What responsibilty does corporate America Have with Obesity?

As a long standing freeper, I know we preach self responsibility, but how much responsibility must be placed with corporate America in our vast obesity problem. I am only addressing this now as I try to remove myself from the obesity column. I am not considered a fat person , but in my forties and watching my gut balloon, I finally decided to put a stop to it. My research found that all the promise diets all came down to one thing-less calories. So I went about trying the weight watchers program as it seemed the most logical system. I did it online as I did not need the support group lectures that come with weekly weigh-ins and it made it my own personal battle.

I am on my way to my weight loss, but what I have discovered is that it is practically impossible to lose weight or maintain unless all the cooking is done at home. I must pack lunches that are healthy, and cook meals that are within reason to keep the weight loss going. It is almost impossible to find fast food that will keep me on pace and even going out to dinner requires careful planning to stay on track.

This is where my question comes in. I know it is easier to get profits by having fries go with the burger versus a fruit cup, and frying it up will get more orders than a broiled chicken sandwich, but by preying on our desires to please our pallette versus our bodies, America has created an obese society.Many of our children are clueless to what a balanced meal with vegetables and fruit is realy like. our restaurants think the bigger the serving , the better the food and the better chance of a return customer. This really is a case of profit over customer.

Agian , from the top, it is our choice to stuff ourselves or make Mcdonalds a daily requirement, but it is frustrating and sad to watch how many Americans are over weight and even sadder to see a generation of kids going the same route because they know not better. We need to have alternatives in our fast paced enviroment to the fast food companies. We need less portions at our restaurants and we need less research on how we can sell more sweets by adding flavor enchancers to lure in the consumer. OK , enough ranting , fire away freepers.

Interesting..I visited Japan about one year ago with a Japanese friend of mine, and found it interesting that they don't serve rice with everything like they do in the US, found out that in Asian resturants here they give lots of rice cause they know that most Americans are interested in big portions.

Entities who hold no responsibility for your health include, corporations, the government, your next door neighbor, or the ice cream man.

I get it now, you work for the yogurt people, admit it. Why do you insist on smearing my neighbors and local ice-cream vendors by lumping them in with evil government agents, agencies, agendas, and international agrandizemental land grab grabbers?

I'm a good-sized guy -- 2500 calories per day is about right for me -- and I have started to just order some appetizers at some restaurants. There are any number of studies out there that show that many meals at many restaurants and fast-food joints contain more calories than you need in a day and multiples (!) of the amount of sodium and/or fat you need in a day.

Or I just decide when I order the meal that I'm going to have half of it for lunch the next day and don't pressure myself to eat myself immobile.

Also note that the "standard" size itself has been increasing over the years. I just heard something on one of the morning shows that talked about how sodas, french fries, etc. keep getting bigger every couple of years.

Indeed, I eat as much as I can at home as well (or as lunches at work the next day). Trying to lose weight or even eat properly on restaurant food ain't gonna happen.

didn't your mom ever tell you about all the starving children in China?

My Mom told me it was starving children in Europe. All I can conclude from this is somebody's been moving those children around and it has to stop!!

So, ever try the old "then send it to them" ploy? Yeah, it didn't work on my Mom either...

I presume that would mean no public health monies for those who contract STDs (including AIDS)...abortions except in cases of rape...hurt because they are addicted to exercise

Put me down with him in the "wouldn't it be nice" category. Private health insurance is the solution to these particular problems. Ideally, it would be *the* solution and I wouldn't see a paycheck deduction for Medicare, etc.

Maybe it's hard-hearted for me to say so, but when it comes right down to it, if it costs somebody a lot for health insurance, or he loses the insurance because he fouled up, that's morally not as bad as me being forced at gunpoint every other Friday (i.e., payroll taxes of one kind or (actually "and") another) to hand over my money to him and people like him for no personal benefit whatsoever.

Much smaller portions in Japan. American portions, generally speaking with exceptions, are way too much. This may even border on gluttony IMHO. I always kind of giggle when I see someone eat like a pig portion after portion and then waddle out to their car with a Christian sticker on it; people seem to forget that gluttony is also a sin, right up there with lust and lying.

When going through the US with Japanese guests, people's eyes bug out at how much they have on their plate at a Dennys or Shoneys. They invariably get a doggy bag and finish off in their hotel the next day what they can't eat there, and don't stuff themselves till there is no room left. Explains why people are so slimp and walk as fast a jackrabbits in Japan and other parts of Asia.

It's not the fat, it's the carbs that make you fat.

Exactly what I'm saying. I agree that each individual must take responsibility for what they eat, and for their health in general.

McDonalds makes the claim that the necessary info to make wise health decisions about their products is posted visibly in each restaurant, but they don't mention the steroids in the meat. Steroids given to the cattle to make them grow fat, fast. Which Clinton then eats in the form of a Big Mac or three.

But, one thing's for sure... Those fattys who are suing probably will crush under the pressure in the courtroom during the cross-examination.

"And please inform the jury how many times a week you excercise."

Heh!

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