G'day Cdiver2!
Ayup - both your country and mine are still free (or relatively so). And I've said several times - and firmly believe - that the decision to do or not do anything about aspects of their health belongs firmly with the individual (unless it impacts on others, e.g. via a communicable disease or drinking and driving). That's why I've said - repeatedly - that it comes down to individual responsibility. It is ultimately up to individuals to look after their health and fitness, and for parents to look after their kids. That doesn't mean that other institutions don't have a role - education in schools, physical activity programs for kids, etc etc. But the bottom line is, no one should force you. There's a difference between encouragement, education and research and the alternative of coercion.
I don't know why advertising and setting national health targets for exercise and so on are not working -as I've said, I don't know the answers. That's one reason why I came to this thread...it's an issue that worries me, and I'd like to find a way of addressing it that doesn't involve fines or penalties for those that don't conform, but effectively reduces - or at least slows! - the increasing rates of obesity and related health issues. I think it is a very valid point that people don't appreciate being told what to do - I've said that I'd react negatively if anyone ordered me to either lose or gain weight. If I smoked or drank to excess, I might also react in a negative way.
I should note that current tactics are not working - not by a long shot. If the USA, Britain and Australia continue as they are now, the predictions for the year 2050 are nothing short of chilling. Look at the diabetes rate alone.
If you feel that people are trying to dictate to you how to live your life through this thread, then I can understand why you feel affronted by it. Please be assured that I am not trying to force my beliefs on you - I too come here to talk about diving. This thread, however, is in a specific area allocated 'Women's Views: Non Diving Related', and the original post asked some questions about weight and body image. I responded with my opinion because the issues raised touched upon some very deep fears I have for an obese friend. I also noted that I have no time for body-facists and those who would impose an unachievable ideal, or try to force people to look a certain way. This is my opinion only - not a manifesto for imposing taxes for every pound a person ways over their supposedly 'ideal' weight.
I know nothing about your health - I've never met you, and I don't know what your fitness level is. I wouldn't presume to tell you personally that you need to lose weight or exercise more (as I said in this thread, I don't even know how to approach one of my best friends with the support she needs). A very valid point that has been raised several times in this thread is that thinness does not necessarily mean fitness, nor does carrying extra weight mean that one is necessarily unfit. Clearly you engage in physical activity - you're a diver for starters. Whether your weight is affecting your health is something only you and your doctor (or anyone else you trust) can determine.
I have simply offered my opinion on what I believe is a major health issue facing us in general. I'm commenting on national trends and on individual cases that affect me personally - I am not pitying anyone, or telling a stranger that they are unfit and need to change their lifestyle. That is up to them. I am saying that several Western countries really need to take a good, hard look at where we're heading as a society, because it's going to cost us in more than just the hip pocket if we don't arrest national obesity trends.
Yes, there are discrepencies. But we're looking at a problem of vast and very frightening proportions that is having an ever increasing impact on our health care resources. The World Bank has estimated the cost of obesity currently in the U.S. at 12 percent of the national health care budget. According to a report by the US Department of Health and Human Resources, direct and indirect costs related to obesity cost $99 billion dollars. By 2000, that figure had jumped to an estimated $117 billion dollars. If current trends continued, it has been estimated that by 2020 one in every five health care dollars for people aged 50-69 will be spent on obesity related medical problems. It has been estimated that the number of diabetes sufferers will increase 165% by the year 2050!
I'm all for drawing on professional advice - it's what I'm basing my views upon. However, you say there is 'enough advertising' - what is enough? And is 'advertising' the most effective approach? As I said before, this approach is not working. We need to try something else - and I think we should all be engaged in the discussion as to what else. I'm not offering an answer - I'm offering questions and discussion.
I agree with you that there are other health care and population problems, and I also abhor intolerance. Neither of these, however, negates the alarming implications of national obesity problems.
