Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community - View Single Post - Is It Your Fault I'm Fat? Congress Hears Debate

rockzilla · 06-20-2003, 02:28 PM

I'll agree that the popuation is much better informed than even 5 years ago, yet obesity is on the rise. We may have all the information necessary to eat healthily, but that doesn't mean that we're doing anything about it. With obesity statistics being roughly the same between men and women (about 5% more men are overweight, about 8% more women are obese, and 3% more women are severely obese). Taken from the American Obesity Association. They may be reading the labels, but either they don't understand them or don't put the information into practice. You can buy the lowest calorie cookies on the shelf, but you'll still put on the pounds if you eat the whole box.
It's also interesting to note that obesity is inversely proportional to education level (the less schooling someone's had, the more likely they are to be obese) Someone who never finished high school doesn't stand a chance of understanding nutritional fact sheets and creating a balanced diet without some outside help and close surveillance.
A healthy diet is only half of the equation though. 60% of Americans don't excercise enough, and 25% don't excercise at all. The Center for Disease Control recommends 1/2 hour of walking, 5 times a week as enough excercise, with the amount of excercise once again decreasing with lower levels of education.
Whew, looks like I ended up writing a small essay, so in conclusion, stay in school, and if you're gonna go to McDonalds, at least bike there.

06-20-2003, 02:28 PM	#21 (permalink)
rockzilla Junkie Location: The Kitchen	I'll agree that the popuation is much better informed than even 5 years ago, yet obesity is on the rise. We may have all the information necessary to eat healthily, but that doesn't mean that we're doing anything about it. With obesity statistics being roughly the same between men and women (about 5% more men are overweight, about 8% more women are obese, and 3% more women are severely obese). Taken from the American Obesity Association. They may be reading the labels, but either they don't understand them or don't put the information into practice. You can buy the lowest calorie cookies on the shelf, but you'll still put on the pounds if you eat the whole box. It's also interesting to note that obesity is inversely proportional to education level (the less schooling someone's had, the more likely they are to be obese) Someone who never finished high school doesn't stand a chance of understanding nutritional fact sheets and creating a balanced diet without some outside help and close surveillance. A healthy diet is only half of the equation though. 60% of Americans don't excercise enough, and 25% don't excercise at all. The Center for Disease Control recommends 1/2 hour of walking, 5 times a week as enough excercise, with the amount of excercise once again decreasing with lower levels of education. Whew, looks like I ended up writing a small essay, so in conclusion, stay in school, and if you're gonna go to McDonalds, at least bike there. Last edited by rockzilla; 06-20-2003 at 02:31 PM..