One has to conclude that this all started as a mind experiment on the American people. "Say up is down and left is right and see how many buy into it." Answer: a lot.
Posted on 09/17/2019 9:25:17 PM PDT by familyop
IN his fascinating book Unnatural Causes, forensic pathologist Dr Richard Shepherd observes how, over the years, the dead bodies he examines have changed.
One of the most noticeable is the rapid increase in body fat.
He says: “Unless a patient is homeless or has died of cancer or is so old or poor they could not eat, few are the same shape as the dead of the 1980s when I started practising.
“Looking back at forensic photos from that era I am astonished at how thinness was then the norm.”
Fast-forward just three decades and obesity levels are now rising at such a rate that one expert says the “timebomb has exploded” for our health services.
Consequently, the NHS is reportedly bracing itself for soaring levels of cancer, Type 2 diabetes and heart and liver disease.
'FAT SHAMING COMEBACK'
For a taster of what’s potentially to come, let’s cross the Pond to America, where talk-show host Bill Maher had this to say: “In August, 53 Americans died from mass shootings. Terrible, right? Do you know how many died from obesity? Forty-thousand.”
A shocking statistic indeed and it’s indisputable that it should be highlighted and widely debated.
But he then said this: “Fat shaming doesn’t need to end. It needs to make a comeback. Some amount of shame is good.
“We shamed people out of smoking and into wearing seat belts . . . shame is the first step in reform.”
Meaning that, fuelled by Brit James Corden’s robust response on his chat show, Maher’s call to “fat-shame” became the debate and smothered the real issue of how supposedly developed nations can tackle this spiralling health crisis.
"We shamed people out of smoking and into wearing seat belts . . . shame is the first step in reform." --Bill Maher
Fat shaming isn’t the solution, although in the 2015 case of a mother ordering takeaways for her hospitalised 13-year-old, I could possibly make an exception.
The Manchester-based mother, whose child later died from “a heart condition . . . exacerbated by their morbid obesity”, had persistently ignored healthy eating advice and failed to bring the child to various health appointments.
Shame on her.
But in the majority of cases, finger- pointing and name-calling gets us nowhere.
However, equally, we shouldn’t attempt to normalise obesity for fear of causing offence.
If a four-year-old child is already clinically obese by the time they start school, then — medical issues aside — it’s because, at home, they’re being fed the wrong food and not getting enough exercise.
HEALTH TIME-BOMB
Those in positions of authority — teachers, doctors etc — must be allowed to tackle it with impunity and, hopefully, support the child’s family to implement a change in lifestyle that will benefit all concerned.
As Corden says: “We get it. We know being overweight isn’t good for us and I’ve struggled my entire life with trying to manage my weight and I suck at it.”
Because it’s not just about what people eat, it’s about why they overeat.
So support and encouragement has to be the answer, together with a collective, open and ongoing conversation about how society as a whole can help.
Interestingly, the tiny South Pacific island of Naura is currently classed as the most obese nation in the world, with 61 per cent of its 10,756 population having a BMI higher than 30.
"It’s not just about what people eat, it’s about why they overeat."
According to one report, this is “possibly attributed to Western settlers who taught them to fry their food and import less healthy food, abandoning their tradition cultivation, preparation and preserving skills”.
In short, the human body is designed to live off the land and move around without the aid of transport, but “modern life” means we’re eating far too much processed food and being more sedentary as we’re ferried from A to B.
But even though the food industry must take its fair share of blame, it’s also the case that certain healthier alternatives introduced by KFC, among others, failed due to lack of interest from customers.
So, contrary to Maher’s claim about smoking and seat belts, it wasn’t shame that prompted change, it was the slow drip of education and a change in laws — and, ultimately, that’s the route we should take in tackling this health crisis too.
In the meantime, we shouldn’t demonise obesity, but nor should we normalise it either.
I’m all for “body positivity” but not if it’s masking an underlying health time-bomb.
What we should be normalising, and indeed celebrating, is that everyone — whatever their body shape — should eat healthily and get fitter.
Would she feel any better if they were pushed out of windows?
40% obese and 70% overweight.
Out of curiousity I wonder how many died from illegal aliens.
One way is to cut out all processed foods and sodas. Meat 3 days a week is fine. Salads, but cut out the salad dressing and replace with olive oil and lemon and salt and garlic powder
Troll much? You sound just like the lefties and their ad hominem responses in the absence of intellectual ability.
Have a nice day!
I am glad you survived.
I gained a STAGGERING amount of weight being home a number of years recovering from an injury.
God was GREAT to me in that there were no repercussions.
But I didn’t want to push it. But i’m 280 still.
I was at a number I NEVER KNEW existed in real people before i lost over 100!!!
Just sitting and sulking and eating fast food for 3 years.
I do not want to see YOU or ME suffer or end this life short so let’s double our efforts! :)
Now excuse me while I go get a pizza JK!! :)
Food is CHEAP and EVERYWHERE. not easy to lose but we can lose the rest. I know it.
The obese should be fat shamed but LGBTABC groups shouldn’t be.
SMH
That’s the left
Fat chance, this story gains any traction
Thanks, Cronos. I’ve avoided sodas and processed foods for a very long time. Been getting older and simply needed to eat less and do more physical activities.
A clove or two of raw, crushed garlic with a few orange slices before a meal seems to help immediately each time after eating it (blood pressure, blood sugar). It should be eaten about 10 minutes after being crushed. That...for a few days every now and then. [Anyone who has *low* blood pressure should avoid the frequent raw garlic so soon after mincing it, BTW.]
Since the “main-SLIME media” constantly RANTS endlessly about “mass shootings”, I wonder how many people in the USA die each month from shootings by CRIMINAL PREDATORS??
SEVERAL TIMES more than die from “mass shootings” by “active shooters”, is my guess.
WHEN & IF we “get serious as a Nation” about locking away the PREDATORS for LONG/MANDATORY SENTENCES & W/O PAROLE, who possess deadly weapons while engaged in committing or attempting felony crimes, the death rate from deadly weapons will fall by more than 75%.
Note: I was “pinned to a badge” for about 3 decades & that is the ONLY truly EFFECTIVE solution to the ARMED FELON problem.
Yours, TMN78247
I didn’t know about that low blood pressure thing. Have you tried also plant sterols to reduce cholesterol?
Private message to you, Cronos. :)
Thanks. It’s a deal, dp0622. We’ll get there! I’m much better off than several years ago, though, when it was affecting breathing and circulation pretty badly.
I’m in my 60s, so it’s been a little slow at times (rough time with a flu, sepsis, dizzy spells, etc., a few years ago and for years). Was in pretty good shape back in the early 2000s. That can all change for the worse very quickly with some bad habits (smoking, bad diet) and a condition or accident.
Add a capful of organic, raw apple cider vinegar to a glass of water and drink once or twice a day. Helps the body get leaner and helps strengthen the immune system. Can also add it to a blended green and fruit smoothie. Helps me and although I eat relatively balanced meals I’m no purist either as I like my cakes and cookies too.
My recommendation is to buy guns and ammo, folks. The same people who are so over emotional and vote in a government who curtails your rights is the same one who will murder millions and call it Constitutional. Millions of babies murdered and no one does a thing to stop it. The same will happen when the ‘government’ defines certain groups of people as non-people and starts murdering them.
JoMa
Best of luck with your weight loss journey.
At one time, I got up to 205 pounds, and I am a 5’3” woman. I hated being there, so started making some changes. I would park in a distant lot and walk, take the stairs, cut out snacks, etc. I got down to 134, but the weight creeped back. When I reached 158, I went to Jenny Craig 6 years ago and got help to lose down to 130. My weight crept up to 142, so I went back to Jenny Craig. I reached 130 two weeks ago, and am switching to maintenance mode. I chose Jenny Craig because clinical studies show that it has a fairly good success rate. I will not say more because I do not want to sound like an ad; I do recommend that you do some research before going with a weight loss program, since so many are ineffective or scams.
A lot of losing weight and keeping it off is learning to be mindful. Plan ahead, and do not eat anything that is not on the plan. It is ridiculously easy to eat a snack here and there, thinking that it’s only a few calories when you’ve consumed 500 without realizing it. You can train yourself to avoid unplanned snacking, to not overindulge in restaurants, and so forth. A good weight loss program will help with this by counseling.
I have found that I really do not want to overeat any more. Even when my weight creeped back up to 142, it was actually hovering there for over a year; I went back to Jenny Craig when I could not lose it, not because my weight was increasing uncontrollably. I know now that I must always watch the calories, a d I have a better idea how now.
Anyway, good luck. I relay this story because I want to encourage you. No one ever believes that I was once over 200 pounds!
We’re not fat. We’re famine ready, in case one ever hits. I have every right to prepare for a famine, no matter how remote the possibility. /sarc, sort of
The dems are all over it banning high capacity straws.
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