Government Food Programs Lead to Obese Poor People

UPI Think Tanks Correspondent | 1/29/03 | Chritian Bourge

[tom paine 2]

Another Liberal feel good program that actually hurts people.

[abnegation]

I knew this just by watching what these people buy at the local grocery store.

[lainie]

I don't even need to read this article to know the headline is probably true. The standard USDA pyramid is not necessarily healthy eating for someone that isn't a marathon runner.

"By investigating the genesis of this theory, Taubes found that the government's initial decision 30 years ago to promote low-fat diets was not based on recommendations from doctors or scientists, but rather from lawyers who worked for Sen. George McGovern in the mid-1970s.

With the release of the government's "Food Pyramid" in the early 1990s, it was official: the low-fat/high-carb diet was America's food plan.

At the pyramid's base are the foods considered the staple of the healthy low-fat diet: refined carbohydrates such as bread, cereal, rice and pasta. At the narrow top — indicating that they should be used sparingly, if at all: fats and oils."

The Low-Fat Legend (ABC News)

[twigs]

I think that a lot of low-cost food is high in carbs. So is the food that more well-off people buy at fast-food restaurants on their way to soccer games. Many years ago, a lady on food stamps lived with me. I didn't spend near the money on food she had alloted to her. I think good nutrition is a matter of knowing what to eat and having the will power to do it.

[iron tongue]

Let's give cash to people who aren't smart enough to get the healthy food that they need in the first place. This will solve the obesity problem.

What a great idea!

[elbucko]

Will Rogers said; "That America was the first country to go to the poor house in an automobile". In that vain, it would seem we may now be able to tell the poor by their girth.

[RobRoy]

All food stamps should be abolished and replaced with McDonalds gift certificates. All the food groups in a burger, fries and a shake. If you're on a diet, substitute the shake with a diet coke.

And pancakes and hash browns for breakfast, what could be more american. Extra butter...

[elbucko]

..but rather from lawyers who worked for Sen. George McGovern in the mid-1970s.

(groan) Why am I not surprised.

[Utah Girl]

Exactly right. Plus the low-fat diet craze of the nineties begat Snackwells, snacks low in fat, but highter in calories than the foods they were replacing, and much higher in carbs. Plus exercise is the way to keep one's metabolism in good order, as well as eating nutritiously. Eat nutritiously takes knowledge, planning, and willpower.

[Check_Your_Premises]

I invoke occam's razor.

The same things that lead to poverty... bad values and lack of discipline, are the same things that lead to obesity.

If you are to undisciplined to show up to work, you sure as hell aren't going to have the discipline to put down that (tax-payer subsidized) bag of chips

[rellimpank]

--whose origin was agricultural subsidies--

[RobRoy]

My wife and I went on a one week cleansing diet a few weeks ago. We ate all the vegetable soup we wanted and TONS of vegetables. On the third day we were allowed yogurt and on the fourth day we had to drink something like two liters of milk. We took various vitamins as well. Unfortunately, I kept doing my workout at the gym.

On the third day I suddenly got a minor nose bleed. On the fifth day, I got a gusher. We stopped it at that point. They were the only nose bleeds I’ve had in over two decades.

On a semi-related note, on Monday I couldn’t do my normal workout routine. Sometimes it’s harder than other times, but this time it was unbearable. I couldn’t get enough air while doing the cardio workout and cut it in half. Later that evening I was at band practice and noticed I felt like I hadn’t slept in days. The next morning I realized what had happened: I have had NO sugar since December 28th - nothing with sugar in any of it’s first four ingredients (on the label). Well, Sunday was my birthday and I had TWO pieces of cake with Ice cream.

I’m back to no sugar and I’m fine now. No I am not diabetic, not even close (just got the blood test back from life insurance physical). I do believe sugar is an addiction and we eat WAY too much of it. It is killing us.

[elbucko]

The same things that lead to poverty... bad values and lack of discipline,...

May I amplify on that theme by adding that it is crime, the bad values, etc., that cause poverty and not the accepted other way around.

[white trash redneck]

I suppose Tom Paine would prefer the good old days, when poor people were thin because they were, well, starving.

[tom paine 2]

I just went on the Atkins diet not too long ago. I am in the last week of the Induction phase. It is amazing how the fat melts off. No more gorging on pasta and bread!

[netmilsmom]

When on WIC a mother is given certificates which can only buy certain foods i.e. unsugared cereal, cheese, milk, eggs legumes. This is how food stamps should work. There should be no reason why food stamps should be able to purchase Pepsi. Period.

[twigs]

Congratulations! But be careful though. My brother was on the Atkins diet for years, and just had to have a heart arthroscopy (not sure about spelling). I've begun to go easy on the carbs myself. And it does make a difference!

[netmilsmom]

Happy Birthday!

[Utah Girl]

My brother-in-law did the same thing right before he married my sister. He is a runner, and went on some sort of no sugar diet. And then went to the doctor wondering why he felt so rotten. We need sugar and fats in our diet, but not much. Moderation in all things is the key.