Fattism

[Wiglaf]

Regarding the earlier comparison with smoking, smoking is way more regulated where I live than in many other places. The complaint there was two-fold: 1. I shouldn't be forced to pay for govt ads portraying smokers as inherently horrible people and 2. if I go to the far side of a parking lot to smoke and two non-smokers fallow me out there then make comments about the smoke, they are weenies. For what it is worth, heavier folks should not have to pay an additional tax for ads portraying overweight folks as being lazy bums and anyone that disturbs their meal to make rude comments is a jerk.
However, a special fat section on the bus is a bit much and education that eating healthy and maintaining a healthy weight is actually a good idea. As for the behavior aspect it is a moot point as while I can not smoke near the bus stop let alone on the bus, you couldn't require someone to leave their excess weight at home. It is an apples to oranges comparison.
Additionally the arguement on the smoking thread kind of turned into more of a case of neener-neener-neener than I would have liked so I really didn't state what specifically bothered me there. However one issue of mine was that acceptance of smoking other substances should not be ignored. Likewise with any campaign against overeating some attention should also be paid to other eating related problems auch as anorexia. Also if the obesity was the result of an other medical condition, couldn't those people be given one of those hanging placards or whatever the handicapped get that allows them to receive special accommodation?

[Wybren]

In my state the government have launched a campaign with the slogan "Its your 30" in an attempt to get people to do at least 30 minutes of exercise a day, and they also have started offering free exercise groups in certain places, like Yoga and taichi in parks and walking groups and suchlike. They even got Pat Rafter to be in the adds for it and sent everyone these folders about healthy eating etc. But to me seems like a bit of a smoke and mirrors thing. Sure it is all good to try to encourage people to keep healthy, but untill the wider issues are addressed then what good does it do?

[Wiglaf]

What wider issues should they address, Wybe? In relation to obesity. You can inform people of the health effects of being overweight and you can help them learn about nutrition and exercise but what they actually do about it up to them.

[Wybren]

Well Poverty for one, It may not be the same in other countries, but here it is way cheaper to buy the refined processed food than it is to buy the fresh healthy food and when you have people who are paying over half their income on rent/ mortgage they aren't going to be likely to choose the healthy fresh food option. There are also other factors to why a person may over eat and become overweight, there are also medical conditions which can contribute to a person being overweight. the government can talk till they are blue in the face, but until they start offering real assitance (and I dont mean financial, how about starting community gardens in poorer areas so they have access to cheap vegies, that sort of thing )to help people change behaviors or get affordable treatment for those who have a medical condition which makes their bodies resistant to loosing weight, then the problems will still persist.

[Wiglaf]

Gotcha, but you are talking about overhauling all of society to do it. Also if you are suggesting that government does it, well you all probably know how I feel about big government. I am also intentionally ignoring medical causes as they are not the cause in the majority of people and when they are the cause, a doctor would be the best to provide a solution. Fresh fruit prices are going to be high as even though we are a main producer, the water shortage will drive up prices. Regulation of high fructose corn syrup might help though. Fructose creates a quicker and higher insulin spike than sucrose and corn syrup doesn't have the vitamins that other high fructose foods such as fruits and juices have.

[Wybren]

Sorry I should clarify, when I say government, I am talking of my governments, at least the local ones anyway, that deal with community issues like the shire councils and such.

As for doctors providind the best solution, pffff. I have a condition, which not only causes infertility, but makes your body insulin resistant and less able to loose weight even with the right exercise and healthy eating. I had been trying to shift the excess weight for 10 years, with healthy eating and going to the gym and seeing a dietician. I go to the endocrinologist and they say, if you loose weight it will fix your problem, and tell me to eat healthy and excersise. I end up going in desperation to my gp and she tells me of these medications to help. And they cost at the time $120 per month. I can afford this ( and have lost 22kg on them) but not alot of people can afford this treatment.

Regulating corn syrup might help, and other highly refined sugars.

[Vladd67]

Vladd's view of the World: School uniforms expanded to size 18 due to soaring level of childhood obesity
And the kids get bigger

[Teresa Edgerton]

But this was also part of the article:

Overeating is playing a part, but some children may simply be bigger as the population gets taller and heavier as nutrition and living conditions improve.

And I don't suppose anyone is able to give an accurate estimate of the children with eating disorders, because those aren't always as obvious.

[Zubi-Ondo]

Originally Posted by Ursa major

I'm guessing that I'd feel at the very least (or is it most?) dolorous if I went through with that trade.

Yes, you Surely would. And don't call me Dolores.

- Z.