Comments on: Is obesity a product of mummy culture?

By: Joy Walter

Joy Walter — Thu, 21 Jul 2005 11:50:04 +0000

Hi, as adults we need to take responsibility for our own lives..no good blaming Mummy who MADE us empty our plates, or fast food outlets or other factors. lack of education and greed, linked of course with self esteem, are the main culprits. it takes time, but the taste buds can be re-educated so that fresh simple foods become the ones you crave and looking at rich, fatty creamy foods one formerly craved are no longer diserable. it is then easy to maintain HEALTH and weight is no longer a problem. I know,because after having cancer i changed my diet. and at 78 am much fitter than i was at 40. My husband of nearly 84 (who has been on the same type of food also ) can still do a hard day’s work and people are surprisd to learn his real age. How do we educate our young folk to learn this way of eating before the cost of providing for the sick and ailing grows even higher ?

By: Antonio

Antonio — Mon, 18 Jul 2005 15:24:37 +0000

Morbid obesity (defined as a BMI of 30+) is a medical problem and as such should be considered on the basis of clinical trials, observational studies and epidemiological trials using scientific data rather than mere backyard speculation.
There is a clear and unambiguous link between obesity and increased risk of cardiac events and diabetes type 2. There is a clear and unambiguous trend in Anglo-Saxon societies of rapidly increasing prevalence of obesity.
The causes of obesity are relatively easy to define – psycho-social factors, diet, sedentary behaviours. With an ageing population, it would be absolutely stupid for people to deny that we have a problem on our hands.
Diet as a solitary factor is simple to control. Limiting kJ intake to 1400kJ per day is a good start – perhaps even less for those with a sedentary lifestyle. If the diet is difficult to control due to psycho-social factors then a psychologist or psychiatrist needs to be consulted.
Personally I would prefer not to have to have to pay higher taxes to pay for the ballooning prevalence of medical problems associated with obesity when in 99% of cases the problem is reversible. People that deny the looming problem of obesity really do have their heads in the sand on this one!

By: jo page

jo page — Mon, 18 Jul 2005 14:55:41 +0000

Grahame, More to the point – is obesity a villain? Scientific American has a recent (June 2005) article – Obesity: an Overblown Epidemic? It discusses recent and forthcoming books by academic researchers who argue that that the consequences of obesity are far less dire than commonly suggested by obesity experts, government authorities and media reports. Despite obesity (in adults and children)doubling in the US since 1980 the predicted increases in mortality from heart disease and stroke have not materialized.
The BMI is now slowly being accepted as a flawed measurement that does not allow for the 50 to 80 percent of variation of fatness due to genetic differences with the US and undoubtedly the Australian population. The use of the BMI and the proliferation of a widening range of weight loss drugs marketed by powerful drug companies have led to countless health authorities, and the media exaggerating the real risks of fat and the feasibility of weight loss.
Consider the stigma faced by the obese or even just “overweight” child today.

By: Benno

Benno — Mon, 18 Jul 2005 12:29:09 +0000

leg pulling irony tags:
You shouldn’t tell people this Graham, just imagine how many people will soon be suing their parents for over feeding and being over protective? People will be now be blaming all of their personality defects on their overprotected and fearful childhood.