Posted on 05/08/2012 11:52:13 AM PDT by EBH
America's obesity epidemic is so deeply rooted that it will take dramatic and systemic measures - from overhauling farm policies and zoning laws to, possibly, introducing a soda tax - to fix it, the influential Institute of Medicine said on Tuesday.
In an ambitious 478-page report, the IOM refutes the idea that obesity is largely the result of a lack of willpower on the part of individuals. Instead, it embraces policy proposals that have met with stiff resistance from the food industry and lawmakers, arguing that multiple strategies will be needed to make the U.S. environment less "obesogenic."
The IOM, part of the Washington-based National Academies, offers advice to the government and others on health issues. Its report was released at the Weight of the Nation conference, a three-day meeting hosted by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Cable channel HBO will air a documentary of the same name next week.
"People have heard the advice to eat less and move more for years, and during that time a large number of Americans have become obese," IOM committee member Shiriki Kumanyika of the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine told Reuters. "That advice will never be out of date. But when you see the increase in obesity you ask, what changed? And the answer is, the environment. The average person cannot maintain a healthy weight in this obesity-promoting environment."
Shortly after the report was released, the Center for Consumer Freedom, which is funded by restaurant, food and other industries, condemned the IOM as joining forces with the nation's "food nannies."
(Excerpt) Read more at reuters.com ...
Glenn Beck wanted to know what the fascination about food is all about....well here it is in all its controlling freakish glory. Somebody get this to Glenn, because control of the food...control of your food...is around the corner.
FReep U Government!!
Talking about obesity, have you noticed how fat the damn socialist government is getting?
Yeah, it's bad for fatties self esteem
I’d sooner see a perhaps 10% discount off of health insurance (and may Obamacare quickly die the death, thank you) for all who walk at least four miles a week. And leave their dadgum hands OFF of our food. Our groceries don’t look any more unhealthy than they did in a less pudgy yesteryear.
I’m fat so whom do I blame? I know, George W. Bush.
I cannot believe I just read this...talk about Orwellian ?
In today's world, we have machines (largely powered by fossil fuels) to do most of the hard physical work. Modern agricultural technology, combined with modern transportation and food preservation, has largely eliminated famine.
The combined forces of socialists, environmentalists, and nanny-staters will solve the above problems.
“The average person cannot maintain a healthy weight in this obesity-promoting environment.”
The country will continue to fall into decline until we get to the place were we admit that far too often we use the words I CANNOT instead of the correct phrase which is I DO NOT WANT TO!
Just try it in the following statements and you see why we’re in the shape we’re in (pun intended!)
I CANNOT maintain a healthly weight...
I CANNOT live within my means....
I CANNOT stay faithful to my spouse....
I CANNOT save any money for retirement....
I CANNOT stop viewing pornography on the internet....
I CANNOT teach my children responsibility and discipline...
from overhauling farm policies and zoning laws to, possibly, introducing a soda tax - to fix it
This is creepy, very creepy....this takes over the farms and introduces a fat tax....
PS. I walk dogs professionally, about 2.5 total everyday, do I get free health insurance? LOL. Really though I have days where I need those fast carbs. to keep my energy up to keep up with exercising dogs! New tax on my clients!
2.5 hours...everyday...2.5 hours...
Ill Noise already taxes sodas as nonfoods are taxed. And. That hasn’t even touched the rate of soda consumption (and more illogically and unfairly, it doesn’t make a distinction between diet and sugary drinks).
All together now.......
IT IS NOT GOVERNMENT’S JOB!!!!
IT IS NOT GOVERNMENT’S JOB!!!!
IT IS NOT GOVERNMENT’S JOB!!!!
IT IS NOT GOVERNMENT’S JOB!!!!
IT IS NOT GOVERNMENT’S JOB!!!!
IT IS NOT GOVERNMENT’S JOB!!!!
IT IS NOT GOVERNMENT’S JOB!!!!
And I know who. It's the corporations! The corporations are to blame.
Thank goodness the government will now make everything better for me. I trust the government to watch out for my best interests, especially since I'm incapable of doing it for myself.
And please pass the super-sized onion rings before the government declares them illegal.
478 pages? Talk about a bunch of useless eaters!
Obama’s going to lose the fat vote
Default option....do they mean only option?
I wonder what the left’s response would be if a similar 478-page report started out with the word “AIDS” instead of “obesity”?
The obese are a problem, and the obese are a voting block. What to do? I’ve got it! We’ll just say it isn’t their fault and that there’s a “smartest-guy-in-the-room” government solution for making Jabba-the-Hut look like Matt Damon! Now the fatties won’t be mad, and we are looking like we are doing something. In fact, we can grab more power and money while we’re at it. Whee!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.