Obesity 'not individuals' fault'?

Question

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/7047244.stm

so that Big Mac was forced into your mouth was it????

vanessa
this is aimed at food obesity
As for the steroids I do see your point BUT i take steroids every now and again as I suffer from Brittle Asthma and I know that these can cause weight gain, so I just make sure I watch what I eat and get plenty of exercise, even ifs its only something light like walking
Theres really no excuse for people who just over eat ( unless of course its a medical condition )

Swan Crazy Dot
I am NOT aiming this question at those with real problems
the simple fact is the goverment is getting the blame for poor nutrional education!!! its shocking!
No one forces individuals to eat the wrong things, its a choice they make themselves

Answer 1

Obesity is down to the individual, if you have thyroid problems fair enough, you can get medication for this. People who say they don`t eat much but put weight on and don`t know why should sit down and think what they do eat and drink over the day, they might just have toast with loads of butter on for breakfast, a poached egg, beans and toast with no butter will be the same calories, it isn`t how much you eat, it is what you eat. People can`t be bothered making good wholesome meals anymore because there are take aways everywhere. Fresh food is cheaper to buy, no wonder kids are getting bigger, most of them wouldn`t know what fruit and veg looks like. Some excuses from parents are that they work all day and are too tired to make anything when they get home. Fair enough both parents mostly have to work full time and years ago the mother stayed at home to look after the home, but in those days there were no dish washers, automatic washers and other time saving appliances, so why not drop the excuses, get some healthy cooking done and then you won`t need to ask a question about obesity because I think you put that question to make you feel better if a lot of people agreed with you!

Answer 2

It's incredible isn't it! I think it's amazing we live in a society where we happily pay to fix people who damage themselves! Smoking, excessive-alcohol consumption, drug-induced schizophrenia, and good old obesity! We live in a society that tells people it's ok to be idiots and the tax payer will pick up the pieces for that!

I like the occassional drink. I love the occasional Big Mac. But I eat regular sized portions, I walk and take stairs where I can, and I enjoy fresh air!

In my short life the most I've really cost the NHS is for my orthodontics! That's the way it should be! Overindulgence takes money away from people who need the care through no fault of their own! I just think it's wrong that premature babies, the mentally ill, and the elderly get short-changed care because some people are too selfish to take everything in moderation!

Answer 3

Yes some people do over eat but some people are large through no fault of their own, some illnesses can make you put on weight. Some of us are naturally skinny some are large.

According to my GP's surgery they are in the process of changing all the weight charts and limits because our bodies have changed over the years.

Personally I have had problems and was asked to supply photos of any women in the family over the years luckily I have a vast collection and it seems that genetically all the ladies in one branch of our family start off life extremely slender and by their later years look like little round apples, through blood tests and other methods it has been decided that genetically we are like that.

So I eat a balanced diet the required amount of fruit etc and get more than the expected amount of exercise each day, I don't have a car and walk everywhere, and I am fit according to my GP.

If you saw me on the street you would probably think "she's fat " - I do hate that word but its true remarks can hurt . But you wouldn't take the time to find out about me the person, so don't automatically assume that it is a persons fault because they "eat" the wrong thing and are "lazy". Get to know a person first before judgements are made the answer is not always as obvious as it seems.

Answer 4

I don't remember any obese kids when I was at school.

We never had microwaves, satellite telly or game consoles.

I sound like a right old ****** (I'm not) but we were out playing from dusk till dawn when we weren't at school.

Sat on the beach this summer and there was a family of six waddling in single file down towards the water. I've never seen anything like it - all the same shape and size and very obese.

I just think it's all down to todays lifestyle, really easy to get lazy.

Answer 5

It's not fair! I'm big and only have to look at a Mars bar to put on weight. I've got friends who can eat an entire sweetshop daily and are stick insects!!

But I do have an underactive thyroid which makes losing and keeping weight off harder and I'm only human. I love chocolate and cakes and biscuits and chrisps and Italian food and Indian food and... and... and... but I hate salad!

I do think the government should put a tax on high fat foods and the instant meals. Why is it so much cheaper to buy an instant meal (about £1.50) when it would cost tripple this to make it from scratch? Why can you buy a packet of chrisps that are cheaper than an apple? For many people on a very low income, it is so much easier to buy processed foods - especially if they live on their own.

Answer 6

No - been a veggie for years and my fat is a hernial type lump which they can't operate on or I would die (chest so weak on oxygen) one of my friends is a compulsive eater who has to have an op to get her weight off, she doesn't want to die but has emotional problems plus has had strokes and suffers real bad angina so is not mobile (I am in a wheelchair as well as on oxygen and am more or less housebound - was in wheelchair for arthritis and then a groin injury. The only time I was light weight was when I went down too low and they treated my thyroid - I wish they hadn't then I could have died thin!) Sorry if I spoil your parade but a cousin of mine was deadly thin - strangers used to give him food should he have been punished for that?. What about anorexics then they can eat if they want to can't they? - oh no I forgot they are the ones with real problems aren't they? I wish all you fattists realised how much upset you cause with your cant.

Answer 7

Of course it is down to the individual.
Unfortunately many people are lazy now days. They don't want to cook, or claim they can't.
Most of us of a certain age grew up knowing how to cook. Maybe it wasn't healthy cooking but now we can adapt.
I am amazed how many young mothers say they don't have time to cook a healthy meal.
Mind you, when you look at the frozen food section it is all there...even frozen mashed potato!
There is always time to prepare so called healthy food, I am lucky; I can make a meal from scratch. So many people rely on processed, ready meals.
1 or 2 boxes; one microwave.
It takes too long to create a healthy meal today.
Oh how wrong they are!!!

Answer 8

"so that Big Mac was forced into your mouth was it????"
In some ways, for some people, Yes! Why do I say that, well because there are many people that really can't afford to eat healthy anymore. The prices of vegetables, meats, fish, dairy, and whole grains are getting very pricey, and then you have to spend time cooking it all, that cost money too. Too many households have several jobs, so time is money. The fast food industry makes it cheaper and less time consuming for all class of life to forced junk into their mouths. (Excluding -- hereditary genes, medical conditions or drugs that are can't be helped)

Answer 9

Unless one has a medical condition, which is usually not the case, of course obesity is the individual's fault.

Answer 10

About 3 yrs ago i weight nearly 17 stone. I drank and smoked.

On tuesday i had an operation (full general anasthetic). I weighed 13.7st. And they said that because i was so fit it would probavbly suffer from the anasthetic more.

I am Male 39..

It can be done and done sensibly. Anyone who says they cant is a loser and deserves to die.