Obesity pandemic engulfing world

Breitbart.com ^ | Sep 03, 2006 | AFP

[Mrs. Don-o]

Obesity has reached pandemic proportions throughout the world and is now the greatest single contributor to chronic disease, an international conference was told here.

"This insidious, creeping pandemic of obesity is now engulfing the entire world," Australia's Monash University professor Paul Zimmet, chair of the 10th International Congress on Obesity, said on the opening day of the conference.

The spread of the problem was "led by affluent western nations, whose physical activity and dietary habits are regrettably being adopted by developing nations," Zimmet told more than 2,000 delegates.

The world now has more fat people than hungry ones, according to World Health Organisation figures, with more than a billion overweight people compared to 800 million who are undernourished.

The congress on obesity is held every four years, with the last three staged in Toronto (1994), Paris (1998) and Sao Paulo (2002).

"The conference will treat obesity as the keystone of all health priorities because it is the single greatest contributor to chronic disease throughout the world," said University of Sydney professor Ian Caterson, the event co-chair.

"There are now more overweight people in the world than undernourished and we are seeing the double burden of the extremes of malnutrition -- undernutrition and overnutrition -- in many developing countries.

"We know this is not about gluttony -- it is the interaction of heredity and environment. We know that small changes can make a big difference in peoples weight and health."

Zimmet said the problem needed urgent solutions -- not just widespread changes to diet and exercise but the rethinking of national policies on urban and social planning, agriculture policy, education, transport and other areas.

He also warned in an opening address that the growth of obesity-related diabetes, or so-called "diabesity", was set to bankrupt health budgets all over the world.

Around 370 speakers and presenters at the six-day congress will discuss a range of issues, including scientific research on how the brain regulates energy and advances in the prevention and clinical management of obesity.

The conference is being attended by academics and health professionals from Australia, Japan, the United States, Britain, Canada, Sweden, Indonesia and New Zealand.

[Nowhere Man]

You know, many people who ride motorcycles without helmets make the same argument about the "nanny state".

Playing off the haltered of the "nanny state" may be a way to be away to solve the obesity problem. Just convince obese people who hate the "nanny state" to ride motorcycles without helmets.

But, first sign a waver that they will be in no way a burden on society if they survive with brain damage.

I tend to agree. I know I could drop a few pounds myself, so I'm just as guilty as the next guy, as the old 1960's saying goes, "if you're not part of the solution, you're part of the problem." Well, I had a few issues to deal with recently including a sick cat that just passed on so I figure I could go back and try to lose some weight.

I used to for a little while but not anymore, but I don't subscribe to the libertarian philosophy most of the time. I think something for that to happen, maybe, is if you had a more educated populace who have generally a high moral take on things, I believe both are rather absent today. Also, no matter what one does, most of the time, it can affect society. It's like the motorcycle helmets or lack thereof, if someone cracks up and ends up with brain damage, he could be a burden on others, I have no problem with that, I mean there are societal and moral obligations to take care of the disabled and all but if a helmet is worn, perhaps it might not be that way. Same with the obesity problem, it will cost society in many ways, health costs, time off work costs, and so on.

Basically it is if people cannot behave, some force will eventually step in, i.e. usually government to crack down. Sometimes it's good, sometimes it's not. It is like a teacher who says, "if you don't behave, I'll make you."

I think too, we are living in a space age world with stone age bodies, we were meant to be on the move, hunting, gathering, picking plants and so on, the reason for fat is to store a reserve in case of lean times.

[Gabz]

it is much cheaper to cook nutritious foods at home.

Exactly.......and I don't need some busy body telling me what I should or shouldn't eat because others are too lazy or ignorant to cook a decent meal.

[spectre]

"Or the old Country Buffet...sad to see".Those aren't Buffets...they are pig troughs.

sw

[Mr Rogers]

"I've always had a problem with people who judge others solely on their appearance."

When their appearance reflects their personal choices, it is perfectly appropriate to judge them on it.

The obese in America are fat because they choose a very sedentary lifestyle, and because they lack the self control to eat reasonable portions of food. I wouldn't mind it, except they whine about their 'big bones' and want to share my seat on airplanes. And it isn't their bones that won't fit between the armrests...

I don't advocate socialize medicine. I advocate fat people either moving more and eating less, or shutting up about their weight.

[tioga]

I can remember a volunteer I know came across a young pregnant woman who had no clue how to cook. She bought box mixes, frozen dinners or fast food. This volunteer took the woman shopping for months helped her pick out real meat, fruits and vegetables and taught her how to cook real meals from them. The young woman turned out to love to cook and her family had real food and real meals. The patience it took to do this was amazing, but the result was that a child was well nourished with real food.

Government regulations did not accomplish this, it took a compassionate volunteer to see what this woman needed and provide it.

[Madame Dufarge]

That's not old-fashioned it's denial.

"Denial" of what?

I don't have a dog in this particular fight, except making common cause with the newest target of the finger pointers, with whom you're scrambling to ally yourself.

[Plutarch]

The solution is to give all these people gastric bypass surgery. Then instead of being morbidly obese, they can by merely obese, but with lumpy arms and thighs, pendulous reduntant folds, ashen scaly skin, thin wasted hair and room clearing flatulence.

[Gabz]

There is no difference..........and as was pointed out earlier, many of the "usual suspcts" show up on both issues.......

[metalurgist]

It is not the government's responsibility to watch over us, but they should indeed make people aware that there is a dangerous trend emerging.

That's the latest one.

Then there are your posts calling for more "public awareness" which the public knows are codewords for more government involvement.

[leda]

yes!!! people are responsible for the foods they put,
and don't put, in their own mouths. i don't know of
anyone who is force fed twinkies and happy meals. ;)

cooking healthy meals at home is so easy! heck, our
best meals are whipped up using a collection of that
previous weeks leftover meats and veggies. last weeks
special was a soup from smoked turkey stock, veggies,
a smidge of pasta and some stir fried turkey kielbaska
with carrots, onions and tomatos, yummy!

[raybbr]

Then there are your posts calling for more "public awareness" which the public knows are codewords for more government involvement.

Show me my post where I say "public awareness"?

BTW, what is wrong with educating people about the problems of obesity?

[Madame Dufarge]

When their appearance reflects their personal choices, it is perfectly appropriate to judge them on it.

Yes, personal choices, what a hideous concept.

Years ago, I worked with a woman who you undoubtedly would have marginalized without ever having a scintilla of knowledge about her. She was the kindest, most thoughtful and talented person I ever knew. She also didn't possess the ideal Aryan Perfection body-type.

shutting up about their weight.

I don't hear them complaining.

I do hear the Health Police beating a loud tattoo on their drums.

[Gabz]

Government regulations did not accomplish this, it took a compassionate volunteer to see what this woman needed and provide it.

And that is how it should be.

something else I haventoiced, and again it is personal responsibility, so many parents today just give into the demands of their children, particularly when it comes to meals. Whatever happened to the "this is what we are having for dinner, if you don't eat it you go without because I'm not fixing anything else" attitude I remember from growing up?

[Dark Skies]

But if those same overweight Walmart customers wandered down to the bicycle section and bought one each and rode it daily, they could fix the whole problem.

[Gabz]

You're making me hungry :)

You've also reminded me I haven't pulled anything out of the freezer for dinner yet........

[raybbr]

I don't have a dog in this particular fight, except making common cause with the newest target of the finger pointers, with whom you're scrambling to ally yourself.

Contrary to your brush strokes I am not allying with those calling for govt. intervention (Although, I have yet to see one on this thread) I do tend to call a spade a spade. And, if you are fat, you are fat. It's not healthy. Obesity as health issue affects health care costs and support costs. If you think otherwise you are deliberately ignoring the issue.

[vidbizz]

I have a dear friend who went from 130 obs. to 275lbs. (at 5 foot tall).

She is mid-class, but doesn't work (let's her husband work, whom by the way is physically handicapped), has no kids, & watches TV all day long.

She will not even put on a pair of tennis shoes & walk around the block!

I feel bad for her, but IT'S HER OWN FAULT that she is in the unhealthy predicament.

[patton]

...But does she tell you I cooked? Nooooooooo.......

LOL

[raybbr]

I do hear the Health Police beating a loud tattoo on their drums.

What, exactly, is wrong with pointing out that someone is unhealthy? Seriously, why does is bother you if I call someone fat if they are fat?

[MarkL]

"We know this is not about gluttony -- it is the interaction of heredity and environment. We know that small changes can make a big difference in peoples weight and health."

In other words - "It's Bush's Fault!"

Come on, everybody, you know the tune!

Mark