Posted on 01/27/2006 1:41:43 PM PST by Angus MacGregor
Don't follow super-size Americans, says Prince
By Andrew Pierce
THE Prince of Wales warned the British people last night that they were in danger of becoming as obese as many Americans because they did not walk or cycle enough.
The Prince, who has a fleet of chauffeur-driven cars and has rarely if ever been seen in public on the saddle of a bike, said: “We are perhaps not very far behind our American cousins in the ‘super-sizing epidemic’.”
In his speech at St James’s Palace he gave warning of a worrying sharp rise in childhood obesity. His intervention comes after the British Medical Association said that Britain’s fat youngsters, who account for a third of all obese children in Europe, were at high risk of developing life-threatening conditions, including diabetes and heart disease. One million under-16s were so fat that they were putting their health at risk, the BMA said.
The most recent statistics from the Department of Health indicate that more than 40 per cent of men and 33 per cent of women are overweight and 20 per cent of both are obsese.
The Prince, who credits his trim figure to a diet of one organic meal a day, which he calls the Des O’Connor diet, and long walks on the Scottish moors when he is at Balmoral, said that the rise in obesity was partly caused by the design of modern towns and cities.
“Research suggests that walking or cycling for just half an hour a day can have a significant improvement on our state of health. But why don’t we do it more?” The answer, he said, was that too many towns made it virtually impossible. “It might help if the built environment was more appealing and attractive to pedestrians.”
He urged the Government to embrace the work of Richard Jackson, a former adviser on health to Arnold Schwarzenegger, the Governor of California. The Prince said: “Dr Jackson and his colleagues have pointed to a disturbing link between the built environment, physical inactivity and what he terms a syndemic of diseases, including, perhaps most worryingly, childhood obesity.”
Last year Ruth Kelly, the Education Secretary, and Margaret Hodge, the Children’s Minister, said that junk food advertisements during children’s television programmes would be banned by law if the industry failed to agree a voluntary code. They were contradicted by Tessa Jowell, the Culture Secretary, who said that the scheme would undermine income for ITV.
The topic of how building design affects public wellbeing is one of the Prince’s favourite hobby horses. He set up the Foundation for the Built Environment, which hosted last night’s event, to promote traditional urban design and architecture that put communities at the centre of the process.
In the past, he has called for greater integration of complementary medicine, to be used to tackle obesity, especially in youngsters. In November he backed demands for healthier, more nutritional, school meals.
Not only do we super-size our meals and have buffets galore here in America compared to Europe - but we have those sweeteners that mess us up - not to mention computers that won't release us so we can exercise! Thus, no lean machines! I admit - I'm guilty too!
And - You're absolutely right - they put growth hormones for animals to fatten them up for the market - and guess what! We are fattened up too! Have you seen the commerical about choosing chickens that have not been treated with growth hormones? I recently found out soy and broccoli makes you fat too! And - I love broccoli!
Bottom line though is the best exercise - Think Thin! What would a Thin person eat? And would they eat as much as I have on my plate right now...?
"The Prince, who has a fleet of chauffeur-driven cars and has rarely if ever been seen in public on the saddle of a bike, said: “We are perhaps not very far behind our American cousins in the ‘super-sizing epidemic’.”"
I guess we cannot tell what this paper's bias is towards charles....why don't I ever see something this inflammatory when it is a DNC politician yakking.
Of course, with the UK the response will be to put fat people on a special list and incrementally deny them certain medical services.
"
I am as well - some of these people not happy with his comments remind me of some people being upset over Bill Cosby and his comments about the black community."
It does seem predictable when a foreigner is reported with comments that point out a factual or honestly debatable issue with americans or america, they shoot the messenger and often ignore the message.
If we don't want to be referred to as fat by foreigners, I guess that is tough, cuz americans as a group sure ain't gonna give up twinkies.
I suspect it is hormones, because diet overall is certainly not better than even 20 years ago, certainly not in things that help growth.
Whoa, why did I use the future tense? The UK is denying certain medical procedures to the fat already! NHS is faster than I thought.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1542542/posts
I have actually counted the percentages of truly fat folks in a Wal Mart or Cracker Barrel or Sams or maybe even while I'm parked out front of a TJ Maxx waiting on my wife.
It's astounding and there is a definite socioeconomic component that seems to cut across all races.
Folks used to say it was because poor folks ate crap because it was cheaper. I think it's also about self discipline....which applies to work ethic same as appearance though no doubt there are stronger social pressures on wealthier folks to not get fat....especially the wives.
no kidding....once past fish and chips, shepherd's pie and yorki pudding it gets sorta rough
Americans warn Brits not to get jug-eared and fugly-wived (-wifed?) like prin(cess) charles.
I guess there is no point in warning them not to be inbred like him. The stupid inbred Kraut.
Americans ARE fat. Truth hurts.
That pic belongs in the big book of british smiles!
My wife and I are friendly with some doctors and nurses.
They tell us they now have to keep longer intramuscular syringes around for injecting larger buttocks....no joking.
I'm 6'5 and 225 and folks say I'm thin when in reality I should be around 200 to be appropriate weight.
My wife is thin.
My oldest daughter at 5'4" and 110 lbs is told she is too thin....which is ridiculous.
When I lived in Manhattan in the 80s, I saw almost no fat folks aside from some goombahs who worked at it.
Got that beat by a mile...go to the Tillman's Corner Walmart in Mobile, Alabama....stretch pants and cellulite abound!!!!! I wonder what these hogs see when they look in the mirror? It's disgusting to see an 8 year old kid with a huge pot belly....it really makes me ashamed to be from this area....PLEASE, If you stop off there on I-10, don't judge all of Mobile or Alabama by the parade off human swill you will see in that place....i have not been back in about 4 years...blood pressure just can't take looking at at these slovenly dressed, obese, mullet wearing, tattoed, greasy skinned, unshaven (men and women ;)) lard buckets.
Also, before anyone attacks me for being a snob, i am proud to be from the south(most of the time)but Wardaddy is right, America( especially where i live) needs to push back from the dinner table, exercise and eat a bit healthier.
i feel better now...
rant off.................
I know what you mean....it's worse seeing incredibly sloppy unkempt obese folks waddling with kids that are obese too
no excuse for that
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