CONTROVERSIAL THREAD ALERT:.....

[Neemo]

Firstly, let me make an important distinction; this post is NOT about ‘TYPES’, or an attack on a particular demographic.

This topic typically ignites into an emotional/passionate debate, and the confluence of opposing ‘views/opinions’ can descend into ad-hominem attacks – Please let’s try to remain objective for this very pertinent, contemporary issue.

Just to re-iterate; this is not an ‘attack’ in way, shape, or form. Rather it’s a question, to the diverse and knowledgeable members of this forum. As Diabetics, I feel we have a superior understanding of the primary cause of this issue (food>nutrition); governmental nutritional policies, unscrupulous food manufacturers and societal attitudes.

THREAD QUETSION;

HAVE WE BECOME A NATION OF OBESITY APOLOGISTS – TO THE DETRIMENT OF PROGRESSIVENESS, POLITICAL CHANGE (food manufacturing labels/nutritional policies) AND THERFORE, THE HEALTH OF FUTUTRE GENERATIONS

 

[Brunneria]

Nope.
I consider fatism one of the last socially acceptable abuses.
With the media leading the charge.

 

[zand]

I agree with @Brunneria.

I remember when I was a teenager back in the 70's, I was sitting on a bus when a woman got on and spoke to another teenage girl who I didn't know. The woman said something to the girl and the girl replied laughing "It's OK, I'm fat not pregnant."

About a year ago I witnessed a similar conversation in a supermarket between and older woman and an unmarried teenager. This time the answer was "It's OK, I'm pregnant, not fat"

Hmmmm How times change.

 

[Lamont D]

No, we are our own people.
We just about have a freedom of choice what we put in our mouth.
It is our own personal crusade to EDUCATE the diabetics who post on here.
There is a small wave happening throughout the world, that the general population are not going to accept that we have to eat and drink to get obese.
It is a slow change and the information is out there, Education is the way.

If you look at Coke and Pepsi, they have put plans in place to diversify resources away from the traditional drinks.

Tesco are banning drinks like ribena.

When big business and government stop making profit, then you'll see more change.

As you are probably aware, this government has declared war on the working class and the destitute and infirm. They don't care!
Why should they worry about diabetics, unless it stops them getting votes!

Hate politics!

 

[satindoll]

Lets be honest;; if the government can encourage us to eat rubbish and drink the stuff that is bound to make us seriously ill, in a few years we will all die of heart troubles or sepsis from amputations, then they can say it was all our own fault and they can keep their promise to lower the benefits bill.

 

[Neemo]

I'm not defending prejudice; its a detestable trait. Unfortunately, it seems to be an inherent human characteristic.

And yes, some media organisations have questionable practices.

But, should the prevalence of the 2 issues above, afford a (carte blanche) impetus to perpetuate this notion that obesity is normal, and not a modern, contemporary issue.

I completely accept the scientific consensus of genetic predisposition being central to this issue - BUT that genetic predisposition in SYNERGY with governmental policies is the primary driver (High fructose corn syrup, ubiquity of sucrose in 'normal' supermarket items etc)

My concern is that we are reaching a point whereby obesity is being considered 'normal', therfore resulting in conflation/confusion of facts for the general public.

It will be very unfortunate for policy change to be an excessively protracted affair, and it will (is) undoubted leading to innumerable premature deaths.

Sugar (sucrose/fructose) is not an essential nutrient...But this notion of obesity being normal is nothing short of tacit complicity to the purveyors of this noxious 'nutrient'.

 

[Neemo]

No, we are our own people.
We just about have a freedom of choice what we put in our mouth.
It is our own personal crusade to EDUCATE the diabetics who post on here.
There is a small wave happening throughout the world, that the general population are not going to accept that we have to eat and drink to get obese.
It is a slow change and the information is out there, Education is the way.

If you look at Coke and Pepsi, they have put plans in place to diversify resources away from the traditional drinks.

Tesco are banning drinks like ribena.

When big business and government stop making profit, then you'll see more change.

As you are probably aware, this government has declared war on the working class and the destitute and infirm. They don't care!
Why should they worry about diabetics, unless it stops them getting votes!

Hate politics!

I too have an aversion to Politics, but the fact of the matter is, that it is the only way to achieve meaningful change. When a critical mass of public opinion develops, the government have to sit up and take notice (for cynical reasons).

Don't underestimate the power of the people (civil activism).

 

[Neemo]

Lets be honest;; if the government can encourage us to eat rubbish and drink the stuff that is bound to make us seriously ill, in a few years we will all die of heart troubles or sepsis from amputations, then they can say it was all our own fault and they can keep their promise to lower the benefits bill.

Yep, that rationale makes TOTAL sense.

 

[Shar67]

It is a whole live generation thing, in the 70s most families couldn't afford to buy branded fizzy soda every day, I remember getting it maybe once twice a year as a treat Now most people can afford it everyday. No-one does special treats youngsters get what they ask for, nothing is special. Believe or not but food is way cheaper than it used to be and it covers a huge range.
A few years back I hosted a student from Japan, we went to Sainsbury's she could believe the size of the shop, the range and most of all out of season vegetables. She said it was way to much. You don't see many obese Japanese and no it's not because they eat raw fish and rice, there are plenty of McDonald's, KFC etc there

Now how about this for a throw in controversial comment, women working, women stayed in home preparing meals that were made from fresh produce. Now due to economics and cheap labour women are out and food has to be made quickly, eaten quickly and we seem to have forgotten who food is made

 

[Neemo]

Nope.
I consider fatism one of the last socially acceptable abuses.
With the media leading the charge.

What if you remove this 'fatism lens'?

or to put it more concisely; what if NO media/individual prejudice existed?

 

[Brunneria]

What if you remove this 'fatism lens'?

or to put it more concisely; what if NO media/individual prejudice existed?

Then we would all be living in fairyland.

The reality is that public opinion would nominate another minority outcast. Maybe Jews. Or unmarried mothers. Or Gingers. Or people with gaps between their front teeth. Every culture needs a whipping boy. Makes 'us' feel secure if we have 'them' to bash, dontcha know.