Hallo again Cdiver -
Hope I'm not sounding too adversarial here - as I've tried to emphasise in my posts, I'm not keen on body fascists who demand that people look a certain way, or who view with contempt anyone who doesn't fit their ideal. Nor am I talking about people who are carrying a few extra kilos. The ones I am fearful for are those like my friend, who is morbidly obese.
I think there is enough advertising coming from Dr, TV and news papers/magazines to educate these people without total inexperienced strangers putting there 2c in.
But it's not working, is it? Rather than decreasing, the obesity rates are increasing at an horrific pace. I'm not suggesting 'total inexperienced strangers' put their two cents in (you won't see me on TV with a megaphone yelling at people to get on a diet, that's for sure!), but we - Western Society - do need to do something, because the future looks pretty bleak otherwise.
I notice you did not address the issue, cost to the health service from all these people that get injured keeping fit. If statistics were available for keep fit/sports activity's I think the numbers would be surprising.
Actually, I used to work for a government department of Sport and Recreation
I remember a study released in Oz at the time that looked at the statistics of sports related injuries. These are significant, but must be balanced against the much greater health and psychological benefits that participation in such activities provides. That's why there are Health Insurance rebates for those who participate in organised physical activities - the Health Insurance companies want to encourage a more physically active clientele so they wind up paying out less! (Which reminds me...I must make a claim on my gym membership).
You mentioned people taking responsibility for there health, how? fine them if there overweight or can not lift there own body weight.
Absolutely not! At no point in this thread have I suggested any sort of penalty for people who are not physically fit. I would find such a policy abhorant and would fight it tooth and nail. Indeed, I have particularly objected in this thread to those who stigmatise the overweight. I also object to indirect penalisations - e.g., proposals to tax less healthy food.
However, I don't think we can ignore the problem, because we are going to collectively suffer if we don't find a way to address the issue of obesity. I'm not pretending I have the answer to how it should be tackled - it's caused by genetic, environmental and behavioural factors, but we need to determine in what degree and how best to address it. Research and education would seem to be necessary, because if we do nothing we face ever rising rates of diabetes, heart disease and other associated illnesses.
After hearing it that many times I think it becomes resented and adds to the problem, I know I do, I smoke *because I enjoy it* and when people start to get on at me I resent it and get up tight then start to smoke more.
I see what you're saying, and (as I mentioned above), if anyone tried to make me lose or gain weight, I'd probably have the same reaction. However, many people have given up smoking as a result of being informed of the effects it has (I'm pleased to say that, as of a few months ago, one of my family members has done so). I'd rather people were fully aware of what effect it has on them than continue in ignorance.
And who sets the standards there are people (athletes come to mind) that would probably make you and I look like geriatric wrecks.
Setting standards is a very contentious issue - the BMI index, for example, measures some muscle dense athletes as 'overweight' due to the height/weight formula it uses. I'm in favour of people striving towards broader guidelines. Everything in moderation, including moderation! (As an aside, I'm not an 'athlete', but even next to an athlete I'm not going to look like a geriatric wreck. I work out at the gym five days a week on cardio machines including a couple of intensive spin classes, do three weight lifting sessions a week, do a long weekend run of up to 20km, do Pilates, do 40 minutes a day walking to and from my work transport, as well as unscheduled excercise such as ocean swimming).
One of the number one killers and cost draining things in life is drink, I don't see a big outcry to abolish that....why, most people drink and to much at times.
I specifically mentioned drink along with cigarettes and excess eating as some of the health problems that we need to tackle. I *also* said, if you read my response, that I don't believe in taking away people's beer. Drinking is, however, controlled - at least here in Oz. We have limits to blood alcohol levels when driving, and responsible drinking legislation makes it illegal to serve alcohol to those who are either intoxicated or behaving irresonsibly. There are also educational campaigns on the social ills of drinking.
As stated, I don't believe in *forcing* anyone to lose weight. If someone is morbidly obese, and choses not to do anything about it, then that is entirely their prerogative (just as if they choose not to seek treatment for another non-communicable health condition). However, I'd like to see them make an informed choice, be encouraged to shed excess weight, and have support made available to them if they do choose to lose weight.
Out of curiousity, what is your suggested approach to the rising rates of obesity? Do you think the problem should be simply ignored? How do you advocate we tackle it?
