Page 7 of Monday, March 17 Peach section has a huge article titled "Who is to blame for weight problems; society or ourselves?". (This article is absent from the Blade website.)It says that eating is an automatic response, and it isn't people's fault if they are fat. That the fault lies with the food manufactures, grocery stores, food vendors, restaurants, etc. The article contends that the "solution" is that the "environment itself needs to be changed - with laws regulating portion size, lableling, or the places where food can be sold or eaten. That would be much easier than overcoming human nature."
Why is it that smokers are viewed as weak & undisciplined, or addicts - and overeaters are given a free pass because it's 'not their fault', or 'genetic'? Granted, there are more obese people now than ever before in history I imagine - but perhaps it's partly because people are less physically active. Also, there have always been obese people - even back when there wasn't as many places to buy food, or see it advertised. A smoker can be fired simply because he smokes in the privacy of his own home. But it's politically incorrect to fire an employee because they are fat. So perhaps that is why there's been so many articles attempting to find other sources of blame for being fat.
At any rate - I predicted it would come to this; portion size, etc. First the ban on smoking; next up is alcohol - then, it will be 'changing our environment', to control what we eat.
Wow, apparently we can't hold people accountable for there own actions now. I am going eat Baconators everyday now because it won't be my fault I get fat, it's Wendy's. Damn you Dave Thomas and your delicious cheeseburgers!!
Just started my diet. Saw your post with your name 'sausage' in it. uhhmmmm. You had to put 'delicious' in front of 'cheeseburgers.' I'm losing my grip (although not my grips). I'm going out now for a run on Wendy's and Taco Bell. I'm still carrying a coupon for an all-day, all-eat restaurant. I might drive there. And if I do, I want you know it's all your fault. Yours was a very greasy, cholesterol-laden, mouth-watering, buttery, stomach-filling post. How could you be so irresponsible?
I will take responsibility for my actions. In my defense cheeseburgers and delicious go hand in hand. And Taco Bell.
i find it interesting the it's not my fault syndrome has carried over into everything. i agree, we need to take responsibility and take care of ourselves. that's our responsibility.
it's not a big deal to slowly change our eating habits and make them healthier. slowly switching from bleached flour to adding some whole wheat flour is not hard, or using less butter and oil. most recipes have more than enough fat, so it's not hard to reduce it. it's the little changes that can add up.
The " the it's not my fault syndrome" never seems to apply to smokers however. Hardly seems fair smokers aren't being offered a scapegoat like fat people are.
I think obesity is a 50/50 deal. It's 50% nature and 50% nurture. I believe that some people are genetically predisposed to obesity.A slower metabolism, perhaps a minimally defective thyroid - many physical causes.
The other half would be controlled by diet and exercise. I think there are some people out there that are not designed to be 'thin' and would not be healthy if they could achieve it. But I believe that healthy can be achieved with diet and exercise.
I also believe that I predicted, following the smoking ban, that the government would get interested in how much people weigh and how much they 'should' weigh.
Time will tell.
Post Script - see the developing standards and cost assessments for obesity.
http://oep.osophs.dhhs.gov/ccrf/HTWT.htm
http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/bmi/
http://win.niddk.nih.gov/statistics/index.htm#econ
DROP ZAT DONUT!! Ve have vays of making you comply!!
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"Oh, Bother!" Said Pooh, as he chambered his last round.