The Obesity Crisis

Alcoholism's link to Obesity

2008-05-17T20:27:00.001-07:00

Although Craig Ferguson doesn't talk about it in his monologue, many of his (former) fellow UK and especially Scottish citizens are maintaining their obesity through over-drinking.

Fat people cause global warming

2008-05-17T19:52:00.001-07:00

The Lancet has released a report on the link between obesity, health, and transport policies. This effectively says that fat people are a global warming risk.

Urban transport policies that promote walking and cycling would reduce food prices by reducing the global demand for oil, and promotion of a normal distribution of BMI would reduce the global demand for, and thus the price of, food. Decreased car use would reduce greenhouse gas emissions and thus the need for biofuels, and increased physical activity levels, would reduce injury risk and air pollution, improving population health.

The Lancet [registration required] : Transport policy is food policy

Report on tackling fatties

2008-05-17T19:28:00.001-07:00

Link: Tackling Obesities report

Office biscuits

2008-05-17T19:21:00.001-07:00

Reading the Slimming Blog, I was amused by the story of eating office biscuits, promoted by the big fatty in the office.

The best thing to do when you go to work, I've found, is bring a packed lunch, and don't eat anything else on the premises, unless it's fruit. Only eat fruit that is offered to you for free. Remember, the food ain't free. It's really really expensive, it will make you fat and it will take YEARS to come off.

If the fat person offers you food, just say no.

Scottish women are the fattest

2008-05-17T19:17:00.001-07:00

According to the Slimming Blog, Scottish women are now the fattest in Europe. Fatter than English women.

I have been to Scotland and I can confirm this to be the case. There are a lot of fat Scottish women, and men. Everyone is out of shape. Going to the gym is uncommon. Exercise in general is uncommon, and is sneered at in most circles.

Drinking is the main hobby of the young, and continues into middle and old age.

People in Scotland tend to blame the weather, but it's a really lame excuse. Blame culture. Blame each other for discouraging each other from exercise.

A couple of pounds of extra body fat are not a health risk for most people

2008-05-17T19:10:00.001-07:00

This BBC news article goes quite soft in its advice for avoiding being a fat person.

A couple of pounds of extra body fat are not a health risk for most people. But when people keep up a pattern of eating more calories than they burn, more and more fat builds up in their bodies.

I would, personally, not say that. By saying "a couple" you are almost giving permission for the fat person to judge their 2, 3 , 4 , 10 pounds of extra weight as 'not a big problem'. It is a problem. Every pound is a problem. Even a single pound over weight is a problem.

Yeh, yeh I hear you say - what about anorexia - aren't you promoting anorexia by saying that ?

Of course I'm not. Anorexia is a whole different issue. I'm talking about getting DOWN to your TARGET weight, not dropping below that.

Am I inciting people to obsess over what they eat. OF COURSE I AM. You fat people out there should be OBSESSING about what you eat. Do you think sportsmen obsess about what they eat? Have you ever spoken with a boxer on what they eat. These guys are obsessed. If you're fat, you need to start getting a bit more obsessed with your diet. Maybe hold off on dinner. Maybe fast for a few days. It won't kill you. Getting fat is killing you.

Hey, if you get to your target weight, and then keep dropping, lets have a talk then on anorexia. But not before.

This photo is disgusting

2008-05-17T18:34:00.001-07:00

This photograph is absolutely disgusting. How do you get your kid to look like this? I mean, HOW??

(Photo courtesy of: the Pig Pen)

Constructive criticism

2008-05-17T18:25:00.001-07:00

Obesity is defined by the World Health Organisation as abnormal. You're damn right it's abnormal. It's disgusting, and if you are an obese person, you need to sort yourself out. Fix yourself. This site will tell you how.

Obesity, in this site's view, is not just someone who's super fat. It's someone who has any sort of muffin top hanging over their trousers. It's someone who exercises less than 3 days a week (you should actually be exercising daily). It's someone who drives in their car somewhere which is near enough to walk. That's disgusting. It's keeping you fat, you're losing opportunity to exercise, and you're contributing to climate change.

Forget plastic bags - fat people driving their cars is a much bigger problem. I sneer when I see a fat person in their car. I sneer in the same way as you might sneer at someone picking up a plastic bag with their groceries.

The Truth About Obesity (BBC article)

2008-05-17T18:19:00.001-07:00

Article on BBC Site: The Truth About Obesity:

Britons are getting bigger and it's a crisis on the same level as climate change, says the government. Within 15 years most of us will be overweight, with our life expectancy cut by 13 years. Scary stuff, but do all the facts about this "ticking time bomb" really add up?

The World Health Organisation site on Obesity

2008-05-17T18:18:00.001-07:00

Link: The World Health Organisation