#9: Obesity

[ragingphantom]

...
Or, they could start a programme where all overweight humans have to go and do weight loss regimes until they are there sufficient BMI.
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You do know that the BMI is the most ludicrous test of weight measurement right? It takes height, weight, and age into account. Nothing else. And do you know what it is? It's an index that tells you what your weight "should" be based on everyone else in your classifications (age, height, and weight). It doesn't take body type or genetics into accounts, or growth patterns that are statistical anomalies.
Also, ^, people would be too lazy to fiz all that themselves. They would rather go to a fast food restaurant and have someone else make it for them. Hence the laziness of America. :/

I would love to see if the government would try to step in and get obesity numbers down. THAT would be a sight.

 

[safariblade]

I say yes it is a problem. The only way to tackle it in my head is the people who are bigger need to be willing to do something.

yes, this

 

[red blastoise]

the money argument is totally worthless, as a salad is just as cheap as a hamburger.
and i don't eat hamburgers at macdonalds, and all people not eating pork shouldn't eat there.
but if the family goes, their salads are delicious.

 

[omahanime]

the money argument is totally worthless, as a salad is just as cheap as a hamburger.
and I don't eat hamburgers at macdonalds, and all people not eating pork shouldn't eat there.
but if the family goes, their salads are delicious.

Not always. Subway will sell you a foot long for $5.00, but charge you $1.69 more for a salad, even though you don't get a bun.

 

[Zyflair]

EDIT: DON'T NINJA ME! >_<

Or Subway. They're pretty much the healthiest popular fast food restraint around (based only on calorie count).

 

[Lou Cypher]

There is also the problem of taste. How many people do you know who:

A - Dont like Hamburgers
B - Dont like Salads
C - Dont like French Fries
D - Dont like Cabbage

I bet your numbers for B and D will be a lot higher. Goes for me too. I like certain kinds of vegetables but my main favorite dishes being spareribs, Fries and Pancakes, it is clear to see a problem here as well.

 

[safariblade]

EDIT: DON'T NINJA ME! >_<

Or Subway. They're pretty much the healthiest popular fast food restraint around (based only on calorie count).

i heard it was chick-fi-ah or whatever

 

[Zyflair]

Ah, Chick Fil A... I think it's a close second actually... but my sources are months old... =/

 

[Mr. Random]

Obesity isn't a problem. It'a an issue. There is a difference.

An issue is something we do that is bad and makes our lives cumbersome
A problem is a difficulty in our everyday lives that we didn't directly cause.

Like Sarah said, a healthy and smart person can eat whatever they want, and still be healthy because they are active.

Once on the news, I heard that a man was suing McDonalds because his young daughters weighed like 400 pounds from eating there. How is it McDonalds' fault? HE was the one who bought it for them, and THEY were the ones who ate it. McDonalds doesn't force you to eat there food 24/7, only you can do that.

I admit that eating healthy can be expensive (5...5...dollar....) but if you are smart, you can get by that. This is what I had for dinner yesterday:

Store-bought chicken Ramen: $.10 1 minute preperation
8 Oz. of 1% milk $ 2.50/8 = $ .31 5 second preparation
4 Oz. Of mixed vegetables $3.00/8 = $ .38 2 minute preparation

So I got:
Protien
Fruit/Vegetables
Grains
Dairy
Full Stomach

For $.79 and about 3 minutes. Healthy, cheap and fast.

That along with excersize is more than enough to keep the world healthy, it IS NOT a problem, it is an indivisuals issue.

Juliacoolo's right, if you can't eat healthy, then it's your fault. We shouldn't worry too much about healthy food being expensive, as we can find cheaper alternatives to a nutricious meal. Plus, you can exercise. That doesn't mean just going to the gym, there are much easier ways to be active (Who made you pay to take a walk in the neighborhood?). But when it comes down to everything, it's your body and your choice, whether or not you want to get fit or sit on that couch, shoving fries down your throat every single day.

 

[Zyflair]

There is also the problem of taste. How many people do you know who:

A - don't like Hamburgers
B - don't like Salads
C - don't like French Fries
D - don't like Cabbage

I bet your numbers for B and D will be a lot higher. Goes for me too. I like certain kinds of vegetables but my main favorite dishes being spareribs, Fries and Pancakes, it is clear to see a problem here as well.

Self-Discipline is delayed gratification. Eat a hamburger once a week or a few weeks, but not four or more times a week.

 

[BlackstarBatty]

For people who are saying that subway is good for you, think again. Have you ever taken the time to see just how high the carbohydrate count is on one of those sandwiches? Those numbers are far from the recommended carb count in one meal, that's for sure.

 

[gyrasion]

its not societies problem but mor ethe less a personal problem.
and i believe people that try and sue and blame fastfood companies for being unhealthily overweight create the "problem" and try to make it a national problem.
point is its your choice to eat and not exercise. not everyone elses and just because my nieghbor is unhealthy doesnt cuse any problems.

 

[dmaster]

I say yes it is a problem. The only way to tackle it in my head is the people who are bigger need to be willing to do something.

True. It's their decision and responsibility. You just CAN'T force them to eat better or exercise. Obviously, those are solutions.

dmaster out.

 

[Zyflair]

For people who are saying that subway is good for you, think again. Have you ever taken the time to see just how high the carbohydrate count is on one of those sandwiches? Those numbers are far from the recommended carb count in one meal, that's for sure.

6" sub from Subway (result depends on type of sub chosen.)
Calories: 170-250, Total Fat: 2-5g, Carbs: 31-41g

A Burger King Whopper
Calories: 680, Total Fat: 40g, Carbs: 51g

A Happy Meal in McDonalds (with a cheeseburger, small fries, and diet coke)
Calories: 540, Total Fat: 24g, Carbs: 60g

Wendy's Hamburger
Calories: 420, Total Fat: 20g, Carbs: 37g

Chick-fil-A Chargrilled Chicken Club Sandwich
Calories: 390, Total Fat: 12g, Carbs: 38g

While it's apparent that Subway still has a high number of carbs, it sure beats the rest of the fast food restaurants. I'd go there if I were to chose. But in all honesty, you should try to avoid them if you can. =/

 

[BlackstarBatty]

And how many people only eat half of the sandwich? Not many. You get a footlong, you eat the whole thing usually.

 

[Zyflair]

Really now? Then it's just a matter of people eating too much then.

 

[safariblade]

i personally think it IS a problem, but we cant do anything if big people dont want to change. and we shouldnt spend money trying to fix something they dont want to change.
have you seen those shows where they do a gastric bypass then take off half of the fat? the obese people always go back to eating 6 boxes of pizza after the surgery. its ridiculous

EDIT: and i personally L-O-V-E pizza, and McDonalds is good sometimes, and i WORSHIP taco bell....
but that doesnt mean im fat... look at my pics in the picture thread if you dont believe me

 

[red blastoise]

EDIT: DON'T NINJA ME! >_<

Or Subway. They're pretty much the healthiest popular fast food restraint around (based only on calorie count).

well, over here the biggest one is mcdonalds, so that might be a major problem in america.

 

[Zyflair]

I personally think it IS a problem, but we cant do anything if big people don't want to change. and we shouldnt spend money trying to fix something they don't want to change.
have you seen those shows where they do a gastric bypass then take off half of the fat? the obese people always go back to eating 6 boxes of pizza after the surgery. its ridiculous

EDIT: and I personally L-O-V-E pizza, and McDonalds is good sometimes, and I WORSHIP taco bell....
but that doesnt mean im fat... look at my pics in the picture thread if you don't believe me

Indeed. I suppose the greatest key to all of this can be summed up in one word:

"Moderation."

 

[Chaos6]

EDIT: and I personally L-O-V-E pizza, and McDonalds is good sometimes, and I WORSHIP taco bell....
but that doesnt mean im fat... look at my pics in the picture thread if you don't believe me

Dude, I eat pizza almost every other day with scatterings of junk food all over the place, my work involves standing around doing nothing half the time and my main hobby is sitting around on the computer. You'd think I'd be fairly bulky but there's almost nothing to me :\ My BMI borders on Underweight (I know someone said BMI is a stupid measurement of your weight but it's the only scale I've seen myself on). So it's not solely about your diet and lifestyle, there are other factors involved so any potential solutions would have to take those factors into account too. I think that would work out nicely if everyone worked out their own solutions but people as a species are lazy and look for the easy, convenient option. This trait is probably one of the main contributors to a lot of the worlds problems in my opinion, and on a topic such as this where we have to rely on the willpower of people, specifically those people who are in this situation due to their own lack of willpower and weakness to convenience, I have to wonder if a proper solution is really possible. :\