Posted on 05/09/2012 2:21:57 PM PDT by Sub-Driver
NBC: Obesity 'No Longer A Question of Individual Responsibility,' Government Must Act By Kyle Drennen Created 05/09/2012 - 4:30pm
Touting new recommendations from an Institute of Medicine panel on obesity on Tuesday's NBC Nightly News, science correspondent Robert Bazell proclaimed to viewers: "...a sea change in how we perceive obesity. No longer a question of individual responsibility, but a need to change what's called an 'obesity-promoting environment.' Calling on corporations, government and individuals to act."
At the top of the broadcast, anchor Brian Williams sounded the alarm: "Weight of the nation. An American health crisis out of control, and tonight a reality check on what it might take to turn things around." Later teasing the upcoming story, he declared: "Getting past the question of will power, what's really to blame for a nation of exploding waistlines? Tonight, there is a surprising new answer."
In his report, Bazell proceeded to detail the dictates of the health panel: "...requiring at least 60 minutes a day of physical activity in schools. Public and workplace policies that encourage people of all ages to exercise more. Industry-wide guidelines on marketing food to children, including healthier choices for kids in restaurants and having healthy food available at all public events."
Bazell further pushed the findings: "With the cost of treating obesity-related illnesses approaching $200 billion a year, many on the panel say the nation is ready to act." The panel's vice chair, Dr. M.R.C. Greenwood implored: "It takes a lot of leadership. We need our mayors to step up to the plate, we need our school superintendents to step up to the plate."
Concluding the segment, Bazell lamented the public practicing "bad habits...in an environment that encourages them."
Only NBC saw fit to hype the panel's big government proposals on Tuesday. Neither ABC's World News nor the CBS Evening News reported on the topic.
Here is a full transcript of the May 8 Nightly News segment:
7:00PM ET TEASE:
BRIAN WILLIAMS: Weight of the nation. An American health crisis out of control, and tonight a reality check on what it might take to turn things around.
7:12PM ET TEASE:
WILLIAMS: And up next, the weight of the nation. Getting past the question of will power, what's really to blame for a nation of exploding waistlines? Tonight, there is a surprising new answer.
7:14PM ET SEGMENT:
WILLIAMS: Back now with our reporting on what's being called the weight of the nation. Last night we told you about a stunning prediction that by the year 2030, health experts are telling us 42% of Americans will be obese. Today at a conference in Washington, some sweeping strategies for fighting this epidemic. We get more from our chief science correspondent Robert Bazell.
ROBERT BAZELL: Dr. Robin Goland is on the front lines of the obesity epidemic. And sees its consequences every day.
ROBIN GOLAND [COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER]: Our pediatricians are seeing obese 2-year-olds and 4-year-olds, we have 5-year-olds with impaired glucose tolerance. We have 8-year-olds with Type II diabetes. This is a catastrophe.
UNIDENTIFIED MAN: Most of you are familiar with the shocking statistics.
BAZELL: Today's recommendations from the prestigious Institute of Medicine, signal a sea change in how we perceive obesity. No longer a question of individual responsibility, but a need to change what's called an "obesity-promoting environment." Calling on corporations, government and individuals to act.
Among the panel's recommendations, requiring at least 60 minutes a day of physical activity in schools. Public and workplace policies that encourage people of all ages to exercise more. Industry-wide guidelines on marketing food to children, including healthier choices for kids in restaurants and having healthy food available at all public events.
With the cost of treating obesity-related illnesses approaching $200 billion a year, many on the panel say the nation is ready to act.
M.R.C. GREENWOOD [OBESITY PANEL VICE CHAIR]: It takes a lot of leadership. We need our mayors to step up to the plate, we need our school superintendents to step up to the plate.
BAZELL: With two thirds of Americans overweight and one third obese, the problem has become so critical that it's affecting almost every aspect of our daily lives. There are even worries that airplane seat belts can't protect the many heavy passengers.
JANEY PRATT [MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL]: We skip meals, we eat too quickly. We eat foods that are high in sugars and carbohydrates, in fats. And we eat more of them.
BAZELL: Bad habits, the panel said, in an environment that encourages them. Robert Bazell, NBC News, New York.
You win. Can’t top that. :)
I DO NOT want the government getting involved in my life in order to 'help' me. We all know what happens when government tries to 'help'.
Everyone should be the same height...
Thank you FRiend.
Yes, it would be, so it can't possibly be done! ;o)
We already get breaks on homeowner's insurance if we have smoke detectors, and sometimes get breaks on automobile insurance if we drive carefully, and don't get tickets. It would make PERFECT sense to reward, monetarily, those who work to stay healthy. It might even encourage those of us who aren't as healthy as we could be to work at it, if we knew we'd be able to save money.
That’s total BS! I gained weight before my back surgery 11 years ago and even more in the first 6 years after the surgery. I have now lost all the weight I gained post surgery and am still slowly losing weight. All I had to do was get more discipline about what I eat and get back into the habit of regular aerobic exercise, substituting swimming and cycling for jogging.
Dang it, the smokers have paid for their health insurance many times over! Remember the massive tobacco settlement with the states over health claims? The states took that money and used it to balence budgets, build roads and bridges, etc., but interestingly enough, did not put any of it back to pay for the smoker’s “health problems”. Then the feds put on more taxes on tobacco to pay for poor children’s insurance.
Smokers may not live as long as non-smokers, so they will not burden the Medicare system. Smokers also may not be around to help bankrupt the Social Security system. They deserve your thanks.
Remember how we were told that if people stopped smoking, insurance rates would stablize or start going down? They won’t, and obesity is just the latest boogeyman.
We need to phase out Medicaid and Medicare and let the free market do it’s magic.
I tell you folks, why oh why did Alito have to mention Broccoli when the supreme court was debating health care? I have no doubt this Doctor was sitting there listen to the news and thought “Broccoli, hmm; if the government can make you buy broccoli...” And the rest is history.
” They wont, and obesity is just the latest boogeyman. “
‘boogeyman’ is a good word for it - and it’s amazing how many of us knee-jerk to it...
The fact is that, unless one happens to die suddenly, probably violently, *everybody*, regardless of lifestyle, will eventually get ill requiring expensive procedures and/or hospitalization - maybe several times - before dying.... (Or did I miss all those ‘news’ stories about health-nuts living forever??)
The only way to be sure to bring down health insurance rates would be for everybody to patriotically step in front of a moving bus on their 40th birthday...
“The food in our grocery stores is killing us. All government intervention, up to this point, has thrust more horrid products upon us and ignores well established science all in the name of garnering incresed contributions from the large agri-businesses.”
Bingo. It goes well beyond what is traditionally though of as junk food too. The portions and content of the American diet are so far out of whack, it’s a wonder 95% of Americans aren’t morbidly obese.
Give it time.
Government is one of the main causes of obesity. More government is NOT the solution.
When I say that, I mean that higher taxes and government-caused inflation has forced many women to have to work. The result of that is that many people eat out at fast food places a lot of the time.
Piker, I have lost several thousand pounds, trouble is I seem to find it again.
Some nice research I read last week indicated that a deactivated gene in the heart, med 13, I think, when activated in mice led to obesity relief.
Hardly anyone was fat when I was a kid, we were raised on Beans and Potatoes, Corn, Green Beans, Corn, Corn Bread and lots of lard.
Hitler proved with out a doubt, if you lock people up and work them hard and feed them very little, 100% of them will lose weight.
That looks soooooo good. Hmm...yes, I believe I might just be passing by a KFC later this week...hmm...
Why should you have either? Good grief when we are offered a false choice when none is required it looks like we are getting a good deal, which explains Romney.
I think there's another crisis. All Americans should get paid at least $5,000.00 an hour, just like Brian Williams.
Why are people so willing to make this an either or argument?
Well . . .
So much for “my body, my choice.”
Ohh, hypocrisy.
Pregnant? It’s your body. Fat? It’s our body!
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