Generation Fat

[DearSummer]

Generation Fat: Parental paranoia killing Canadian kids
http://fullcomment.nationalpost.com/2012/05/29/generation-fat-parental-paranoia-killing-canadian-kids/


Among the report card’s bullet points:

• Forty-six percent of kids get three hours or less of active play per week, including weekends.
• Kids are less active on weekends than weekdays.
• Only 35% of kids, aged 10-16 years, walk or ride their bikes to school.
• Kids age 6-19 spend 63% of their free time (on weekends, after school) sedentary.


Dear old Mom and Dad aren’t waiting for little Johnnie and little Sally to come inside for dinner anymore. They are already inside, where can we watch them, keep them, ahem, safe and let them eat crap even though 92% of kids surveyed indicate that they would choose “playing with friends over watching TV” and 74% of the little darlings in Grade 4 to 6 “would choose doing something active after school.”

Instead, they are imprisoned by over-active imaginations, by minds of Moms and Dads who see ghosts and goblins and reckless drivers and predators and peeping toms on every street corner and park bench.


Eighty-two percent of moms (and I am not picking on moms here, just providing the statistic) cite safety concerns for “restricting” outdoor play. Fifty-percent of parents feel that, in this wacky world in which we live, they need to be “over-protective” to keep their young ones safe from harm.

There are a number of factors at play that have caused recent generations to be extremely unhealthy. However, the sedentary lifestyle created by overprotective parents who don't let their kids engage in unstructured play is certainly one of them. It's sad to me that parents want to wrap their kids in bubblewrap and leave them inside under their watchful eye.

Let your kid go out and play football. Let them go explore the neighbourhood. Let them go biking across town. Canada is as safe as it's ever been. You're literally killing your kids by sticking them on the couch all day (not to mention the food you put in front of them).

[flashy_mcflash]

If parents had the same paranoia about what they're feeding their children as they do about where they play, we'd have less of an obesity problem. The food is a bigger factor than exercise, because the nutrient-free processed garbage we're feeding our children doesn't provide enough energy to do anything but lounge on the sofa. Anyone who's ever attempted to lose weight knows that diet is a far more important lifestyle change than exercise, though exercise should certainly also be a part of it.

[Ottomaddox]

If parents had the same paranoia about what they're feeding their children as they do about where they play, we'd have less of an obesity problem. The food is a bigger factor than exercise, because the nutrient-free processed garbage we're feeding our children doesn't provide enough energy to do anything but lounge on the sofa. Anyone who's ever attempted to lose weight knows that diet is a far more important lifestyle change than exercise, though exercise should certainly also be a part of it.

Dude, I think you have it backwards. The overwhelming amount of empty calories in junk food is the problem.

[Tig]

If parents had the same paranoia about what they're feeding their children as they do about where they play, we'd have less of an obesity problem. The food is a bigger factor than exercise, because the nutrient-free processed garbage we're feeding our children doesn't provide enough energy to do anything but lounge on the sofa. Anyone who's ever attempted to lose weight knows that diet is a far more important lifestyle change than exercise, though exercise should certainly also be a part of it.

It's not that it doesn't provide enough energy. In fact most of the crap that parents feed their kids is packed with simple sugars that are quickly broken down and absorbed into the blood stream. This is fine before or after some form of exercise and as long as it is in moderation. Imo parents need to educate themselves more on proper nutrition and learn how to read labels and ingredient lists so that they can more often than not chose whole foods over processed crap! But I agree with you, healthy eating habits are in my opinion just as important if not more than regular exercise/play time because kids are going to get that at school every day anyway, but unless you are feeding them properly then no one else will.

[flashy_mcflash]

Dude, I think you have it backwards. The overwhelming amount of empty calories in junk food is the problem.

Isn't that exactly what I said? Maybe I misspoke about the energy part but I think we're actually in agreement here.

[ashgotti]

It's not that it doesn't provide enough energy. In fact most of the crap that parents feed their kids is packed with simple sugars that are quickly broken down and absorbed into the blood stream. This is fine before or after some form of exercise and as long as it is in moderation. Imo parents need to educate themselves more on proper nutrition and learn how to read labels and ingredient lists so that they can more often than not chose whole foods over processed crap! But I agree with you, healthy eating habits are in my opinion just as important if not more than regular exercise/play time because kids are going to get that at school every day anyway, but unless you are feeding them properly then no one else will.

The sad thing is that everyone knows what they're suppose to eat and what not to eat, people just don't care or are in denial. I don't think more education is really needed, how many food pyramids do we need?

[BornRuff]

Generation Fat: Parental paranoia killing Canadian kids
http://fullcomment.nationalpost.com/2012/05/29/generation-fat-parental-paranoia-killing-canadian-kids/







There are a number of factors at play that have caused recent generations to be extremely unhealthy. However, the sedentary lifestyle created by overprotective parents who don't let their kids engage in unstructured play is certainly one of them. It's sad to me that parents want to wrap their kids in bubblewrap and leave them inside under their watchful eye.

Let your kid go out and play football. Let them go explore the neighbourhood. Let them go biking across town. Canada is as safe as it's ever been. You're literally killing your kids by sticking them on the couch all day (not to mention the food you put in front of them).

You are off base thinking that over protective parents are really the main issue here. It has some impact for sure, but the problem really isn't kids begging to go run outside but being forced to sit in front of the TV. When kids are begging to go outside, it is often just to get to their friends house to play video games, watch tv, ect. Kids like video games and they like doing all types of things on the internet/computer.

As adults, we all have free reign to go run around outside during all of our free time(however limited that often ends up being), but most of us choose to use that time doing sedentary things. It is really a top to bottom shift in our society away from actually moving our bodies. We have found ways to shop, socialize, entertain ourselves, and even travel in more and more sedentary ways.

[Kunman]

I am a active person. I do about 8 hours of exercise every week. I live alone on weekdays, and so I cook myself, and the meals I make are very healthy.

On weekends when I go home, its a different story. My mother is the person who usually cooks, but she has zero scientific knowledge when it comes to the topic of making a health meal. Our food would often be composed of 80% carbs (mostly rice, bread+some vegetables), 10% protein, 5% spices....After a weekend spent at home, my whole body feels bloated, tired, and ill. What the worse part is that she does not listen to me telling her she is making herself and my father sick.

I think for kids to be more healthy, their parents has to be properly educated to provide a balanced diet.

[flashy_mcflash]

The sad thing is that everyone knows what they're suppose to eat and what not to eat, people just don't care or are in denial. I don't think more education is really needed, how many food pyramids do we need?

The problem is that even the food pyramid is really wrong, and overestimates by quite a bit the QUANTITIES of the foods we need. That's another thing - it's not even the quality of the food that's killing us, it's the quantity as well. Portion sizes are absolutely out of control.

This is really what the food pyramid should look like.

http://www.drfuhrman.com/images/foodpyramid/foodpyramid-large.png

[BornRuff]

If parents had the same paranoia about what they're feeding their children as they do about where they play, we'd have less of an obesity problem. The food is a bigger factor than exercise, because the nutrient-free processed garbage we're feeding our children doesn't provide enough energy to do anything but lounge on the sofa. Anyone who's ever attempted to lose weight knows that diet is a far more important lifestyle change than exercise, though exercise should certainly also be a part of it.


It's not that it doesn't provide enough energy. In fact most of the crap that parents feed their kids is packed with simple sugars that are quickly broken down and absorbed into the blood stream. This is fine before or after some form of exercise and as long as it is in moderation. Imo parents need to educate themselves more on proper nutrition and learn how to read labels and ingredient lists so that they can more often than not chose whole foods over processed crap! But I agree with you, healthy eating habits are in my opinion just as important if not more than regular exercise/play time because kids are going to get that at school every day anyway, but unless you are feeding them properly then no one else will.

I don't know if I would agree that diet is necessarily more important. Our bodies need to move, and you really can't be all that healthy without at least a reasonable amount of regular exercise.

I totally agree that the types of food that we are putting in our bodies is a huge problem. Especially for kids, the amount of food eaten isn't really an issue as long as the stuff you are putting in them is reasonable healthy. Huge amounts of bad fats, salt, and needless sugar can cause health problems no matter how active you are. Good food and lots of activity will make a very healthy kid.

[Ottomaddox]

Isn't that exactly what I said? Maybe I misspoke about the energy part but I think we're actually in agreement here.

You said "doesn't provide enough energy to do anything"...

[mockingjay404]

The problem is that even the food pyramid is really wrong, and overestimates by quite a bit the QUANTITIES of the foods we need. That's another thing - it's not even the quality of the food that's killing us, it's the quantity as well. Portion sizes are absolutely out of control.

This is really what the food pyramid should look like.

http://www.drfuhrman.com/images/foodpyramid/foodpyramid-large.png

interesting pyramid, is that scientifically approved by "real" scientists or are we talking tinfoil hat wearers here?

[flashy_mcflash]

You said "doesn't provide enough energy to do anything"...

You're right. I misspoke about that.

[Manatus]

I am a active person. I do about 8 hours of exercise every week. I live alone on weekdays, and so I cook myself, and the meals I make are very healthy.

On weekends when I go home, its a different story. My mother is the person who usually cooks, but she has zero scientific knowledge when it comes to the topic of making a health meal. Our food would often be composed of 80% carbs (mostly rice, bread+some vegetables), 10% protein, 5% spices....After a weekend spent at home, my whole body feels bloated, tired, and ill. What the worse part is that she does not listen to me telling her she is making herself and my father sick.

I think for kids to be more healthy, their parents has to be properly educated to provide a balanced diet.

The problem though is that what's healthy for one generation isn't necessarily healthy for another. Our parents grew up in a different world. Our grandparents didn't have to bother with food pyramids and calorie counting because it was normal for men to work in a mine or in the fields or train for war, and for women to do labour intensive tasks around the home (who washes without a washing machine these days?). Since then, the world has become much more sedentary. It became the norm to achieve the "American Dream" by being educated and working with your mind rather than your body. I mean these days people exercise - they deliberately waste their body's energy. That's all it is really, you do a pointless activity like running on a treadmill that does absolutely no good other than expend energy. Back then, people were lucky if they could afford as much good food as necessary to just perform their basic daily tasks. The difference is that the food and amounts of food haven't changed much. People still want that big Sunday lunch with a roast and all the trimmings and pie for dessert, just like the good ol' days - the problem is that life has changed so much since then, but eating habits haven't.

[flashy_mcflash]

interesting pyramid, is that scientifically approved by "real" scientists or are we talking tinfoil hat wearers here?

I've seen different variations, but the prevailing opinion from what I've read is that most of the old food guides grossly overestimate the amounts of meat (especially red meat) we need and underestimate the amounts of vegetables.

[flashy_mcflash]

The problem though is that what's healthy for one generation isn't necessarily healthy for another. Our parents grew up in a different world. Our grandparents didn't have to bother with food pyramids and calorie counting because it was normal for men to work in a mine or in the fields or train for war, and for women to do labour intensive tasks around the home (who washes without a washing machine these days?). Since then, the world has become much more sedentary. It became the norm to achieve the "American Dream" by being educated and working with your mind rather than your body. I mean these days people exercise - they deliberately waste their body's energy. That's all it is really, you do a pointless activity like running on a treadmill that does absolutely no good other than expend energy. Back then, people were lucky if they could afford as much good food as necessary to just perform their basic daily tasks. The difference is that the food and amounts of food haven't changed much. People still want that big Sunday lunch with a roast and all the trimmings and pie for dessert, just like the good ol' days - the problem is that life has changed so much since then, but eating habits haven't.

Yes they very much have!! The QUALITY of the food has decreased dramatically and even that sunday roast that your grandparents may have gotten from a local farmer, is now pumped full of hormones, preservatives, and fillers that your grandfather would not even have recognized as food.

[Simkins]

I have no comment on the actual post. Just wanted to say its nice to see a DearSummer thread that's not about government bashing.

[Rainne]

The problem is that even the food pyramid is really wrong, and overestimates by quite a bit the QUANTITIES of the foods we need. That's another thing - it's not even the quality of the food that's killing us, it's the quantity as well. Portion sizes are absolutely out of control.

This is really what the food pyramid should look like.

http://www.drfuhrman.com/images/foodpyramid/foodpyramid-large.png

This is a pretty good food pyramid, the problem is it's not very tasty.

[mockingjay404]

This is a pretty good food pyramid, the problem is it's not very tasty.

simple, make the whole pyramid out of beef - problem solved!

nom nom nom nom

[D-Roc]

The problem is that even the food pyramid is really wrong, and overestimates by quite a bit the QUANTITIES of the foods we need. That's another thing - it's not even the quality of the food that's killing us, it's the quantity as well. Portion sizes are absolutely out of control.

This is really what the food pyramid should look like.

http://www.drfuhrman.com/images/foodpyramid/foodpyramid-large.png



I have never followed the food guide. I would be fat if I did.

[poedua]

simple, make the whole pyramid out of beef - problem solved!

nom nom nom nom

Or most of a pyramid ...which would be something closer to a PALEO ( i.e a Caveman Diet / eat like our ancestors did 10,000 years ago etc. etc. ) PYRAMID.....

http://lifewithafork.files.wordpress.com/2011/10/paleopyramidlg.gif

[DearSummer]

The sad thing is that everyone knows what they're suppose to eat and what not to eat, people just don't care or are in denial. I don't think more education is really needed, how many food pyramids do we need?


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bGYs4KS_djg

[vlado416]

Generation Fat: Parental paranoia killing Canadian kids
http://fullcomment.nationalpost.com/2012/05/29/generation-fat-parental-paranoia-killing-canadian-kids/







There are a number of factors at play that have caused recent generations to be extremely unhealthy. However, the sedentary lifestyle created by overprotective parents who don't let their kids engage in unstructured play is certainly one of them. It's sad to me that parents want to wrap their kids in bubblewrap and leave them inside under their watchful eye.

Let your kid go out and play football. Let them go explore the neighbourhood. Let them go biking across town. Canada is as safe as it's ever been. You're literally killing your kids by sticking them on the couch all day (not to mention the food you put in front of them).

It's not just the parents but the media who are always warning of dangers and they won't stop so it's best to shut them off.
Get rid off the media and mass entertainment and enjoy life, let your body reconnect with nature.
The more you live indoors , the more panicked and stressed you become and the media and other industries uses this to addict you with scaring tactics so
that they can profit off of you. Living outdoors on the other hand suppresses fear, stress, greed and any of those heavy negative emotions.
The truth of the matter is that people depend far more on plants and animals for health than on other people for health and happiness.
Material things thrill you at first but weigh on you more and more later on.
I live next to one of the largest parks in Toronto(Centenial) and when I go there often it's deserted in the middle of the day.
I also live next to a 24h supermarket and it's always busy even when I went there at 3am. Take it for what it's worth.

[vistaliving]

I thought I would find the OP blaming unions for child obesity.

[Oscillator]

I thought I would find the OP blaming unions for child obesity.

LOL, this. Or how the parents of obese kids must be lazy and entitled public sector workers.

[aplayaz2000]

processed crap at the super market, corn turned into corn by-product and frutose glucose, lots of that too

also diablo 3, damm get the kids stable at home

[mbg]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bGYs4KS_djg

The only this works as "good TV" is that most people can spot the error and pat themselves on the back, so it sort of self-proves that it's not a problem.

Jamie Oliver has done this before -- he cherry-picks the worst cases.

[Shaner]

This is a pretty good food pyramid, the problem is it's not very tasty.

It's a terrible pyramid unless you're a vegetarian. Besides, there's absolutely nothing wrong with eating eggs, fish and chicken.

[thrifthunter]

Generation fat?
Don't think so.
More people are obsessive about fitness/health now than ever before.

[flashy_mcflash]

It's a terrible pyramid unless you're a vegetarian. Besides, there's absolutely nothing wrong with eating eggs, fish and chicken.

Where does it say that you shouldn't eat those things? Look right at the top there, that's beef!

It simply says that as a society, we get far, far more protein than we need while often omitting or not getting enough vegetables and fruit. You can eat eggs, fish, and chicken, but it probably shouldn't comprise the majority of your meal.

[DearSummer]

Generation fat?
Don't think so.
More people are obsessive about fitness/health now than ever before.

Yet obesity has been increasing at an alarming rate for decades.

[ashgotti]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bGYs4KS_djg

Obviously first graders don't have the education for anything really in life, barely controlling their bowels. It's the parent's responsibility at that point. Parents do know what's good and what's not, it's hammered into us every day.

[thrifthunter]

Yet obesity has been increasing at an alarming rate for decades.

I believe the criteria used to define fat or obese is also getting more and more strict. There are many people who based on a dumb chart are considered overweight yet they look fit.

[flashy_mcflash]

I believe the criteria used to define fat or obese is also getting more and more strict. There are many people who based on a dumb chart are considered overweight yet they look fit.

I haven't seen this as widely as you, apparently. All I see are clearly overweight people.

[thrifthunter]

I haven't seen this as widely as you, apparently. All I see are clearly overweight people.

Yeah because there were no clearly overweight people 30 years ago! :facepalm:

My buddy is 6'3", 200 pounds and is quite slim looking. His BMI tells him he is overweight. So it is pretty damn easy to say 2/3rds of the population are overweight with such strict standards. Without the existence of those silly charts decades ago, nobody would dream of saying he is anywhere near overweight.

[flashy_mcflash]

Yeah because there were no clearly overweight people 30 years ago! :facepalm:

My buddy is 6'3", 200 pounds and is quite slim looking. His BMI tells him he is overweight. So it is pretty damn easy to say 2/3rds of the population are overweight with such strict standards. Without the existence of those silly charts decades ago, nobody would dream of saying he is anywhere near overweight.

There are more than before, and the BMI does not account for the increased number. The BMI is not the only measure of obesity. People are dropping dead at alarming rates due to heart disease, and diabetes is exploding. If you want to clamp your hands over your ears and ignore the problem, well, have fun with that.

[Muney]

I spent 3 weeks over in Europe in Ireland, Italy and France and while you saw the odd fat person, you really did not see that many. When I got off the plane here, the amount of disgusting fat slobs around was mind boggling. North America needs to stop being lazy with exercise AND lazy with cooking easy meals that are full of garbage.

This report really doesn't surprise me at all. It's sickening, but not surprising.

[thrifthunter]

There are more than before, and the BMI does not account for the increased number. The BMI is not the only measure of obesity. People are dropping dead at alarming rates due to heart disease, and diabetes is exploding. If you want to clamp your hands over your ears and ignore the problem, well, have fun with that.

Yet people live longer now than ever before! The only thing greater nowadays about diabetes, heart disease and other diseases is awareness.

I think as it is, humans live longer then we were designed for. We don't need to live any longer.

[Muney]

Yet people live longer now than ever before!

Technology for sure doesn't have anything to do with that...

[flashy_mcflash]

I think as it is, humans live longer then we were designed for. We don't need to live any longer.

Must be real easy for you to say that. I presume you'll take a dive in front of a train when you hit the age at which you were 'designed' to live?

[thrifthunter]

Technology for sure doesn't have anything to do with that...

Yes, and technology is also the source of our awareness of the diseases such as diabetes and heart disease that have always ravaged the population.

[thrifthunter]

Must be real easy for you to say that. I presume you'll take a dive in front of a train when you hit the age at which you were 'designed' to live?

It is just as well.

Better that than living out upwards of decades of my latter life without the ability of independence like so many people do.
I just don't see the point of technology keeping me alive when I can't even wipe my own ***** .

[flashy_mcflash]

Again, good luck with that. Personally I don't believe you for a second and this is all just internet bravado on your part.

[thrifthunter]

Again, good luck with that. Personally I don't believe you for a second and this is all just internet bravado on your part.

LOL I didn't say I would take a dive in front of a train. But if I ever get to a point in my life where I lose my ability to be independent, I would honestly rather be dead. And I know many people feel the same way.

[flashy_mcflash]

Awesome. And that has what to do with obesity again?

[xlc_88]

I spent 3 weeks over in Europe in Ireland, Italy and France and while you saw the odd fat person, you really did not see that many. When I got off the plane here, the amount of disgusting fat slobs around was mind boggling. North America needs to stop being lazy with exercise AND lazy with cooking easy meals that are full of garbage.

This report really doesn't surprise me at all. It's sickening, but not surprising.

Well portion sizes are smaller in Europe than in America. Even McD's in Europe have everything smaller than McD's in North America.

[thrifthunter]

Awesome. And that has what to do with obesity again?

Nothing, I just kind of transitioned into it. Don't be a ****ing hypocrite and act like you've never veered from an original topic in any of your 4k+ postings.

[flashy_mcflash]

Nothing, I just kind of transitioned into it. Don't be a ****ing hypocrite and act like you've never veered from an original topic in any of your 4k+ postings.

I'm not saying that at all, but this is a topic I'm actually interested in and would like to continue to discuss it if possible. If you want to continue your fatalist musings, well, go right ahead.

[Muney]

Well portion sizes are smaller in Europe than in America. Even McD's in Europe have everything smaller than McD's in North America.

I guess they are a bit smaller, but I really didn't notice it that much. What you did notice is there wasn't fast food places on every corner. And I only saw McDonalds, i would say 3 or 4 times.

[kennyhohoho]

Well portion sizes are smaller in Europe than in America. Even McD's in Europe have everything smaller than McD's in North America.

Eating out is also much more expensive in Europe than in North America, especially in the US. I have family in the UK and they rarely eat out because of how expensive it is. In North America, it's not outside the norm for people to eat out for at least half of their meals. And when they do eat at home, they're usually eating processed, frozen, pre-packaged meals that aren't any better than the fast food they would be eating when they go out.

Eating out in Asia is pretty cheap too, but fast food in Asia is more expensive than eating at a "real" restaurant. So I guess that explains that.

[flashy_mcflash]

People are going to condemn this out the gate because Pollan comes off as a little preachy, but I really like this essay (http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/28/magazine/28nutritionism.t.html?pagewanted=all) about eating 'real food' vs processed junk.


Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants.

That, more or less, is the short answer to the supposedly incredibly complicated and confusing question of what we humans should eat in order to be maximally healthy. I hate to give away the game right here at the beginning of a long essay, and I confess that I’m tempted to complicate matters in the interest of keeping things going for a few thousand more words. I’ll try to resist but will go ahead and add a couple more details to flesh out the advice. Like: A little meat won’t kill you, though it’s better approached as a side dish than as a main. And you’re much better off eating whole fresh foods than processed food products. That’s what I mean by the recommendation to eat “food.” Once, food was all you could eat, but today there are lots of other edible foodlike substances in the supermarket. These novel products of food science often come in packages festooned with health claims, which brings me to a related rule of thumb: if you’re concerned about your health, you should probably avoid food products that make health claims. Why? Because a health claim on a food product is a good indication that it’s not really food, and food is what you want to eat.

[angekfire]

There are so many factors involved in the increased rate of obesity. Snacks like chips that are fried and/or loaded with salt. Snacks that are covered with chocolate and sugar. constantly increasing portion sizes. Processed foods that are more chemical than actual ingredients, that people buy because they are easy, and assume they are healthy because they are "Trans-fat free!" or "Now with 25% less sodium!" or "Sugar free! (contains aspartame)".

All that mixed with sedentary life styles that most desk jockeys have, kind of make it really easy to spiral out of control. I lost a ton of weight, worked out, and ate healthy. I injured my knee and couldn't work out for a month, and certainly couldn't prepare my own healthy meals when I couldn't even walk on crutches and carry a glass of water at the same time. It was amazing how quickly, even just slipping back into 1 or 2 old habits mixed with lack of exercise made me put back on weight.

Yes, the general populace is living longer thanks to modern science and medicine. No doubt. But people also rely on it as a crutch. My parents are the perfect example. Diabetic, and injecting insulin. I tell them they should cut back, or at least cut down on their sugar and starch, and their attitude is they are taking the insulin so that they can have more of those things. So if they plan on having a bowl of ice cream and a slice of cake after dinner, they just inject a bit more insulin to compensate. They are on blood pressure medication, yet they add salt to everything. The primary reason that blood pressure has become such an issue, is all the preservatives in the pre-packed foods the majority of the population eats. It is so full of sodium to begin with, and then people add even more salt. But my mother adds salt to apples, and even to watermelon, yet she is on blood pressure medication. When I tell her to stop adding salt or quit smoking, she just says she has the blood pressure medication to control it. Then she wonders why the doctor keeps increasing her doses. And she is on pills that's sole purpose is to counteract the side effects of other drugs.

[thrifthunter]

Yes, the general populace is living longer thanks to modern science and medicine. No doubt. But people also rely on it as a crutch. My parents are the perfect example. Diabetic, and injecting insulin. I tell them they should cut back, or at least cut down on their sugar and starch, and their attitude is they are taking the insulin so that they can have more of those things. So if they plan on having a bowl of ice cream and a slice of cake after dinner, they just inject a bit more insulin to compensate. They are on blood pressure medication, yet they add salt to everything. The primary reason that blood pressure has become such an issue, is all the preservatives in the pre-packed foods the majority of the population eats. It is so full of sodium to begin with, and then people add even more salt. But my mother adds salt to apples, and even to watermelon, yet she is on blood pressure medication. When I tell her to stop adding salt or quit smoking, she just says she has the blood pressure medication to control it. Then she wonders why the doctor keeps increasing her doses. And she is on pills that's sole purpose is to counteract the side effects of other drugs.

I see nothing wrong with any of this. They use technology to allow them to indulge in the things they like, good on 'em! Life is short so get as much enjoyment out of it as you can, if the health freaks can't understand/agree with it - **** 'em!

[flashy_mcflash]

"You're going to die anyway, why not eat a broken lightbulb"

[thrifthunter]

"You're going to die anyway, why not eat a broken lightbulb"

Because they are gross, duh!

[uber_shnitz]

I say we should find those Asians (or other people who have this trait, I just seem to mostly note it in Asians) who can eat piles of food and never get fat. We should isolate whatever it is in their metabolism and use it on North Americans!

[RolandCouch]

If parents had the same paranoia about what they're feeding their children as they do about where they play, we'd have less of an obesity problem. The food is a bigger factor than exercise, because the nutrient-free processed garbage we're feeding our children doesn't provide enough energy to do anything but lounge on the sofa. Anyone who's ever attempted to lose weight knows that diet is a far more important lifestyle change than exercise, though exercise should certainly also be a part of it.

Agree except with saying the food doesn't provide enough energy. McDonalds provides lots of energy - it just makes you feel unmotivated and tired. Furthermore it provides SO MUCH energy that it is not all utilized and that is why people are getting fat.

Edit: Otto beat me to it

[flashy_mcflash]

McDonalds provides lots of energy - it just makes you feel unmotivated and tired. Furthermore it provides SO MUCH energy that it is not all utilized and that is why people are getting fat.

Edit: Otto beat me to it

Yeah pretty much this, I just chose my words poorly. I was thinking specifically of the end of Super Size Me where Spurlock looks indistinguishable from a junk-sick heroin addict from eating McDonalds for so long.

[poedua]

Agree except with saying the food doesn't provide enough energy. McDonalds provides lots of energy - it just makes you feel unmotivated and tired. Furthermore it provides SO MUCH energy that it is not all utilized and that is why people are getting fat.

Edit: Otto beat me to it

That's it in a nutshell.

For most otherwise healthy people, if you habitually consume more calories than you burn, you're going to eventually add body fat.;)

[omgreo]

Let's face it, fat is the new normal.

[SquirreI]

Diet Problem #1: People use rice, bread, potatoes, french fries as food "filling," little do they know how much extra calories they're packing in every single day.

I'd rather have another serving of MEAT or VEGGIES than some stupid filller food.

[sandikosh]

Diet Problem #1: People use rice, bread, potatoes, french fries as food "filling," little do they know how much extra calories they're packing in every single day.

I'd rather have another serving of MEAT or VEGGIES than some stupid filller food.

People in China eat rice everyday. Why aren't they fat?

[mbg]

Generation fat?
Don't think so.
More people are obsessive about fitness/health now than ever before.

+1

Some people seem to aspire to the build of a frog no matter how much you convince them it looks a little weird.

Steve Jobs had this look going on before he... croaked.

[mbg]

Hot dog stuffed pizza crust may have something to do with it :)

http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/wordofmouth/2012/apr/13/hot-dog-stuffed-crust-pizza

[uber_shnitz]

Generation fat?
Don't think so.
More people are obsessive about fitness/health now than ever before.

No I think there was just about as big (if not bigger) boom of fitness back in the 80s or something (think of the stereotypical image of a teenager wearing leotards and leg warmers).

Mind you, I agree, gyms have been a VERY lucrative business in the last decade or so.

[kennyhohoho]

No I think there was just about as big (if not bigger) boom of fitness back in the 80s or something (think of the stereotypical image of a teenager wearing leotards and leg warmers).

Mind you, I agree, gyms have been a VERY lucrative business in the last decade or so.

Exactly. It's not just the gyms, it's the whole "healthy" lifestyle that's become a lucrative business: the vitamins, the supplements, the protein shakes, the fruit smoothies, the "healthy sandwich shops, the organic supermarkets, hot yoga, spinning classes, runs for a "cure", etc.

How many of these things are actually required for a so called "healthy" lifestyle.

[uber_shnitz]

Exactly. It's not just the gyms, it's the whole "healthy" lifestyle that's become a lucrative business: the vitamins, the supplements, the protein shakes, the fruit smoothies, the "healthy sandwich shops, the organic supermarkets, hot yoga, spinning classes, runs for a "cure", etc.

How many of these things are actually required for a so called "healthy" lifestyle.
That was what I was going to say :razz: I also question the entire benefit of "healthy foods". I mean, there's all the rage now about organic foods and whatnot, but I believe I read somewhere that while organic food is nice, there is a tradeoff for growing it (IIRC an environmental one).

Also yes, the entire concept of "healthy living" has been pushed and pushed beyond the limits. First it was "eat well and exercice" now there's set limits per day you need to do stranious activity and whatnot. Not saying it's not beneficial, it's great to get people active, but I'd say it's pushing "healthy" and going into "fit". I mean, back in the day, the only "muscles" you worked on were those required by every day tasks you did and which were usually worked by doing said tasks. So if you worked in a farm, the heavy lifting would condition you. Nowadays seems people can lift 50 times anything they'll ever really need in their daily lives lol :lol:

But like I said, it's not a bad thing, it's just a business model and a mentality we've developed.

[flashy_mcflash]

Exactly. It's not just the gyms, it's the whole "healthy" lifestyle that's become a lucrative business: the vitamins, the supplements, the protein shakes, the fruit smoothies, the "healthy sandwich shops, the organic supermarkets, hot yoga, spinning classes, runs for a "cure", etc.

How many of these things are actually required for a so called "healthy" lifestyle.

That's precisely what the Michael Pollan essay I posted earlier says. Stop worrying about whether a food claims 'low fat' or 'organic' or any other health claim and focus on eating real, non-processed foods in the correct quantities and proportions.

[mockingjay404]

That's precisely what the Michael Pollan essay I posted earlier says. Stop worrying about whether a food claims 'low fat' or 'organic' or any other health claim and focus on eating real, non-processed foods in the correct quantities and proportions.

the "healthy sandwich shops" are still a useful byproduct of that movement though...

they're basically equivalent to "fast food" (Marketing-wise) yet effectively they are the same as you making a sandwich at home and bringing it to work/school. the reason is you tell them what to put in the sandwich so you can always tell them to put very little Mayo, no margarine, lots of veggies, etc.

big big improvement over the likes of Wendy's Arby's McD's etc.

[flashy_mcflash]

the "healthy sandwich shops" are still a useful byproduct of that movement though...

they're basically equivalent to "fast food" (Marketing-wise) yet effectively they are the same as you making a sandwich at home and bringing it to work/school. the reason is you tell them what to put in the sandwich so you can always tell them to put very little Mayo, no margarine, lots of veggies, etc.

big big improvement over the likes of Wendy's Arby's McD's etc.

Do you mean places like Subway, or more like Sandwich Box? The latter uses decent ingredients from what I've seen and yeah, you do get to choose what's on it, but places like Subway/Quiznos don't really have a healthy option because all their breads are loaded with sugar.

[mockingjay404]

Do you mean places like Subway, or more like Sandwich Box? The latter uses decent ingredients from what I've seen and yeah, you do get to choose what's on it, but places like Subway/Quiznos don't really have a healthy option because all their breads are loaded with sugar.

nah man im kicking it old school... Druxy's! the one near my office buys the same bread i buy from loblaws. that "vitality" crap which is always on sale for 2.49? lol
i think i even saw a PC low-fat swiss cheese wrapper on their counter too... lol

i like that because even tho $5 for a little sandwich is a rip-off, at least i feel like it's a valid meal.

[flashy_mcflash]

nah man im kicking it old school... Druxy's! the one near my office buys the same bread i buy from loblaws. that "vitality" crap which is always on sale for 2.49? lol
i think i even saw a PC low-fat swiss cheese wrapper on their counter too... lol

i like that because even tho $5 for a little sandwich is a rip-off, at least i feel like it's a valid meal.

Yeah Druxy's is pretty good. Probably the best of the 'fast food' sandwich places, though I admit I always feel a little bad about buying sandwiches there (or anywhere, really) when they're so easy and cheap to make at home :p

The exception to this is banh mi. I don't think I could make a sandwich for less than what I pay at Ba Le 2 (http://www.blogto.com/restaurants/banh-mi-ba-le-toronto) and certainly not as good!

[mockingjay404]

somebody in this thread said that Tropicana was good, well guess what they're being sued for adding pointless crap to their juice:

http://www.thestar.com/business/article/1203395--lawsuits-slam-tropicana-orange-juice-s-all-natural-claims?bn=1

[Becks]

Half my family is fat, the other is thin. I have no idea why.

[spf1971]

Half my family is fat, the other is thin. I have no idea why.

Half consume more calories than they burn and the other half don't.

[laptopuser]

that food pyramid on page 1 is terrible. i mean it has a good idea but in a practical sense it would never work

do you know how many vegetables you'd need to consume to get 30-60% of your calories? a carrot has 30. a heart of lettuce has 16. do you get the point? even if we were all women on a 2000 calorie diet [the labeling norm], it would still be ridiculous to get that many calories from veggies alone.

in fact the more i look at this food pyramid the more it makes me laugh. fish and eggs, less than 10% of caloric intake. this is a food pyramid for teenage girls.

[mbg]

that food pyramid on page 1 is terrible. i mean it has a good idea but in a practical sense it would never work

do you know how many vegetables you'd need to consume to get 30-60% of your calories? a carrot has 30. a heart of lettuce has 16. do you get the point? even if we were all women on a 2000 calorie diet [the labeling norm], it would still be ridiculous to get that many calories from veggies alone.

in fact the more i look at this food pyramid the more it makes me laugh. fish and eggs, less than 10% of caloric intake. this is a food pyramid for teenage girls.

Yeah, the Paleo food pyramid is probably better than the Veggie ones.

The Paleo people even have video footage of cavemen who ate this diet many thousands of years ago undergoing autopsies to show that they didn't die of heart disease from such a diet.

But the "official" food pyramid is pretty bad...so many of your calories from grains? I think if you put all three of those pyramids together and average them out, you might have something good :)

[poedua]

The Paleo people even have video footage of cavemen who ate this diet many thousands of years ago undergoing autopsies to show that they didn't die of heart disease from such a diet.



I wouldn't think there'd be a lot left to autopsy after a body is in the ground for 10,000 years..........especially organ ( heart ) tissue..........

http://i247.photobucket.com/albums/gg158/MDA2008/MDA2010/humanskeleton.jpg

[poedua]

Yeah, the Paleo food pyramid is probably better than the Veggie ones.



Then again, the Okinawans are known for their excellent health and longevity and their food pyramid is as follows ( i.e not a of of meat ). In fact, grains / fruits / vegetables/ legumes form a large basis of the Okinawan diet and the Okinawans are among the healthiest and longest living people on the planet..

From the Boston Globe ..........


" The Secret of Life - Okinawans, the world's longest-lived people, have a lot to teach Americans on the art of reaching 100

From The Boston Globe, May 22, 2001

In fact, the residents of Okinawa may be the healthiest and longest-lived people in the world, with a higher percentage of 100-year-olds than anyplace else.

On Okinawa, an island chain of 1.4 million people near Japan, heart disease, strokes and cancer are rare and even centenarians have impressively sharp minds.

A 25-year study of elder Okinawans credits at least two-thirds of their robust health to lifestyle choices rather than good genes. In stark contrast to American habits, Okinawans eat a vegetable-based diet low in both calories and fats, and rich in soy foods, and they exercise regularly.

''Never in the history of nutrition research has the evidence been more clear and consistent,'' wrote Bradley J. and D. Craig Willcox, twin brothers who have written ''The Okinawa Program'' about the long-running study with co-author Dr. Makoto Suzuki. ''A high-carbohydrate, low-calorie, plant-based diet is the best for long-term health.''

Older Okinawans, the study revealed, eat an average of seven servings of vegetables and fruits daily, along with seven servings of grain, two servings of soy products (rich in healthful compounds called flavonoids), fish rich in Omega-3 fatty acids several times a week, and very little dairy products or meat.



http://www.okicent.org/news/boston_globe.php

[flashy_mcflash]

Yeah, the Paleo food pyramid is probably better than the Veggie ones.


Yes let's take dietary and lifestyle cues from people who lived to be, what, 20?

[Simaahoy]

With the technology era, this is only going to get worse.

[mockingjay404]

With the technology era, this is only going to get worse.

yup it's rfd's fault

shut down rfd and ppl here will be forced to leave their basements and maybe go for a jog in the park :cheesygri

[laptopuser]

Yes let's take dietary and lifestyle cues from people who lived to be, what, 20?

bro, how can i put this, well, you see, life expectancy takes into account infant deaths, so like, if someone made it past their childhood years, they didnt like, die at 20, bro. they lived pretty long bro

[mbg]

I wouldn't think there'd be a lot left to autopsy after a body is in the ground for 10,000 years..........especially organ ( heart ) tissue..........

http://i247.photobucket.com/albums/gg158/MDA2008/MDA2010/humanskeleton.jpg

Ha...funny that you questioned the "autopsy" part and not the "video footage of cavemen" part.

But I agree.

[mbg]

With the technology era, this is only going to get worse.

Why? Technology can teach us about better diet.

i.e. I know from reading the Internet that McDonalds is part of a healthy diet.

[mbg]

By the way, if vegetables are so healthy how come they live for less than a year?

[poedua]

By the way, if vegetables are so healthy how come they live for less than a year?

One of life's paradoxes I guess.;)