This country is dying a slow and painful death health wise.

[Fresh Tendrils]

Re: This country is dying a slow and painful death health wise.

What's the incentive to buy healthy foods? There's little to none. All the coupons and ads are all geared towards junk food. All the food commercials for the super bowl are pizza, chips, and beer. Not exactly the best diet.

[seasprite]

Re: This country is dying a slow and painful death health wise.

Even worse is when you see these "quick fix" commercials, with testimonies from people stating "I just don't have time to do it the right way', etc.

I work 11 hour days with a fiance and dog at home who I need to make time for as well, and yet somehow I still manage to make it to the gym 5-6 days a week and not shove fast food down my face... weird how far a little thing called discipline will take you isn't it?

Nothing bothers me more than an overweight person saying "I don't have time" or "it's a disease" as they shove a quarterpounder and fries down their throat. At the very LEAST you can eat healthy without using any extra time out of your day.

Dont forget the extra large big gulp of diet coke.......

[Cj7298419]

Re: This country is dying a slow and painful death health wise.

I agree with the OP.

I see it even more living in New Orleans. Can you imagine how bad people's diets are in a city where all local cuisine is fattening?!

Shrimp Po' Boys, Gumbo, Jambalaya, Etoufee, etc etc

[Blitz1942]

Re: This country is dying a slow and painful death health wise.

What's the incentive to buy healthy foods? There's little to none. All the coupons and ads are all geared towards junk food. All the food commercials for the super bowl are pizza, chips, and beer. Not exactly the best diet.

That and Health foods are usually a lot more expensive than junk foods.

Soda is also a big part of it. I cut out soda out of my diet as of mid-August and I feel so much better than when I drank soda every day. That combined with walking to classes every day and I've lost quite a bit of weight over the past year and a half.

[Fresh Tendrils]

Re: This country is dying a slow and painful death health wise.

That and Health foods are usually a lot more expensive than junk foods.

Soda is also a big part of it. I cut out soda out of my diet as of mid-August and I feel so much better than when I drank soda every day. That combined with walking to classes every day and I've lost quite a bit of weight over the past year and a half.

I can put together a fresh salad that is better than anything 90% of resaturants around me serve for 30-40 bucks and that will last me at least a week for supper and lunch.

Bags of chips are way overpriced to me. 4-5 bucks for a bag that is barely half full? No, thanks.

[ehh]

Re: This country is dying a slow and painful death health wise.

Coulda sworn I read on Martin Berkhan's blog the other day that the obesity rate in this country hasn't gone up since 1999.

Either way, everything AA said is true and alarming.

[NYJets]

Re: This country is dying a slow and painful death health wise.

As far as bullying, I'm not saying it doesn't happen, and I know there are bad teachers out there, but at least around here anti-bullying is a bigger concern than I can ever remember it being except for maybe directly after Columbine and other shootings.

I also think it's more on the parents. Kids eat what their parents buy for them. You can teach a kid the food pyramid but if they go home and their parent says I don't have time to cook dinner, lets stop at Mcdonalds, what are they supposed to do. Cutting back on PE and Recess I'm sure doesn't help, but I don't think it's the biggest factor.

As for cost, if you are smart about it, you can buy and cook healthy foods and eat a healthy diet without spending too much money. But I think more than cost is how easy it is to feed your kids unhealthy foods. Dollar menu at fast food places is cheap, quick, and you aren't going to have to fight with your kids to get them to eat it like you would for a lot of healthy foods.

[Chef Matt]

Re: This country is dying a slow and painful death health wise.

Society doesn't make it easy on the parents either. Every corner has a fast food restaurant on it in my area, but we work hard at providing fresh cooked meals daily for our kids. Even as "convenient" as having a McDonalds within a stonesthrough distance. As a result none of our kids are overwieght and are very healthy.

We do splurge on the occasional busy Friday night for 1.00 cheesburgers and fries with a lemonade. But we keep it all in moderation.

When we grocery shop, as most of you have seen me say and advocate before, we typically stay "outside the isles" and only shop the outer rim of the market. That is where all the freshest ingredients can be found.

We still venture the isles for bread, oil, etc..., but there are no frozen entrees, TV dinners, or even a single box of cereal in our shopping carts.

I do admit my kids spend a little too much time in front of the computer, but they are enrolled in sports every season, with both my boys playing baseball and soccer and my daughter mvp of the HS water polo team.

Bottome line though,
It takes a conserted effort on the parents part to stay involved with their kids not only in academics and physical activity but also in choices on food and nutrition. That's where alot of the disconnect is. The Parents.

Disclaimers:
1. I personally spend too much time playing video games at night and on my days off. But, I work out daily and help coach my boys baseball teams. So I give myself a pass.

2. We do have soda in our house, but it is for my never ending thirst of Rum and Diet Cokes not for the consumtion of the children...



Edit: See NY Jets last two paragraphs above. haha

[mKoz26]

Re: This country is dying a slow and painful death health wise.

Are we really at 70%?

And if so, I don't really see it, at least around me. I go to a school where probably 20% of the people are obese. Even reading that estimate, it seems too high. Probably actually more like 15%.

Granted, Illinois has mandatory physical education in HS (unless you exempt by playing a sport).

Quick research I did:

http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/overwt.htm

Obesity and Overweight

(Data are for the U.S.)

• Percent of adults age 20 years and over who are obese: 33.9% (2007-2008)
• Percent of adults age 20 years and over who are overweight (and not obese): 34.4% (2007-2008)

• Percent of adolescents age 12-19 years who are obese: 18.1% (2007-2008)
• Percent of children age 6-11 years who are obese: 19.6% (2007-2008)
• Percent of children age 2-5 years who are obese: 10.4% (2007-2008)

----------------------------------------

Personally, I'm well underweight for my age and height. I have an incredible metabolism, though. I am somewhat active, playing sports probably on average 2 nights per week, usually for 2-4 hours. My health is generally good (long-term health especially, such as fat percentage and cholesterol levels).

I eat healthy foods for dinner and lunch, usually skip breakfast (too lazy), and drink way too much Mountain Dew. Just mentioning all of that to show that you don't have to be the pinnacle of healthy living to live healthily. If that makes any sense.

[oneamongthefence]

Re: This country is dying a slow and painful death health wise.

I work at a gym. I'm also amazed at how many people think fitness and good eating is an all or nothing thing. Its so easy to change the way you cook things you already buy.

[superjames1992]

Re: This country is dying a slow and painful death health wise.

Are we really at 70%?I eat healthy foods for dinner and lunch, usually skip breakfast (too lazy), and drink way too much Mountain Dew. Just mentioning all of that to show that you don't have to be the pinnacle of healthy living to live healthily. If that makes any sense.

Same....

[Chrisksaint]

Re: This country is dying a slow and painful death health wise.

I agree with the OP.

I see it even more living in New Orleans. Can you imagine how bad people's diets are in a city where all local cuisine is fattening?!

Shrimp Po' Boys, Gumbo, Jambalaya, Etoufee, etc etc

To be fair I grew up eating all those you listed plus the rice/gravy and smuthered chicken both involving fatty type of gravys and my diet wasn't too bad....that i'm aware of lol.

I know parents play a bigger role then teacher's, but between the years that matter the most in regards to learning health/nutrition a kid I believe spends more time at school where they are capable of learning these habits(whether it's in PE, recess, science,etc.) then they do at home especially considering the battle against the TV/Video games.

[BatsareBugs]

Re: This country is dying a slow and painful death health wise.

Are we really at 70%?

And if so, I don't really see it, at least around me. I go to a school where probably 20% of the people are obese. Even reading that estimate, it seems too high. Probably actually more like 15%.

Granted, Illinois has mandatory physical education in HS (unless you exempt by playing a sport).

Quick research I did:

http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/overwt.htm

----------------------------------------

Personally, I'm well underweight for my age and height. I have an incredible metabolism, though. I am somewhat active, playing sports probably on average 2 nights per week, usually for 2-4 hours. My health is generally good (long-term health especially, such as fat percentage and cholesterol levels).

I eat healthy foods for dinner and lunch, usually skip breakfast (too lazy), and drink way too much Mountain Dew. Just mentioning all of that to show that you don't have to be the pinnacle of healthy living to live healthily. If that makes any sense.

I believe skipping breakfast is the worst thing you can do, but who am I to speak when I wake up around noon these days.

Anyways, whatever the obesity rate actually is, it's still too high in my opinion.

[mKoz26]

Re: This country is dying a slow and painful death health wise.

I believe skipping breakfast is the worst thing you can do, but who am I to speak when I wake up around noon these days.

Anyways, whatever the obesity rate actually is, it's still too high in my opinion.

Eating breakfast helps start up your metabolism for the day (or so I've heard), but that isn't really an issue for me.

I should also add that I don't sleep nearly enough most nights. I probably average 5 hours of sleep per weeknight.

I guess I'm a bit of an anomaly.

[Jonesy]

Re: This country is dying a slow and painful death health wise.

Very interesting thread, totally agree with what you guys are saying, very sad stuff indeed.

For what its worth the problem is just as big here in Australia: http://www.medindia.net/news/Obesity...dy-38219-1.htm

It really is just about making smart choices and being conscious of what you put in your body. Sure people are clueless about this sort of stuff but that argument is less valid now that we have the internet and a wealth of information (probably too much) at our disposal. I have to admit as a parent of a 3 year I do find it is something we have to constantly keep an eye on and we make exercise a priority in our household so hopefully those healthy habits pass onto my daughter and son (he is due in May).

I'm all for allowing the occasional treat like chips, ice cream etc but as long as they are the exception and not the rule then I think you are good to go.