting on the lower rungs to get to the top.

We do work hard. It just happens to be in front of a computer instead of in a factory.

Those of us that actually work, do it hard. The 5 million+ on government benefits do not 'enjoy' the long hours that the rest of us do, and thus are likely to have significantly less calorie expenditure and, as a consequence, larger waistlines.

[Einhander Sn0m4n]

Another tactic that directly attacks the Soda Problem is replace HFCS with Stevia and tell the corn and sugar lobbies to fuck off for having the USDA label it a potentially-toxic 'supplement' due to political pressure. Let the fuckers eat stevia.

[Covenant]

I saw this article a few days ago and I was glad people are recognizing the environmental causes of obesity. It does come down to the individual if they want to lose their weight, and it's not very hard to do overall, but there needs to be more considerations paid (like Ein's idea) to making the job easier. It's expensive to everyone else to have to pay for the cost of national obesity, and it fuels a rush away from public transportation and to personal transport, as well as a variety of other things that just exacerbate a lot of further issues.

Also, obesity and a rising cost of food don't jive well either.

[Broomstick]

There's also the fact that the really fatty foods that we have today just weren't as prevalent as they are today. (I'm looking at you, High Fructose Corn Syrup . . . ).

[nitpick]HFCS is actually entirely fat-free. Calorie dense, yes, but strictly from sugars, not fat.[/nitpick]

[PainRack]

With all the fixation on being thin and obesity, i think we may have overlooked something else.

Exercise...... Considering that the AMA has stated that you need 30min of moderate to intense exercise 4-5 times a week and with other doctors claiming that you need to walk 4km a day or the equivalent in exercise for maintaining good health, its easy to see how the population is caught in the rat race of their jobs and family is unable to maintain good health.

[Adrian Laguna]

Exercise...... Considering that the AMA has stated that you need 30min of moderate to intense exercise 4-5 times a week and with other doctors claiming that you need to walk 4km a day or the equivalent in exercise for maintaining good health, its easy to see how the population is caught in the rat race of their jobs and family is unable to maintain good health.

It's possible to get at least some exercise by doing certain little things and letting them add up. Take the stairs instead of the elevator, you can spare the extra couple of minutes, and using the stairs instead of the escalator really isn't slower. Stand-up when the TV cuts to commercials and pace around the room. Don't waste time trying to find the closest parking spot, just use the first one you seen and walk. Things like that can help, they're no substitute for dedicated exercise, but they do help.

[Einhander Sn0m4n]

Another nice way of getting 'submarine exercise' is buy or rent a home with the bathroom upstairs.

[PainRack]

It's possible to get at least some exercise by doing certain little things and letting them add up. Take the stairs instead of the elevator, you can spare the extra couple of minutes, and using the stairs instead of the escalator really isn't slower. Stand-up when the TV cuts to commercials and pace around the room. Don't waste time trying to find the closest parking spot, just use the first one you seen and walk. Things like that can help, they're no substitute for dedicated exercise, but they do help.

That isn't exercise, that's activity. That may be fine and dandy when you're hitting 50 and your cardiovascular system is slowing down, but for people in their thirties or so, it doesn't.

Furthermore, even the "adding" up of exercise requires ten minutes or so of moderate to intensive activity.There is a reason why construction workers have high rates of cardiovascular disease, despite the fact that they're doing heavy labour and being highly active have high rates of cardiovascular disease, and smoking/obesity is just part of it.

[His Divine Shadow]

Oh well *leans back, crosses hands behind back and proceeds to not giving a shit*

It's all going to hell anyway, but I am prepared.

[Broomstick]

It's possible to get at least some exercise by doing certain little things and letting them add up. Take the stairs instead of the elevator, you can spare the extra couple of minutes, and using the stairs instead of the escalator really isn't slower. Stand-up when the TV cuts to commercials and pace around the room. Don't waste time trying to find the closest parking spot, just use the first one you seen and walk. Things like that can help, they're no substitute for dedicated exercise, but they do help.

That isn't exercise, that's activity. That may be fine and dandy when you're hitting 50 and your cardiovascular system is slowing down, but for people in their thirties or so, it doesn't.

A couple of things

First, that activity you poo-poo is certainly better than nothing - I know people younger than I am who can't climb even one flight of stairs without huffing and puffing. Walking more than 1 or 2 blocks is too much. Those who do even the teeny minimum of taking stairs instead of elevators, or walking farther after parking, are still reaping some benefit over those who won't do even that little bit.

Second - "hitting 50" should NOT result in such a diminished capacity for exercise as you seem to imply. That minimal activity is still minimal even for those in the 50's and 60's and even beyond.

[Lagmonster]

I'd like to know if I'm alone in thinking that it's not hard to find catty references to people who are healthy and attractive, portraying them as shallow, obsessive about diet, vapid, and elitist, and equally not hard to find portrayals of overweight people as jolly, honest, successful and hardworking.

[Edi]

I'd like to know if I'm alone in thinking that it's not hard to find catty references to people who are healthy and attractive, portraying them as shallow, obsessive about diet, vapid, and elitist, and equally not hard to find portrayals of overweight people as jolly, honest, successful and hardworking.

You're not.

[brianeyci]

and smoking/obesity is just part of it.

I don't know. For what it's worth every day I walk home I see a lot of construction workers and almost all of them seem to be fat asses and they all hang around the smoking pit on breaks and talk with the guys lighting up a cig. I wouldn't be too surprised if almost all construction workers took in second-hand smoke/or smoked/or ate the same shit food on breaks that their fat friends do, if they don't mostly smoke or are fat already.

Also construction workers are constantly exercising all the time, straining their heart with heavy lifting. It's incomparable to a 30 minute walk home every day, and the rise of the car culture happened at the same time as this surge in cardiovascular disease. I know tons of people in their 20's who can't handle a 45 minute walk hom every day.