OK, jumping into the fray again. I live in a metropolitan area with one of the highest obesity rates in the US, in a state with one of the highest obesity rates in the US.
This issue concerns me, because I am far from innocent when it comes to it - I've been as much as about 60 lbs overweight - and it was awful. I've basically reformed my life/lifestyle, and intend to keep it that way. No, I'm not perfect, but I try to watch it closely and make sure a small gain, a couple pounds, never becomes a big gain.
More and more, though, I am seeing people who are dramatically overweight, like 400 plus pounds. You never used to see that, now any time I go out to a busy public place it's not usual. Often on motorized scooters. Also, any school bus stop has a number of fat kids, every school has plenty of them - that was extremely unusual when I was a kid in the 70's.
I know, multiple causes - poor diet high in empty calories; extreme access to food, to - fast food, gas station with full delis, etc, a bazillion party stores, grocery stores full of **** marketed in such a way it is designed to attract; an aversion to exercise by a lot of our population coupled with the concept that to go half a mile you gotta jump in the car; uneven access to healthcare (obesity rates are statistically inversely proportional to income); high fructose corn syrup specifically stands out among the junk food.
I know, the "land of the free" but personally, I would support policies that discourage obesity and encourge responsibility and healthy lifestyles, or cover some of the enormous public costs, which are gonna get nothing but worse. I know, it's not "pc" to not subscribe to the disease theory of obesity, but honest to God, I think it's mainly a personal responsibility issue.
This issue concerns me, because I am far from innocent when it comes to it - I've been as much as about 60 lbs overweight - and it was awful. I've basically reformed my life/lifestyle, and intend to keep it that way. No, I'm not perfect, but I try to watch it closely and make sure a small gain, a couple pounds, never becomes a big gain.
More and more, though, I am seeing people who are dramatically overweight, like 400 plus pounds. You never used to see that, now any time I go out to a busy public place it's not usual. Often on motorized scooters. Also, any school bus stop has a number of fat kids, every school has plenty of them - that was extremely unusual when I was a kid in the 70's.
I know, multiple causes - poor diet high in empty calories; extreme access to food, to - fast food, gas station with full delis, etc, a bazillion party stores, grocery stores full of **** marketed in such a way it is designed to attract; an aversion to exercise by a lot of our population coupled with the concept that to go half a mile you gotta jump in the car; uneven access to healthcare (obesity rates are statistically inversely proportional to income); high fructose corn syrup specifically stands out among the junk food.
I know, the "land of the free" but personally, I would support policies that discourage obesity and encourge responsibility and healthy lifestyles, or cover some of the enormous public costs, which are gonna get nothing but worse. I know, it's not "pc" to not subscribe to the disease theory of obesity, but honest to God, I think it's mainly a personal responsibility issue.