In thinking the govts new obesity strategy is

[laptopdancer]

well, a bit pants?

[Kayano]

YABU to not
Post what it is... I'm not going to look for it lol

[WinterIsComing]

Are the government dictating how and when we can become obese now? Bloody nanny state. I'll eat egg and chips AND Philadelphia to dip at my own behest thank-you-very-much. And if I want to remain under eight stone while I do it I fucking well will.

[GrimmaTheNome]

Are the government dictating how and when we can become obese now?

no, they are saying people should take responsibility for what they shove in their mouths. Novel idea after years of nannying, isn't it?

[laptopdancer]

www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-15289625

thats the report...I can link the strategy if you like

[DejaWho]

From what I've seen the new obesity strategy (mainly from half-watching the news) is a very ghastly woman who yells "STOP EATING SHIT!"

Somehow - although it'll give the Daily Mail readership and some on here moist pants with delight - I can't quite see it working very effectively - but I suppose it's cheap - could just give her a loudhailer and stick her on the back of a lorry and drive her around the country.

[exaspomum]

YANBU. They should ban the use of hydrogenated fats in food, including takeaways and restaurants like several other countries have done. Also, advertising for junk food on tv. Also the use of large wine glasses in bars etc. They could encourage restaurants etc to offer different portion sizes and scrap their insulting children's menus with deep fried in breadcrumbs everything or cheesy pasta with no proper veg. Sweet drinks, even fruit juice is not necessary for children to have with their school lunch - it's just extra calories. And don't get me started on chip/sweetie vans outside secondary schools- grrrrr.

[WinterIsComing]

I've just looked at the BBC link, Grimma. People need to be more honest and possibly a bit more receptive to tongue-in-cheek comments and my post wasn't? I'm not three foot tall either in which case seven stone whatever would be worrisome.

I take full responsibility for eating chips, egg and cheese one night a week. I eat no meat, no other "fast-food" type of crap and regularly attempt to medicate any stray high-cholesterol levels with wine

will read the actual stragety now.

[LornaGoon]

Surely taking responsibility for yourselves is a good thing? Avoid the nanny state and all that.

Is it also right though that the governement will become best bum chums consult with the big food companies (McDonalds, Kraft etc) and request they lower calorie content rather than legislate against eg trans fat, thus avoiding any drop in profits for big business?

[Andrewofgg]

Governments should not "encourage" anything, ever. Forbid what must be forbidden; make compulsory what must be made compulsory; otherwise butt out.

Restaurants put on the menu what people will pay for, Winter, and I don't pay my taxes to have anyone tell me what size wineglass should be on the table when I eat out!

[aldiwhore]

I do think that as there's SO much choice and even healthy food CAN pile on pounds that the government strategy should simply be to redirect people to a Slimming World type organisation, because they manage to make people 'get' what's right and what isn't very easily... whether they're know their onions or not.

Plus everything that exaspomum says. Portion sizes are a huge part of the crisis. I have always eaten healthily with the ocassional treat yet was still 3 stone overweight. From my healthiest, it did take 13 years to get that was which is only a few lbs a year... start educating people while they're young and continue... health and nutrition should be part of compulsorary learning maybe within the PSHE curriculum (if its not already)?

[TheCrackFox]

Considering it is patently obvious that the government can't afford to cough up for our pensions you would think they would be exhorting us to inhale chocolate Eclairs by the tray load. It would be a win/win situation for the Treasury - we would die before reaching an age to actually receive our pension and the Treasury coffers would be swollen by all that lovely extra tax that Greggs would have to pay.

[laptopdancer]

£14 million to go into change for life over the next few years...

[exaspomum]

Part of the problem surely, is that people don't alway realise what they're putting in their mouths. Don't know how this could possibly change, but the culture around the way we eat has changed - it's acceptable to wander around stuffing your face nearly anywhere, nearly anytime. My older relations are just so much more disciplined with their eating habits. They don't snack half as much as a lot of younger people. It's as if snacking has become an acceptable leisure activity - when shopping, at the cinema etc. I sound no fun. sorry. I have bowel cancer at an unusually young age for this disease in spite of having a fairly healthy diet and lifestyle and being thin (they're testing for faulty genes now) and it really annoys me when I know I can't get all the treatments available to help with the chemo side effects etc because all these annoying fat slobs are wasting NHS resources. GRRRR. Ooh I feel better now. Sorry to digress.

[GrimmaTheNome]

I know what they should do.

They should appoint Eric Pickles as Obesity Tzar. He wouldn't have to do anything except carry on stuffing his face and his wheelie bin, but be regularly televised doing so - surely this would act as aversion therapy?

[WinterIsComing]

exaspomum I am so sorry to hear that and I agree with you. It seems very unfair.

[TheCrackFox]

If Eric Pickles is stuffing his face whilst being completely naked then he may well put me off my tray load of chocolate Eclairs.

[switchtvoffdosomelessboring]

See I think the government is on to a winner here -

Are you obese? Stop eating shit!

Are you a smoker? Stop it!

Do you drink you much alcohol? Stop it!

Are you taking illegal drugs? Don't.


How can such a well thought out and clever plan fail?

[Rhinestone]

Actually I like it - it's brilliantly simple and doesn't cost the taxpayer anything. Plus we're being treated like grown ups.

[GypsyMoth]

Last week they were telling us to pay off our debts, now this!

[hardboiledpossum]

I don't think the government should be trying to persuade restaurants to change ingredients or portion sizes. Instead I think they should be educating people about nutrition and healthy food. I have so many friends who always choose the diet foods because they want to loose weight, when usually these diet foods aren't very healthy and are full of artificial sweeteners.

[loserface]

People need to stop eating crap all the time. Fat people aren't thick, they know all those fatty greasy burgers are going to make them fatter but they still eat them anyway.

We're all greedy fuckers and only drastic action is going to change that.

[Andrewofgg]

exaspomum All the best to you from one who has been there too :(

[GypsyMoth]

I remember as a child, there were no snacks, except for the berries/fruit we found on trees or the odd half an apple from my mum.

Crisps and fizzy drinks bought occasionally from the takeout hatch at the local pub

I don't remember anyone being overweight in the 70's....... Then 'convenience' goods were born, and packet trifles and vesta curries found their way into out diets, downhill all the way from then.

[northwestnutrition]

Some of these comments are fabulous. I have a blog on this and would love them on there.

[northwestnutrition]

Its a really difficult one. The strategy sort of is about the government taking a step back and leaving it all in the hands of local groups and the community. Im not sure it will achieve anything.