a news paper report says today there are 1 million obese children in the uk.......

bad parenting.....? bad lifestlye....? or lack of knowledge.....?

Well where are they all?

I haven't seen that many. In fact, as another thread mentions, I see far more skinny, scantily clad children.

Originally posted by Abdul
Well where are they all?

I haven't seen that many. In fact, as another thread mentions, I see far more skinny, scantily clad children.

They aren't outside enjoying the lovely weather. They are in McDonalds or on their playstations.

Its all down to the parents, they have the power to choose what their kids eat, theres too much of this fast food crap now days, of course not all kids are fat just because they eat the wrong foods, computer games and the intertwit, and lack of getting off their back sides has something to do with it also...
but its up to the parents to limit this too...
But how many parents?? enjoy eating all the good foods, the greens and fruit etc: and walk places???
Take a look at the school gates at home time, i always see loads of parents picking up their kids from school, in the car and most only live a 5min walk away......

Originally posted by samc
They aren't outside enjoying the lovely weather. They are in McDonalds or on their playstations.

I walked into that one, didn't I :blush:

Originally posted by Abdul
I walked into that one, didn't I :blush:

But you DID walk, Abdul, and not take the car.

It's hardly suprising that there are so many obese kids today.
I personally blame the parents for it, crap diet, lack of excercise and an inability to say no when little Tyler wants a happy meal.

I saw a lad of no more than 9 the other day with a gut, chubby little arms and legs and man boobs - But I it can't be down to the fact he probably stuffs his face with turkey twizzlers, considers excercise waddling between the fridge and his PS2 - No it'll be water retention. More like flippin' cake retention.

Can't people get it into their heads that at that age a child is dependant on its parents to make sensible descicions for it which means taking responsibilty for its diet etc.

yes the child is dependant on the parents - however do you think that because of busy lives parents have not the time to cook and prepare meals - also the lack of nutritional knowledge is lacking in parents me thinks...........

Originally posted by bigjay
yes the child is dependant on the parents - however do you think that because of busy lives parents have not the time to cook and prepare meals - also the lack of nutritional knowledge is lacking in parents me thinks...........

I agree that people may have a lack of nutritional knowledge but that should be no excuse for having children who are evidently unhealthy and suffering because of their parents ignorance.

If people really think that feeding a child a constant diet of crap can be in any way good for that child then their suitability as parents should be called into question as their obviously too thick to care for their young.

i totally agree with you ..... :thumbsup:

I think the lack of exercise is as much to blame as a bad diet, in theory kids can eat almost anything as long as they exercise it off afterwise.

When I was a kid we didn't eat healthy food all the time, we had fishfingers and chips, beefburgers, pizza etc. but were out playing in the street every night.

Now parents don't let their kids leave the house without an armed guard incase they get kidnaped, so they just sit and watch TV and get fat.

Thats my theory anyway.

Originally posted by Swan_Vesta
It's hardly suprising that there are so many obese kids today.
I personally blame the parents for it, crap diet, lack of excercise and an inability to say no when little Tyler wants a happy meal.

I saw a lad of no more than 9 the other day with a gut, chubby little arms and legs and man boobs - But I it can't be down to the fact he probably stuffs his face with turkey twizzlers, considers excercise waddling between the fridge and his PS2 - No it'll be water retention. More like flippin' cake retention.

Can't people get it into their heads that at that age a child is dependant on its parents to make sensible descicions for it which means taking responsibilty for its diet etc.

I agree to a point but do you realise how strong the power of advertising is?

You'd be hard pushed to find a breakfast cereal for instance, that was actually healthy. All usually loaded with sugar, even musieli. Kids are bombarded with ads wherever they look these days for trash food. My kids have a healthy diet, but it's not easy trying to convince them that the majority of food aimed at children is garbage. Add to that, peer pressure and you have a situation that is not as black and white as you seem to think.

You can't for instance control what rubbish goes into their mouths when they visit their friends. My children are in a minority almost to the point of being regarded as freaky because they eat real, nourishing food.

not bad nick2 - not bad.......

my son is 9 , and yes he is chubby. BUT it isnt due to the fact i dont give a damn and dont feed him proper food and he isnt a greedy guts either that munches away all day.

he broke his arm very badly and had to have operations to have metal pins in, he could no longer ride his bike or run round like a maniac outside the pins were in nearly a year and the doctors told us not to let him run about as a bang could further damage it.



:rant:

Originally posted by Abdul
Well where are they all?

I haven't seen that many. In fact, as another thread mentions, I see far more skinny, scantily clad children.

Here's one Who ate all the pies (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v689/viking99/forums/weightproblem.jpg)

Originally posted by Litha
my son is 9 , and yes he is chubby. BUT it isnt due to the fact i dont give a damn and dont feed him proper food and he isnt a greedy guts either that munches away all day.

he broke his arm very badly and had to have operations to have metal pins in, he could no longer ride his bike or run round like a maniac outside the pins were in nearly a year and the doctors told us not to let him run about as a bang could further damage it.



:rant:

then control his diet.......!

control his diet.. bigjay you moron what do you want me to do starve him ive already said it isnt due to me not feeding hom properly or that hes greedy.
read the posts properly before commenting on something you muppet

Originally posted by Litha
control his diet.. bigjay you moron what do you want me to do starve him ive already said it isnt due to me not feeding hom properly or that hes greedy.
read the posts properly before commenting on something you muppet

VIKE NOTE dont sit on the fence Litha, Just Say what you mean :hihi:

What I can't understand is that when there are so many more overweight children these days - why are the other children still so nasty to them?? It's not like they're so unusual anymore...

I can't wait for overweight children to outnumber the skinny ones, so when they start getting bullied for it they can band together and beat the crap out of the bullies. :D

Originally posted by RichD
I can't wait for overweight children to outnumber the skinny ones, so when they start getting bullied for it they can band together and beat the crap out of the bullies. :D

assuming the bullies stand still and wait for them

Originally posted by viking
VIKE NOTE dont sit on the fence Litha, Just Say what you mean :hihi:

well it made me mad, i was pointing out that sometimes things cant be helped. he was a skinny little thing before he hurt his arm, and if it means him putting abit on due to not been able to run about while his arm got better properly then so be it.
some people are just to pig ignorant and want to get a life.

Originally posted by Litha
control his diet.. bigjay you moron what do you want me to do starve him ive already said it isnt due to me not feeding hom properly or that hes greedy.
read the posts properly before commenting on something you muppet

plesae dont call me a moron - i happen to be a highly qualified personal trainer and nutritionist - and i suspect you have probably fallen into the same trap as alot of people..... not enough knowledge - of what is good food and feeding him properly......eg eating the wrong types of food at the wrong times of the day......

thank you...... muppet:thumbsup:

Looks like gloves are coming off.

Song: "There could be trouble ahead"

Originally posted by Litha
well it made me mad, i was pointing out that sometimes things cant be helped.

everthing can be helped......!!!!!

Originally posted by viking
Looks like gloves are coming off.


* has vision of winter gardens being converted into Thunderdome *

Originally posted by bigjay
everthing can be helped......!!!!!

have a day off fella :suspect:

it's door to door everywhere in the car - even the supermarket - i respect 100% mobility zones for disabled people but can't for the life of me see why there should be parent and child zones close to the doorways - are they incapable of walking just a few yards more - we are just helping them to become even more lazy and fat

Originally posted by sally_sheff
can't for the life of me see why there should be parent and child zones close to the doorways - are they incapable of walking just a few yards more

I think the parents are scared I'll run their little darlings over on the odd day I take my car :)

Originally posted by Litha
have a day off fella :suspect:

then dont over feed your child.....!!!!!

Originally posted by bigjay
then dont over feed your child.....!!!!!

ohhh what would you give to be able to read and actually understand a post???

your sad and boring and if ya looking for one of these forum fights ya barking up the wrong tree.

and even tho you asked me not to i see no real reason why i cant
*you moron*

Originally posted by Litha
have a day off fella :suspect:

you know im right........!:D :D

The fact is that children do not walk enough. At age 16, I attended school in Sheffield and lost 10 lbs in 6 months just by walking everywhere and I was already thin. In fact, I wore out 2 pairs of shoes. (killer hills!)

If parents are concerned about their children going outside for exercise because of reckless drivers and crime, perhaps they should go on long walks WITH them. I can't think of a better win-win situation. Both the parent and child will benefit from the exercise and have the time to really talk.

:thumbsup:

Do you have drive ins in the UK? Like drive in banks, or McDonalds. Love means never having to get out of your car. and indulge in exercise. You think you have fat people, try this country.

Here you go again demonising the obese as they're the last section of society you can and are encouraged by the media to rip the **** out of and, like the indoctrinated little sheep you are...:rant: .

As for taking the car everywhere:
I was an obese child. We did not ever own a car. I walked to and from school, spent long days playing in the woods & fields near our house, walked to from my grandparent's everyday, walked the length of the village to my friends house to play out.

Now, as an obese adult I don't drive and I don't own a car.
I walk to / from work (6 miles), I boycotted the busses last October.
I take 5 portions of fruit plus tins of fish - mackrel, tuna, sardines etc - for snap....

Now my wife does drive everywhere, eats chocolate, sits glued to the TV when I'm gardening or decorating... and she's only 7 stone wet through.

Stereotype me then.

litha... bigjay... calm down i very much doubt that your son is obese. children frequently have weight that will drop off in their teens.

the crux of the problem is ignorance on the part of the parent, whether a child is truly obese, bad diet and no exercise. technically i guess it's neglect. if, as a parent, you are mindfull of the consequences of a poor diet and little exercise then you don't have to worry... no high horses please.

and yes, england has plenty of drive "thru's" and free delivery on nearly all take-aways and special parking places for drivers with children (i think these are for buggies and prams etc?)

awayboy i never said my son was obese what a horrible thing to say.. i said he was chubby.
i was just giving a for instance where sometimes it is not due to people not givin a damn.
i have a 16 year old that was also chubby as a young un... he is now stick thin.

Litha

My daughter is chubby (not obese) she eats sensibly and walks everywhere, but the reason she put on the weight is becuase due to her having bad asthma when she was younger the doctors put her on steroid tablets and she hasn't been able to shift the weight since!

Originally posted by tpiddo
My daughter is chubby (not obese) she eats sensibly and walks everywhere, but the reason she put on the weight is becuase due to her having bad asthma when she was younger the doctors put her on steroid tablets and she hasn't been able to shift the weight since!

the reason she has not been able to shift the weight is because her calorie intake will balance with her energy output ie (her walking to lose weight). you either have to do one of two things - reduce the calorie intake or increase the calories burnt - through exercise.......! also remember the body becomes tolerent to exercise...... so lets say you ate the same amount of calories each day (2500) and walked a mile to work and throughout the day you only burnt off 1500 calories you would never lose weight and would eventuallly put it on........ so you see it doesnt matter how healthy you think you are eating or how much you walk...... your expended energy needs to be greater than your intake.......!!!!!

back to the body becoming tolerent to exercise - if you walked the same mile to work every day at the same pace in the same time do you think you would get any fitter....? no you wouldnt so you have to increase one of the factors.... the time spent walking ie walk for longer or the speed walked ie walk faster.........

hope this might clear somethings up

Is there any truth in the theory that eating every 3 hours helps you slim, by stimulating your metabolism, and that dieting does the opposite causing your body to cling onto the fat it has ?

Originally posted by nick2
Is there any truth in the theory that eating every 3 hours helps you slim, by stimulating your metabolism, and that dieting does the opposite causing your body to cling onto the fat it has ?

this is gospel nick2 as long as the food is high protein foods and not bread and slow burning complex carbs....

Originally posted by bigjay
you either have to do one of two things - reduce the calorie intake or increase the calories burnt - through exercise....
You keep saying that (and things like it), but while you are correct in that weight loss will occur when calorie usage exceeds calorie intake, the fact is you don't HAVE to do anything. Just because somebody is overweight, doesn't make them a less important person - as Don said further up the thread, overweight people still suffer active discrimination which is encouraged by the media. This should not be the case. Overweight (or fat or obese) people should not be discriminated against in any way.

I am overweight. Why? Because I like my food, and I don't enjoy exercise. Why should I have to do without nice things and subject myself to exhausting activities (and the ridicule of others for being no good at them) just so that I can fit in with what other people define as acceptable? When the skinny little runt next to me can eat twice as much as me (of the SAME things) and not put on a single pound, why should I be treated badly because I want to enjoy the things others take for granted?

I think the thread was originally heading in the direction of "what are the health consequences for overweight children" not whether or not overweight children are nice people or not.

I nag my boyfriend to come swimming with me, not because I think he's horribly overweight and I don't like it (I prefer big men anyway), but because I don't want to come home from work and find him dead on the floor.

Originally posted by RichD
You keep saying that (and things like it), but while you are correct in that weight loss will occur when calorie usage exceeds calorie intake, the fact is you don't HAVE to do anything. Just because somebody is overweight, doesn't make them a less important person - as Don said further up the thread, overweight people still suffer active discrimination which is encouraged by the media. This should not be the case. Overweight (or fat or obese) people should not be discriminated against in any way.

I am overweight. Why? Because I like my food, and I don't enjoy exercise. Why should I have to do without nice things and subject myself to exhausting activities (and the ridicule of others for being no good at them) just so that I can fit in with what other people define as acceptable? When the skinny little runt next to me can eat twice as much as me and not put on a single pound, why should I be treated badly because I want to enjoy the things others take for granted?

RichD - ive made a good living out of training people and made many people happy because they have lost weight - however i have also met some people that started and didnt enjoy it or didnt want to do it - i dont force people to exercise or eat healthy - you choose your own lifestyle and what makes you happy...... if you are happy ( and i dont mean that sarcastically in any way ) in yourself then good on you........ i only rant when people moan to me that they want to lose weight then do nothing about it......!!!!!! or expect it to be easy..... because its not - if it were there wouldnt be 1 million obese children in the country.......

Originally posted by nick2
I think the thread was originally heading in the direction of "what are the health consequences for overweight children" not whether or not overweight children are nice people or not.
I realise that, but the argument between Litha and Bigjay turned the emphasis somewhat. Also, I never said overweight children weren't nice - I said they were discriminated against. It's the people doing the discriminating who aren't nice.

Originally posted by RichD
I realise that, but the argument between Litha and Bigjay turned the emphasis somewhat. Also, I never said overweight children weren't nice - I said they were discriminated against. It's the people doing the discriminating who aren't nice.

obese people arent discriminated against at all........

the point i was trying to get across was that obesity is on the rise........ if people are aware of the health consequences and the strain the million obese children wiil put on the NHS in a further 25 - 30 YEARS then fine but it would be a disaster if people didnt know the damage they are doing......

If recent statistics are only broadly true , we must be fast turning into the most unhealthy country in Europe.
We have , I think , a couple of million at least who can't work because of various disabilities , a million obese children , lots of obese adults , children with asthma , alcoholics , drug addicts and , reputedly , about 11 million people slowly committing suicide by smoking.We are also seeing increasing cases of T.B. and a large increase in sexually transmitted diseases , including Aids. I don't know how many mentally ill people there are but there never seems to be any good news about a sudden drop in mental health problems.
It's obvious that the billions we've poured into the N.H.S over the years hasn't had much effect --------or that we are so unhealthy that it's nowhere near enough and we need to pour billions more into it.
Whatever the case it's a pretty depressing picture , especially when you consider how much effort and money has gone into Health Propoganda , on all levels. , over the years.

Originally posted by bigjay
obese people arent discriminated against at all........
Sorry mate, got to pull you up on that one. Yes they are.

I'm not saying YOU discriminate against them. But overweight children are bullied throughout school because of their size. I was. I was bullied for other reasons too, but being overweight was the main one. Overweight adults, having already had their self-confidence destroyed as children, have to put up with hearing people make derogatory comments about them as they walk past, and have to try twice as hard to make new friends because looks count for so much these days. Studies have even shown that they tend to earn less over the course of their careers (the only source I can quote at this time is an American news story - http://www.usatoday.com/money/workplace/2002-09-04-overweight-pay-bias_x.htm - but I'll look for more)

None of the above is helped by the media, who continuously try to persuade everyone that they should look like supermodels, and encourage people to despise fat.

Originally posted by RichD
None of the above is helped by the media, who continuously try to persuade everyone that they should look like supermodels, and encourage people to despise fat.

It's mostly aimed at women though, you don't see adverts on TV for diets or low fat stuff with men in them. The strange thing is though that most men (that I know) arn't realy attracted to stick thin women.

What about that woman - evil personified - wizened hag who does that bullying program You are what you eat (http://www.sheffieldforum.co.uk/showthread.php?s=&threadid=45971) - another thread.

:rant:

On second thoughts I'll remove this

But seriously though, the human body is built to be slim and muscular and I have little sympathy with people who eat like pigs and don't exercise and then sue McDonalds or whatever. If you have a tendency to put on weight then bloody lose it! There are VERY few instances where weight problems are unchangeable.

I used to be of the opinion that we should be totally open minded and 'big is beautiful' and stuff, but if it's cutting your life expectancy and endangering your health then people should do something about it.

However, the reason I used to be in the 'learn to love your chubbiness' camp is because I think dieting is so, so dangerous and can lead to weight obsession and eating disorders (I've seen it happen in so many people). As long as it is done carefully though I think weight loss is important.

Oh and while I'm at it, I don't think natural slimness and inability to put on weight (like my good self) is an excuse for eating tons of crap just because you don't gain weight. It's just as unhealthy to eat rubbish and stay thin as gain weight from it.

If I want to cut my life expectancy, that's my business isn't it?
It's not affecting you is it?
I don't want sympathy or empathy or to 'loved because I'm a chubby' by some patronising do gooder.
I want to enjoy my life without being bullied, made to feel guilty, or be the discriminated victim of some media induced opinion.

Thanks :D

I think noseyrosie's post shows the unthinking attitude and discrimination that some people have to the obese. She obviously found it acceptable to write "Hehehe f a t t i e s", I don't think she would have had the same attitude to someone from an ethnic minority or disabled as writing "Hehehe paki" or "Hehehe cripple" would have landed her in hot water.

I suffer from crohn's disease and have a constant battle with my weight, I've weighed as little as 6 stone and as much as 16. I am at the moment around 13 stone and probably need to loose a couple.

The issue of obese children is a tremendously complex one. Food advertisement aimed at children is abhorent and should be banned. Anyone shopping with a child will know how difficult it can be to drag them past the "Postman Pat" spaghetti, "Tweenies" yoghurts and "Star Wars" biscuits.

One playing field a day comes under threat of development in this country, so even when children want to run about or kick a ball there is a chance that the open space isn't available to them locally. Physical Education isn't a core curriculum subject and over the past years has been sadly neglected in schools.

When I was a child I was allowed a great deal of freedom as were all childern. Child killings and paedaphilia didn't seem as prevalent (although it may well have been) so parents where happy for thier children to be out playing unsupervised. Unfortunately now many parents don't feel the same way, so children are kept indoors.

Lastly it must be said that many children find computer games more stimulating than playing tag or football so it can be an uphill battle getting them out and excercising.

Wow, there are some very extreme views on this post! While I agree there are medical conditions that will preclude a certain percentage of children from being able to have a healthy weight, the rest are just plain lazy and/or their parents keep them locked up.

Even though being overweight does not necessarily preclude being healthy, in many cases it is NOT healthy and that is why it is a problem. For the MAJORITY, they could benefit from a better diet and more exercise.

For those that want to make fun of overweight people, the words I would use to describe them would in the four letter variety.....@#!*


:thumbsup:

bad parenting. Its all the parent;'s fault

I know a lot of women who do various stupid diets.

they sit on their big fatr arses in the office counting calories but will not do any exercise.

hello

easy way to lose weight.

eat sensibly and do exercise.

easy as that

Originally posted by Chicago
Wow, there are some very extreme views on this post! While I agree there are medical conditions that will preclude a certain percentage of children from being able to have a healthy weight, the rest are just plain lazy and/or their parents keep them locked up.

Even though being overweight does not necessarily preclude being healthy, in many cases it is NOT healthy and that is why it is a problem. For the MAJORITY, they could benefit from a better diet and more exercise.

For those that want to make fun of overweight people, the words I would use to describe them would in the four letter variety.....@#!*


:thumbsup:


Eep....

Originally posted by noseyrosie
But seriously though, the human body is built to be slim and muscular and I have little sympathy with people who eat like pigs and don't exercise and then sue McDonalds or whatever. If you have a tendency to put on weight then bloody lose it! There are VERY few instances where weight problems are unchangeable.
I've got no sympathy for anyone who wants to sue McDonalds either - in my opinion such people should be locked up on mental health grounds. What you eat is your own decision, not that of the food providers.

I am not nearly as overweight as these nutcases. I could stand to lose a couple of stone, but so what?! It's not making me ill, I'm not bed-ridden, I don't take up one and a half seats on a bus or train. So why should I have to put up with other people telling me how THEY think I should look? It's no-one else's bloody business!!

Originally posted by RichD
I've got no sympathy for anyone who wants to sue McDonalds either - in my opinion such people should be locked up on mental health grounds. What you eat is your own decision, not that of the food providers.

I am not nearly as overweight as these nutcases. I could stand to lose a couple of stone, but so what?! It's not making me ill, I'm not bed-ridden, I don't take up one and a half seats on a bus or train. So why should I have to put up with other people telling me how THEY think I should look? It's no-one else's bloody business!!

But it's not to do with how I or anyone else thinks you should look - I'm the first one to criticise the media for causing eating disorders and stuff. It's more that it is unhealthy (it is!) and unnatural. Our natural shape is slim and muscular through evolution.

I'm sure we've had a similar topic on S.F. before and I posed a question that no-one seems to have answered.
People often say that obesity in children and adults is due to their genes or metabolism. I've worked and visited a lot of countries all over the world but I've never seen the number of obese people that I see wobbling about all over the U.K. Does this mean that some countries are genetically more inclined to be more obese than others ? Is it a mere co-incidence that most of the obese people I've seen in the U.K. are pushing huge quantities of fast food on trollies out of supermarkets or stuffing treble cheeseburgers in their mouths as they saunter along the street ?
There's nothing at all wrong with being ,"overweight ". I'm overweight myself but , as a society , if we are worried about kids being obese , we should ponder why one sees virtually no obese kids in certain [usually , non-Western ] countries.All the diets in the world won't work if it's the general life-style that's causing the problem with kids.

Can you imagine how rubbish Laurel and Hardy would have looked if they had both been thin and muscular? If we returned to a hunter-gatherer existence, we would all be t and m (I'm more of a g and t man myself). But Rosie, it's not the olden days no more and we don't have to run away from marauding sabre-tooth tigers and use leaves as lav paper.

I think we should celebrate modern life. Imagine how much happier the Troglodytes of yore would have been if they could have bought pork pies and chilled lager, and/or had the opportunity to stuff themselves with sweets all day. Lovely modern sweets like Sour Squirms and Milk Bottles. But then, you are only a fledgling, blinking uncomprehendingly into the dazzling sun of adulthood. Saying rotten things about fat people is one of the privaleges of youth - enjoy it while you can.

I'd steer clear of homespun evolutionary theories, though, if I were you, you'll get RoyJames all excited.....

I agree with Lord Snooty. Life has moved on and it would be very boring if we all , more or less , looked the same.
What puzzles me , however , is that a large number of people seem very worried about , "fatness" or , "obesity " but don't seem to have a clue that there may be a connection between obesity and children eating lots of fast food , getting less excercise at school than they used to get , spending a lot of time watching t.v. or playing with computers and being driven to and from school. These people are always going on about , "genes" and "metabolism " and endless dieting but can't see the obvious answer in front of them !

As someone said recently, it's sad that there are people dying from eating too much in Britain today when millions die from not having enough to eat every day.

Originally posted by Fareast
What puzzles me , however , is that a large number of people seem very worried about , "fatness" or , "obesity " but don't seem to have a clue that there may be a connection between obesity and children eating lots of fast food , getting less excercise at school than they used to get , spending a lot of time watching t.v. or playing with computers and being driven to and from school. These people are always going on about , "genes" and "metabolism " and endless dieting but can't see the obvious answer in front of them !
It is indeed puzzling. The answer in staring them in the face. I know exactly why I'm overweight, and I freely admit it. For people to hide behind cliches like "I've got a slow metabolism" is bonkers - if you know you have a slow metabolism and you want to lose weight - eat better (or less) and do more exercise.

Originally posted by noseyrosie
Our natural shape is slim and muscular through evolution.
The evolution argument carries no weight (no pun intended), I'm afraid. Allow me to explain:

Species evolve according to their environment, predators, food source etc. In the wild, any animal (including humans) which could not keep up with the pack were left behind and picked off by predators. Animals not strong or fast enough to catch their own prey would go hungry. The least fit died; the rest of the pack survived. In short - Survival of the Fittest. So anyone who got fat would be killed by a sabre-toothed tiger or something.

Modern humans have discarded the concept of Survival of the Fittest. We look after the weakest members of our society - for example we make provisions for disabled people so that they can enjoy a decent standard of living - we have laws forbidding us from discriminating against anyone who is physically or mentally disadvantaged, except where NOT discriminating would be unsafe or improper.

So evolution made us thin and muscular - then we reached a point where our environment no longer required that adaptation - we have no predators, and we have machines to do much of our work for us. We don't even have to run after our 'prey' to have something to eat, because we've got farms, lorries and supermarkets that bring our dinner practically to our own front door. As such, a lesser proportion of our society are thin and muscular, and the least fit DO survive. Evolution has taken a bow, and stepped out of the limelight.

Originally posted by Don_Kiddick
If I want to cut my life expectancy, that's my business isn't it?

But is it fair that all tax payers have to pay for your care while you're in hospital should you suffer from one of many of the affects of being overweight for what is essentially (in many cases, not all), a self-inflicted illness?

The same could be said for smoking.

I'm not judging, IMO people can do whatever the hell they fancy within the constraints of the law and the last time I checked, being fat isn't illegal :)

PS: I'm sat eating a big greasy bacon sandwich on white bread with loadsa tomato ketchup. This media thinks you can burn in hell for eating this way :)

Maybe, but I too am a taxpayer and have been paying into the 'pot' since leaving school.

My taxes have so far paid for your education, your families NHS care... etc.

it's a very fair system really.

Not only that but with a 16yr career in the NHS chances are I've even cared for one of your family :thumbsup:

Life's good innit?

Another attempt to make fatty feel guilty

Breaking News - it didn't work
Originally posted by noseyrosie
As someone said recently, it's sad that there are people dying from eating too much in Britain today when millions die from not having enough to eat every day.
Maybe they should get up of their bony arses & go & get a job instead of living off handouts.


We can all be crass.

Originally posted by Don_Kiddick
Another attempt to make fatty feel guilty

Breaking News - it didn't work

Maybe they should get up of their bony arses & go & get a job instead of living off handouts.


We can all be crass.

I was talking about people dying from poverty and malnourishment you tit. I wasn't being crass.

Bad diets + lack of exercise = overweight. It's not rocket science is it?

Originally posted by noseyrosie
I was talking about people dying from poverty and malnourishment you tit. I wasn't being crass.

I was referrinng to your hehehe fatties crassness. And children should not be calling adults names like tit on a family forum.

You've heard the old saying, 'inside every fat man.....there's an even fatter one?' If I were a lady, and asked my lady friends, 'tell me the truth, girls, am I fat?' They would tell me I am not fat, just 'voluptuous'. And if one of my friends was a lady, and was fat (which she would be because one of them is), and asked me, 'tell me the truth Lady Snooty, am I fat?' I'd say, 'no, no, of course not, you're voluptuous', then spoil it all by adding something like, 'you know - like a Rhinocerous'. The point being...............no, it's gone.

Oh yeah! So, Don, my darling, may I say how ravishingly 'voluptuous' you look this morning, you know, like a sack of potatoes. Oh bugger! I've got it wrong again!!

Originally posted by Fareast
I'm sure we've had a similar topic on S.F. before and I posed a question that no-one seems to have answered.
People often say that obesity in children and adults is due to their genes or metabolism. I've worked and visited a lot of countries all over the world but I've never seen the number of obese people that I see wobbling about all over the U.K. Does this mean that some countries are genetically more inclined to be more obese than others ? Is it a mere co-incidence that most of the obese people I've seen in the U.K. are pushing huge quantities of fast food on trollies out of supermarkets or stuffing treble cheeseburgers in their mouths as they saunter along the street ?
There's nothing at all wrong with being ,"overweight ". I'm overweight myself but , as a society , if we are worried about kids being obese , we should ponder why one sees virtually no obese kids in certain [usually , non-Western ] countries.All the diets in the world won't work if it's the general life-style that's causing the problem with kids.

most kid/people in this country are overweight because they eat bad food and don't exercise. A very small percentage will have problems with their genes.

Originally posted by Don_Kiddick
I was referrinng to your crassness. And children should not be calling adults names like tit on a family forum.

I'm not a child thank you very much, once again, don't patronise me it's inneffective and silly. I'm a) concerned for the nation's health - overweight leads to diabetes, heart disease an any nubmer of other things as well as the more obvious shortness of breath etc. Aside from feeling bad for the people involved it's also a strain on the NHS that could be prevented. And b) as I said, it seems preposterous that there are people dying from overeating when there are people dying from not enough to eat.

But smoking and drinking cause drains on the NHS and they're equally preventable. And so for that matter do the thousands of people who turn up at the local casualty department with sports related injuries, like broken legs, sprains, strains and so on. Obviously we should get people doing less sport... oh, hang on.

The point is, living is a drain on the NHS whatever you do. The only way to prevent it is for everyone to commit suicide now. You can never take away every activity that is in the slightest bit unhealthy.

Let's be honest the government could do a great deal to help solve the obesity problem. Make Physical Education a foundation subject in schools, provide free leisure facilities (this could even be as simple as an area of open space), ban food advertising that is directed at children, tax sugar and fat. A whole host of things. Will they do it, of course not, the food industry is worth billions and as such has enormous lobbying power.

To blame obesity on eating too much and bad parenting is grossly over simplyfying the problem. This country had its healthiest diet when we were rationed during and after the war, maybe we should go back to that?

Originally posted by sanman
Make Physical Education a foundation subject in schools,
Absolute worst thing they could do. Overweight and unfit children (and those with co-ordinational problems, such as dyspraxia) already suffer enough in PE lessons - but to have them humiliated even further by failing a core subject would be unforgivable. Negative reinforcement does not work for everyone. They won't be striving to get better at PE - they'll be getting more depressed by the week.

The worst thing by far is having Sports Day as compulsory - year after year the teachers made me go out for races against my will, knowing full well I'd come last in front of everyone and their parents. What kind of way is that to treat a child?

I agree with most of your other points though....

I agree with Metalman and I think the point could be carried further.
I'm sure that millions of people in this country take part in , or watch certain activities , simply because they ARE dangerous and therefore create more interest. How many people would follow the Everest climbers , the Round the World in a Yacht people , motor racing ......etc.......if all these were easy and without an element of danger.Even people who don't follow dangerous activities never seem to slag them off ; they usually say , "Oh , well , if they want to risk their lives , so be it ."
Life would be unutterably boring for a lot of us if risk-taking was eliminated from society ; therefore if we are going to allow risk-taking , we have to be prepared to pay for it , whatever it is.
However , when it comes to things like eating cream cakes , boozing and smoking , a large group then throw their hands up in horror and say , "Oh , no , you can't enjoy yourself THAT way and risk your health. We don't approve of THAT kind of risk -taking !"
There seem to be two types of people in Britain , in this respect-------those who live life , with some risk ------and those who would rather worry themselves over living and all that it entails. Also , they can hardly accuse the Smokers and Drinkers of not paying for their pleasures------both pay a vast amount more in tax than they ever cost society. Do mountain climbers ?

Originally posted by noseyrosie
as I said, it seems preposterous that there are people dying from overeating when there are people dying from not enough to eat.

The trouble with this argument, Rosie, is that it's not a simple cause and effect, is it? They're not starving because I've stolen their food, and the simple fact is that if I eat less, they will still die because that food won't miraculously be transported across to them. My eating less will not solve this problem, and in effect there is very little I can do about it. You might just as well say, how preposterous it is that people die from drug overdoses here while people in Africa die for the want of very basic cheap drugs - it's exactly the same sort of argument though if anything it's a much more pressing problem to solve.

Originally posted by noseyrosie
I'm not a child thank you very much, once again, don't patronise me it's inneffective and silly. I'm a) concerned for the nation's health - overweight leads to diabetes, heart disease an any nubmer of other things as well as the more obvious shortness of breath etc. Aside from feeling bad for the people involved it's also a strain on the NHS that could be prevented. And b) as I said, it seems preposterous that there are people dying from overeating when there are people dying from not enough to eat.

:suspect: So only you have the monopoly on patronising people - eh?

So when you drink to excess in your student bars, tlking loudly about student issues, aren't you risking your life by hammering your liver?

Are you a smoker?

I was surprised to see noseyrosie has this prejudice, but alas it's common. Those who hold it attempt to justify it by saying "I'm only concerned with people's health", or "it's something you can easily change yourself", and so forth. If these same people are concerned with people's health would they feel equally comfortable issuing prejudiced remarks at people with suntans (as these may or may not kill you one day too) or cancer (as this too is an illness often caused by lifestyle)? Would such people go up to people suffering from prejudice due to birthmarks or Downs' Syndrome and tll them that if they only had plastic surgery they wouldn't get picked on.

Why was I surprised at noseyrosie saying stuff like this? Well, she seemed a bit clued up about political issues, and weight is one of those. Society is changing what are personal issues into public ones, another example of how the state is trying to make a claim on our bodies. Why are they doing this? To save money. Despite the fact that everyone pays in and is entitled to get something out. Remember it is no mortal sin to eat too much, you cannot deny anyone treatment because they are fat any more than you can deny someone treatment because they like sunbeds.

It's a very complex issue too, and to simply dismiss people as idle doesn't help as there can be many psychological reasons why people cannot lose weight. Of course, it could simply be that you like to eat or that you find exercise utterly boring, but it's your choice, as it's your body. There's all the info in the world out there, everyone knows the risks, but it's up to you what you do with that info. Why do people still smoke, drink, get suntans? It's up to them.

As for how people feed their kids, this too is up to them. Yes, it can be sad to see (but remember it might be for another reason, and above all, that child deserves to have his self esteem bolstered, not to be pitied) but parents do 1001 things bringing up children which we may not all agree with, and with a kid who is a bit overweight it is more likely to be too much love from a doting family that's made him that way than anything else. :)

Right, I'm off to feast on my own self-righteousness now. :D

Originally posted by Mathom
Right, I'm off to feast on my own self-righteousness now. :D

I can't see self-righteousness on the Atkins Diet list I'm afraid, you'll have to give it a miss ;)

Originally posted by Mathom
I was surprised to see noseyrosie has this prejudice, but alas it's common. Those who hold it attempt to justify it by saying "I'm only concerned with people's health", or "it's something you can easily change yourself", and so forth. If these same people are concerned with people's health would they feel equally comfortable issuing prejudiced remarks at people with suntans (as these may or may not kill you one day too) or cancer (as this too is an illness often caused by lifestyle)? Would such people go up to people suffering from prejudice due to birthmarks or Downs' Syndrome and tll them that if they only had plastic surgery they wouldn't get picked on.

Well of course not! That would be an appalling thing to do - I've already said that genetic weight problems are different.

Yes I have a huge problem with tanning too - tanning salons are awful things, oh and to whoever asked, I'm not a smoker and wouldn't touch the wretched stuff.

Originally posted by Mathom
Why was I surprised at noseyrosie saying stuff like this? Well, she seemed a bit clued up about political issues, and weight is one of those.

That's cos I'm coooool :hihi: , but seriously I already mentioned that my opinions have changed on this, and I'm as yet still undecided in many ways - I feel that the idea of the state trying to influence people's weight is silly, but it just surprises me that people themselves can cope with it. If they're fine about it then that's ok, but personally I'd try to minimise unneccessary health risks to myself. But then again, we all have stupid unhealthy vices don't we?

Originally posted by Mathom
Society is changing what are personal issues into public ones, another example of how the state is trying to make a claim on our bodies. Why are they doing this? To save money. Despite the fact that everyone pays in and is entitled to get something out. Remember it is no mortal sin to eat too much, you cannot deny anyone treatment because they are fat any more than you can deny someone treatment because they like sunbeds.

Hmmph I really hate sunbedders.

Do tell us about your we all have stupid unhealthy vices don't we? noseyrosie, then we can make sweeping subjective statements based on media influenced opinion too.

Hmmph I really hate sunbedders
So again not only people who have low self esteem due to their unacceptable appearance - the fatties as you refer to them - come under your disdain but people who like to 'appear healthy' with a tan too?

No ones safe are they?

Sunbed tanning is much safer & affords better skin protection (dermatollogically speaking) than just going on holiday in summer & burning for 10 days.
What happens when your skin tans?
Our natural skin colour is caused by skin pigment, melanin, the presence of which is determined by hereditary factors. Initially melanin is plae coloured, but the influence of UV rays turns the melanin brown as it rises to the skin's surface.
This brown melanin forms a barrier on the skin, which, together with subsequent skin thickening, is the body's natural mechanism to protect against UV radiation. Having a tan, therefore, is the body's way of building up protection against sunburn.
Tanning in sunlight means that the body can be subjected to differing levels of UV rays depending on the time of day, location etc.


here, have a read (http://www.carmarthenshire.gov.uk/eng/index.asp?locID=5163&docID=-1)

And what about those with digestive malabsorption problems who cannot absorb the d-group vitamins?
Steatorrhea - where fats are not digested and therefore fat-soluble vitamins (D group) are not absobed either.
The UV effect of sunlight encourages natural vitamin D (D3) production within the body enabling calcium absorption too.
It alleviates the pain & discomfort of artheritis & rheumatism. (http://www.beach-hut.com/benefitstanning.htm)

Or maybe these folks should suffer too? I expect you find ricketts (http://www.medindia.net/Patients/PatientInfo/rickets.asp) funny? Lots of people in the UK live and suffer with it. It's not only a 3rd world problem.

Lastly you said you didn't smoke - good for you!
But do you drink alcohol? You failed to comment.

Originally posted by Don_Kiddick
But do you drink alcohol? You failed to comment.

But alcohol in small quantities is healthy no?

Arrrgh, this healthy business is too complicated for me :) all this conflicting evidence reported by various organisations and run away with by the media.

Mobile phones - safe or not?

Being overweight - slightly overweight women have been shown to live longer. So is it all bad?

I'll just stick to the way I'm living and hope I don't upset too many people :)

Norton - don't worry about upsetting people, what you do with your own body is up to you. :) I often laugh when people stick their noses in the air and b*tch about other people's appearances - have they taken a look at themselves lately? Everyone does it, just the other day a woman was glaring at my mismatched outfit, so I glared at her man-mullet. It's when we start discriminating that it becomes a problem.

Noseyrosie - genetic weight problems may have a different origin, but when you look at that fat person you just cannot tell how they became fat, so it's all by the by. We might assume that most fat people are so because they simply cannot control their eating or are lazy - the causes are a lot more complex. Food, remember, is nice, and people like a treat, especially if they're having a bad day, or haven't got much to look forward to, and that's something everyone can relate to.

Why should people not be able to cope with their weight whether it's high or low? The only thing which prevents people from 'coping' is when they are made to suffer psychologically and end up with low self-esteem.

Ah but self-righteousness is on the 'seafood diet'... :D

Originally posted by Mathom
Norton - don't worry about upsetting people, what you do with your own body is up to you. :)

I am happy with what I do and who I am, but looking at some of the judgemental views on this forum, I'm now aware that people sometimes aren't understanding about very personal health issues. Maybe I should be more concerned about how people view me if these extreme opinions do still exist.

Do people look down on me for occasionally going in McDonalds? :suspect: Am I being watched when I'm having a boozy drink in town? :suspect:

Picking on a person who is overweight because of an illness is like picking on someone who has lost their hair through chemotherapy. Same difference in my book.

Originally posted by Don_Kiddick
Do tell us about your noseyrosie, then we can make sweeping subjective statements based on media influenced opinion too.


So again not only people who have low self esteem due to their unacceptable appearance - the fatties as you refer to them - come under your disdain but people who like to 'appear healthy' with a tan too?

No ones safe are they?

Sunbed tanning is much safer & affords better skin protection (dermatollogically speaking) than just going on holiday in summer & burning for 10 days.


here, have a read (http://www.carmarthenshire.gov.uk/eng/index.asp?locID=5163&docID=-1)

And what about those with digestive malabsorption problems who cannot absorb the d-group vitamins?
Steatorrhea - where fats are not digested and therefore fat-soluble vitamins (D group) are not absobed either.
The UV effect of sunlight encourages natural vitamin D (D3) production within the body enabling calcium absorption too.
It alleviates the pain & discomfort of artheritis & rheumatism. (http://www.beach-hut.com/benefitstanning.htm)

Or maybe these folks should suffer too? I expect you find ricketts (http://www.medindia.net/Patients/PatientInfo/rickets.asp) funny? Lots of people in the UK live and suffer with it. It's not only a 3rd world problem.

Lastly you said you didn't smoke - good for you!
But do you drink alcohol? You failed to comment.

I'd tend to agree tat we all have stupid vices in one way or another (if you look at it subjectively)

I also think that people who use sunbeds are:

a vain beyond belief.

b. stupid.

c. harming their body 9and you can pop any sunbed evidence you want in front of me but htere is at least 10 more that say it is dangerous.

I'm tanned. Have I:

a been abroad. NO

b on a sunbed. NO

Been walking/sitting outdoors 9not sunbathing) YES.

Why do people feel the need to use artificail means to tan? mostly it looks bad up close. It certainly harms your sking.

be yourself, be natural.

for me, there is nothing better than a natural woman.

and the number of obese people who have genetic problems is well under 10%

Hello. - I've just joined...(o:

Message for tpiddo especially

Steroids (and some other medications too) can cause salt and water retention and when this happens it means weight gain 'cos water is heavy. Some of the water can be lost by cutting down on salt. And that means weight loss.

It's so easy just to give this a try. - Costs nothing...(o: Completely safe.

If you would like more information about this, tpiddo, you could email me and I'd be pleased to help.

margarete

a news paper report says today there are 1 million obese children in the uk.......

bad parenting.....? bad lifestlye....? or lack of knowledge.....?

They've got a new machine down the gym so i went to use it today but i felt sick after half an hour on it,
it does everything! Mars bars, Kit-Kats, Snickers, Crisps, The whole ****ing lot!!

I 'm very surprised that our wonderful government haven 't repossessed fat kids by now ! How can they let those little [ ? ] mites live with such murderous parents !! The same with any of our kids [ under the age of 30, I mean ] having to live with parents who smoke ! Oh My Gawd !
Don 't the Health & Safety people realise that millions of our tots are keeling over in the street every day, due to the habits of their nasty, selfish, thoughtless, silly, lazy, pleasure-loving ' guardians ' ?
And what about parents who drive fast cars and drink alcohol in front of their little darlings ? Shouldn 't those children, too, be hauled off and put in care of the State. It 's time some committees and quangos were set up, together with outreach workers and co-ordinators.
Sadly, it may already be too late, Mr. Brown !

I 'm very surprised that our wonderful government haven 't repossessed fat kids by now ! How can they let those little [ ? ] mites live with such murderous parents !! The same with any of our kids [ under the age of 30, I mean ] having to live with parents who smoke ! Oh My Gawd !
Don 't the Health & Safety people realise that millions of our tots are keeling over in the street every day, due to the habits of their nasty, selfish, thoughtless, silly, lazy, pleasure-loving ' guardians ' ?
And what about parents who drive fast cars and drink alcohol in front of their little darlings ? Shouldn 't those children, too, be hauled off and put in care of the State. It 's time some committees and quangos were set up, together with outreach workers and co-ordinators.
Sadly, it may already be too late, Mr. Brown !

Probably a job for Sharon Shoesmith: a professional waster who sees her self serving and self pitying ways as qualifications enough to launch another child 'protection' quango.

a news paper report says today there are 1 million obese children in the uk.......



I presume the other million are out of the country on holiday.