Re: OT: UN Report on Obesity

[Guest guest]

Ok, this report needs to be forwarded to Bill ..who has made it his

mission to reduce the fat in America by some amazing amount I can't recall

right now.

I would like to know what the Bush Admin IS doing to fight obesity, other

than paying money for research that they simply dismiss!

Kelley

[Guest guest]

I'm afraid they'll just twist it all around to please whatever

special interest group will get whoever is in office reelected. I

think all foods have a place even if it is only on free day.

The problem now is that there are subsidies to overproduce things

like corn, rice, and soybeans and no subsidies to overproduce

vegetables. Lots of cheap unhealthy snacks can be made from the

subsidized foods so people buy more. And these cheap foods are

addictive in a way. If the unhealthy food cost more than healthy

food, people would naturally use less and buy more healthy food.

Eating unhealthy food actually ends up costing more with increase

health costs much of what we pay in our tax dollars and higher health

insurance premiums.

Great topic!

Andy

> Ok, this report needs to be forwarded to Bill ..who has

made it his

> mission to reduce the fat in America by some amazing amount I can't

recall

> right now.

>

> I would like to know what the Bush Admin IS doing to fight obesity,

other

> than paying money for research that they simply dismiss!

>

> Kelley

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

I'm afraid they'll just twist it all around to please whatever

special interest group will get whoever is in office reelected. I

think all foods have a place even if it is only on free day.

The problem now is that there are subsidies to overproduce things

like corn, rice, and soybeans and no subsidies to overproduce

vegetables. Lots of cheap unhealthy snacks can be made from the

subsidized foods so people buy more. And these cheap foods are

addictive in a way. If the unhealthy food cost more than healthy

food, people would naturally use less and buy more healthy food.

Eating unhealthy food actually ends up costing more with increase

health costs much of what we pay in our tax dollars and higher health

insurance premiums.

Great topic!

Andy

> Ok, this report needs to be forwarded to Bill ..who has

made it his

> mission to reduce the fat in America by some amazing amount I can't

recall

> right now.

>

> I would like to know what the Bush Admin IS doing to fight obesity,

other

> than paying money for research that they simply dismiss!

>

> Kelley

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

I'm afraid they'll just twist it all around to please whatever

special interest group will get whoever is in office reelected. I

think all foods have a place even if it is only on free day.

The problem now is that there are subsidies to overproduce things

like corn, rice, and soybeans and no subsidies to overproduce

vegetables. Lots of cheap unhealthy snacks can be made from the

subsidized foods so people buy more. And these cheap foods are

addictive in a way. If the unhealthy food cost more than healthy

food, people would naturally use less and buy more healthy food.

Eating unhealthy food actually ends up costing more with increase

health costs much of what we pay in our tax dollars and higher health

insurance premiums.

Great topic!

Andy

> Ok, this report needs to be forwarded to Bill ..who has

made it his

> mission to reduce the fat in America by some amazing amount I can't

recall

> right now.

>

> I would like to know what the Bush Admin IS doing to fight obesity,

other

> than paying money for research that they simply dismiss!

>

> Kelley

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

We are a capitalist country. Two of the largest industries right now,

representing trillions of dollars, include:

1. The industry selling processed fats and sugars to us

2. The industry selling services to treat our illnesses caused by the

overconsumption of fats and sugars

Actually, I agree, fats and sugars is oversimplifying. Healthy fats

are fine, so are natural sugars in fruits, etc. It is the processed

foods that are the culprit, but that is also the least amount of

profit.

Ever wonder why food in its natural state is so much MORE expensive

than processed foods? You'd think that once it went through all of

those machines and packing, it would cost more.

The truth is, it does. But there is a little benefit for the company

producing the food. Natural foods, loaded with nutrients, are

succeptible to pests and bacteria. They are not " preserved " well, and

bacteria rapidly consume the foods.

Processed foods, on the other hand, are devoid of any nutrition -

they are simply taste and calories. Therefore, they sit on the shelf

longer. A longer shelf life - what does that mean exactly? The reason

foods rot and decay is due to the activity of microorganisms that are

naturally occurring, everywhere. So the foods that can stock on the

shelf longer ... means they are not appealing to the pests and

microorganisms. In other words, these creatures with hardly any

brains at alls avoid those foods because they lack the nutrients they

need.

So the company can produce in season and store to sell off season and

gain more profit in the long run because of the year-round sales. In

the meantime, we consume something that a microscopic BUG refuses to

eat and somehow pretend it will benefit us.

Interesting world, huh?

It is VERY exciting to see that people are beginning to take action,

however. The $200 billion wellness industry - the industry of going

to the gym, taking nutrition supplements, and engaging in other

practices to MAINTAIN good health and PREVENT illness - is expected

to grow to $1 trillion by 2010. That means people are taking notice

and fighting back. THANK YOU BABY BOOMERS for creating this awesome

trend.

Likness

> Was opposed by the White House today.

>

> Can anyone think of a reason where foods high in sugar and fat are

a

> healthy way to go?

>

> The assertion that 'All foods can be part of a healthy diet' kind

of

> goes against what I was taught also. There are foods out there

that

> have no value nutritionally... right?

>

> By JONATHAN D. SALANT, Associated Press Writer

>

> WASHINGTON - The Bush administration is challenging a World Health

> Organization (news - web sites) report that outlines steps for

> nations to take to reduce obesity.

>

> In a letter to the United Nations (news - web sites) agency that is

> meeting next week, Health and Human Services (news - web sites)

> official Steiger questioned the organization's findings,

> said they were based on faulty science, and called for changes to

> the report.

>

> The WHO report recommends eating more fruits and vegetables and

> limiting fats and salt. It also suggests governments limit food

> advertising aimed at children and encourage their citizens to eat

> healthier foods. Taxes and subsidies could be used to reduce the

> price of healthy food and make them more attractive to consumers,

> the report said.

>

> The International Obesity Task Force estimates that 300 million

> people worldwide are obese and 750 million more are overweight,

> including 22 million children under age 5.

>

> Steiger said in his letter that the WHO report did not adequately

> address an individual's responsibility to balance one's diet with

> one's physical activities, and objected to singling out specific

> types of foods, such as those high in fat and sugar.

>

> " The (U.S. government) favors dietary guidance that focuses on the

> total diet, promotes the view that all foods can be part of a

> healthy and balanced diet, and supports personal responsibility to

> choose a diet conducive to individual energy balance, weight

control

> and health, " wrote Steiger, special assistant for international

> affairs at Health and Human Services.

>

> Consumer advocacy groups criticized the Bush administration's

> stance, noting that HHS Secretary Tommy has pledged to

> fight obesity.

>

> " We doubt the secretary's commitment to fighting obesity on any

> serious level, " said Bruce Silverglade, legal affairs director for

> the Center for Science in the Public Interest. " Government is part

> of the problem and government needs to be part of the solution. "

>

> A phone call to HHS was not immediately returned.