Obesity a crushing weight on U.S. health care (OMG!!!! what a surprise!!!!)

[NickD 203]

It doesn't bother me, each to his own, obesity can be some kind of a disease for all I know, my wife happened to be 5' 3" tall at 124 pounds, asked her about that, she miscalculated when converting KG to pounds. Was an asset, but would have married her anyway if she even weighed 127 pounds. LOL.

As a private pilot, weight certainly becomes a factor, have to do a weight and balance check, average weight is considered to be 170 pounds per person, if one weighs say 340 pounds with four passengers, somebody has to stay behind, plane won't take off. But where to put him? Still have balance to consider.

Recall blind dates and being told, she is nice, yeah, nice and fat. Love that old song, I don't want her you can have her, she's too fat for me.

It's okay if a person wants to be fat with me, but it's there problem, car can handle it, generally, but if you want to ride with me in an airplane, you have to lose a couple of pounds.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

I think the Supersize Me guy was spot on when he highlighted the huge advertising budgets that the manufacturers of processed foods spend on promoting their products - a lot of it aimed directly at children.

There really needs more of an effort spend on educating people about proper nutrition at an earlier age and getting them into healthier eating habits. Public schools doing away with soda (and candy) vending machines and switching their catering suppliers to those that offer healthier options wouldn't be a bad start.

Sorry Pike but I have to say "That is wishful thinking".

When I was in school a Coke machine was unheard of in any school and we also had plenty of classes on eating healthy.

My friend I know you are a firm believer that "Education will solve problems" but... that is not always true.

People don't stop speeding because they get a WARNING from a cop... they slow down after they pay a ticket.

Why?

Funny, I always see and hear this... "kids should be taught...... " Kids are in school around 7 hours a day so there is only so much time. PETA wants kids taught to treat animals well. NAACP wants kids to learn more Africa history. Kids should be taught the effects of alcohol and drugs. Kids should be taught to avoid strangers... watch out for bad people. Hispanics and Asians want their heritage taught too. Every group wants kids to be taught whatever.

All this is after history, science, english, math... there isn't enough time in the school day. Extend the school day to 12 hours and there will still be things that the schools are not teaching kids.

Or change the curriculum

[NickD 203]

I think the Supersize Me guy was spot on when he highlighted the huge advertising budgets that the manufacturers of processed foods spend on promoting their products - a lot of it aimed directly at children.

There really needs more of an effort spend on educating people about proper nutrition at an earlier age and getting them into healthier eating habits. Public schools doing away with soda (and candy) vending machines and switching their catering suppliers to those that offer healthier options wouldn't be a bad start.

Sorry Pike but I have to say "That is wishful thinking".

When I was in school a Coke machine was unheard of in any school and we also had plenty of classes on eating healthy.

My friend I know you are a firm believer that "Education will solve problems" but... that is not always true.

People don't stop speeding because they get a WARNING from a cop... they slow down after they pay a ticket.

Why?

Funny, I always see and hear this... "kids should be taught...... " Kids are in school around 7 hours a day so there is only so much time. PETA wants kids taught to treat animals well. NAACP wants kids to learn more Africa history. Kids should be taught the effects of alcohol and drugs. Kids should be taught to avoid strangers... watch out for bad people. Hispanics and Asians want their heritage taught too. Every group wants kids to be taught whatever.

All this is after history, science, english, math... there isn't enough time in the school day. Extend the school day to 12 hours and there will still be things that the schools are not teaching kids.

Or change the curriculum

So the parents wants the state to teach their kids on common sense matters? Not this parent, would be thankful if they would just teach history, science, English, and math to help ease that burden. But they don't even do that.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

If you change the foods that are on offer you don't really need to "teach" that stuff - although there is really no reason that nutrition, for example, can't be taught either as a unit of say, Biology or of Physical Education.

[HAL 9000 96]

If you change the foods that are on offer you don't really need to "teach" that stuff - although there is really no reason that nutrition, for example, can't be taught either as a unit of say, Biology or of Physical Education.

Perhaps in PE... but definitely not in Bio. Nutrition IMO needs its own emphasis on choices.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

If you change the foods that are on offer you don't really need to "teach" that stuff - although there is really no reason that nutrition, for example, can't be taught either as a unit of say, Biology or of Physical Education.

Perhaps in PE... but definitely not in Bio. Nutrition IMO needs its own emphasis on choices.

I forgot Home Economics - do they even teach that here?

[Peikko 1,575]

Not in elementary school and that's the time to teach the basics of eating healthy. However, the best way of all is to teach by example. Schools should provide healthy lunches, parents should provide healthy breakfasts and dinners and the ####### should be some kind of exceptional circumstance, not the rule.

[HAL 9000 96]

If you change the foods that are on offer you don't really need to "teach" that stuff - although there is really no reason that nutrition, for example, can't be taught either as a unit of say, Biology or of Physical Education.

Perhaps in PE... but definitely not in Bio. Nutrition IMO needs its own emphasis on choices.

I forgot Home Economics - do they even teach that here?

I remember it in 6th grade. Home Ec... wow... CPR, First Aid, baking cup cakes AND making earthenware. Fun times. Due to the nature though of nutrition and its intricate metabolic relationship to energy expenditure, I think the US Physical Education requirements need to be drastically revamped.

Of course this requires better training of PE teachers (IMO they should all have more studies in Nutrition) and better facilities where the children can actually experiment with the dietary and exercise choices they make. That might be too librul for some to want to fund.

[amberdima 6]

If insurance companies are so interested in keeping the population healthy, why do they not offer 'incentives' to get cheaper insurance if...

Also, why do they not offer some kind of co pay/free gym membership with the qualification being attendance to a minimum number of classes per week?

Why? Because they don't give a ** about how healthy the population, it's not their goal.

Come on MC are you serious?

The people who WOULD take advantage of this free gym offer are more likely to already work out or belong to a club. Those who NEED to get physical..... won't.

Next time you spy a Large person at the market, ask yourself.... "How much money would it take(if you were willing to PAY them to go) to get this person to the gym 4 days a week?

I know it would take a lot of cash to get me to do it and I am not even fat!

If most people won't go if you paid em.. will they go because membership is free.... not many and not for long.

You missed the point there - which was that health insurance companies aren't actually concerned about people's health.

AETNA, BCBS, Amerihealth, and one other insurance companies give $50 off an annual membership to my gym.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

If insurance companies are so interested in keeping the population healthy, why do they not offer 'incentives' to get cheaper insurance if...

Also, why do they not offer some kind of co pay/free gym membership with the qualification being attendance to a minimum number of classes per week?

Why? Because they don't give a ** about how healthy the population, it's not their goal.

Come on MC are you serious?

The people who WOULD take advantage of this free gym offer are more likely to already work out or belong to a club. Those who NEED to get physical..... won't.

Next time you spy a Large person at the market, ask yourself.... "How much money would it take(if you were willing to PAY them to go) to get this person to the gym 4 days a week?

I know it would take a lot of cash to get me to do it and I am not even fat!

If most people won't go if you paid em.. will they go because membership is free.... not many and not for long.

You missed the point there - which was that health insurance companies aren't actually concerned about people's health.

AETNA, BCBS, Amerihealth, and one other insurance companies give $50 off an annual membership to my gym.

Pocket change.

[Peikko 1,575]

A $50 coupon? Well, yes, I can see that being a huge investment in the insurees health

Seriously, annual membership for attending a minimum 3 organized fitness classes per week (with some provision for holidays/sickness) or some such thing would be an incentive - not a one off $50 coupon.

[Dakine 26]

FYI ! The Island we live on doesn't have ANY fast food places and I's say there's over 75% obesity here.

I blame a lot on the government and the welfare sytem.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

I blame fairies and leprechauns.

[Peikko 1,575]

Oh come now, if it wasn't for the welfare system these fat folks would starve to death. Common sense I tell you!

[HAL 9000 96]

FYI ! The Island we live on doesn't have ANY fast food places and I's say there's over 75% obesity here.

I blame a lot on the government and the welfare sytem.

Or the more reasonable response- fatty food in a modern, sedentary era where food is more easily obtained... What is the typical, historical diet of the island where you live?