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Surprised at numbers of overweight adults - surely more needs to be done?

577 replies

OrangeSunset · 15/08/2020 22:00

Fully prepared for this to be fairly controversial but here goes.

We’re on holiday in the South West. I am honestly shocked at the numbers of overweight adults on the beach today. I’d say at least 50% were overweight, across all age ranges. Really it was more like 70%. DH and I are ok but being harsh I’d say we could/should each lose 5kg and be more lean. It’s just miserable and I was shocked - even more so when you see overweight kids too as we all know that sets them up for a lifetime of weight issues.

I’m not sure what my point is, other than to say that Boris cutting some adverts just isn’t good enough. The prevalence of shit food is condemning people to an unhealthy life with medical issues and challenges that us as humans just shouldn’t be subjecting ourselves to.

How do we break this cycle? Anyone who points it is out is seen as judgemental but it’s gone beyond the point of individual choice surely - it doesn’t work and is ruining people’s lives and perpetuating the cycle.

OP posts:
sqirrelfriends · 19/08/2020 15:57

The food industry has its part to play but I think it also comes down to how sedentary our lives have become. Since lockdown started I've lost loads of weight because rice had to take DS out on loads of walks to keep him entertained. No more sitting at my desk all day, no more watching him at soft play etc.

Personally I'm a little bit fat, bmi is about 26 which Im not comfortable with but I eat healthily and am trying to shift it with exercise.

plantlife · 19/08/2020 18:09

I have a very healthy diet. Don't smoke, don't drink alcohol, don't drive so I've always walked a lot. Until recently when health issues left me largely housebound. I'm still eating very healthily but you know what? I'm seriously considering taking up smoking and/or stuffing myself on chocolate and cake. Why? Because my life is shit. No money, constant threat of homelessness, awful experiences. I'm not actively suicidal but I don't want to live longer than necessary. I have no pension and my direct experiences of (lack of) support for disabled and vulnerable people makes me have no trust whatsoever in the state for any pension. There's no point me being healthy because the stress (situations out of my control) will kill me anyway.

There's no money for lots of us living longer. Those of us who already need to rely on state support (which we contributed to via tax before life circumstances changed) know how you won't be helped when you need it. The failure to protect care home residents from the virus is a very good example of this.

NotMeNoNo · 19/08/2020 18:29

The other thing about being active is I guess it’s literally harder to snack whilst you are out and about on your feet. Whereas in the car or on sofa or at desk it’s too easy.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

plantlife · 19/08/2020 18:32

Look at all the virus threads. Huge amount of absolute contempt and deep resentment of the elderly and disabled. All the posts saying things like, 'they've had their lives', it's mostly 'only' the elderly at risk, they're 'clinging on' past their time, etc, etc. Also see those attitudes on housing and Are We Overpopulated threads.

There's no way the government genuinely wants loads of people to live longer. Pensions are a huge expense as are care home costs, and governments don't like spending on these areas. They've already put the pension age up so high that many people will die without ever getting to retire. Work until you drop (dead in a gutter) just like the bad old days.

aibutohavethisusername · 19/08/2020 18:52

I’m losing weight, almost 4 stone down this year so far BUT I’ve got another 4 stone to lose after that. Today I’ve walked almost 18,000 steps and swam for 20 minutes. Stacked shelves for about a hours.
Still fat though.

GisAFag · 19/08/2020 18:55

Ssshhh or us fatties will eat you

Heygirlheyboy · 19/08/2020 20:38

Comfort eating absolutely can be likened to a drug, sugar is literally made and added to products in order to lure people in to eat more and more. For me it is easier tohave absolutely none as I would say yes I am an addict. Thankfully I have caught it before massive weight gain and hopefully, without any health issues.

Teal99 · 19/08/2020 21:05

Not read whole thread.

I know that lockdown has made some people put weight on. But others took the opportunity to do something about their weight. I know a few people who have lost 3 stone plus each since March. Their normal lifestyle, long hours and a commute, did not leave time to exercise, and lockdown gave them the opportunity to address that. We know that weightloss is 80% what you eat, 20% how much you move - but if you exercise it encourages you to eat better as well. Working long hours, which we do in this country, and shift work, make it hard to make healthy choices.

I do a daily walk, and I see two very overweight men who are visibly shrinking week on week. I think this time has encouraged people to look at their weight issues for health reasons. What you look like is going to be a factor but good health has to be the primary factor on watching your weight.

I am never going to be very slim, but I try my hardest to do the best I can for my body, which is the occasional treat but lots of healthy fuel and moving when I can.

Life is hard, being overweight and unfit makes it harder. In its extreme form, it disables. And that's without the detrimental health issues like diabetes etc. I know that some of my health niggles disappear or reduce substantially if I maintain a healthy weight.

We do have a personal responsibility to take care of ourselves, not push blame onto others. Some people have genuine health reasons why their weight is too much, but for the majority it is being weak willed and lax with regard to health. The food industry could do more.

We also normalise weight. If you live in an area where there are lots of bigger people, it becomes a norm. And there is a suppression of talking about weight (being a fat shamer). If we do not talk about it, we will get larger and larger. Kids will be getting fatter and fatter.

hamstersarse · 19/08/2020 21:17

@SheepandCow

Why the issue?

Perhaps people have made the valid choice to enjoy what they eat and have a shorter life expectancy. The alternative is hardly desirable. Live longer to end up neglected in a care home suffering from dementia, resented by younger people as a burden due to pension and social care costs.

People can't win. Eat junk food or smoke and you're A Bad Person. Don't smoke a live a long healthy life and you're an Expensive Burden.

Dementia is known in some research circles as Type 3 diabetes

Another lifestyle illness! Caused by junk and excessive refined carbs/sugar

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2769828/

www.healthline.com/health/type-3-diabetes

LittleHootie · 19/08/2020 21:21

Excellent post @Teal99

NotMeNoNo · 19/08/2020 22:35

I’m just putting this here so I dont lose it.
Prof. Susan Jebb talking a pile of common sense.

Including interaction of personal and environmental factors.

SheepandCow · 20/08/2020 01:10

@hamstersarse but something's going to get us all in the end. Humans aren't immortal.

What happens if everyone lives a super healthy life? How do we pay for the huge increase in pensions and social care?

pinkbalconyrailing · 20/08/2020 06:32

somewhere I read the summary of a study into obesity & health outcomes.
it was a sad read as with many issues it was not the patients weight that was the main issue, but the health professionals being dismissive of symptoms and referring/starting tests and treatments later than they would do for less big patients.

damn, I can't find it anymore.

pinkbalconyrailing · 20/08/2020 06:39

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27385315/

found it!

Teal99 · 20/08/2020 06:47

I have no kids so I don't know what they teach at school these days but as well as cramming heads with algebra they should teach kids about nutrition and the positives of good health, healthy eating.

IamTomHanks · 20/08/2020 07:00

More exercise won't kill you.

I suffer from chronic stress fractures in my legs due to years of over exercise. It might not "kill" you, but it can certainly cause damage.

IamTomHanks · 20/08/2020 07:02

Are you saying over 60% of the population are 'addicted' to crap food? Seriously? Personal choices don't come it to it? They just can't walk down the street without diving into a fast food shop or buying a large bag of doritos?

I'm saying addiction plays a part. I think the fact that they aren't constantly diving into a fast food shop or buying doritos is a testament to their willpower.

There are multiple studies on the affects of transfat and sugars on the body and brain.

pinkbalconyrailing · 20/08/2020 07:03

mobile.twitter.com/rfrosencrans/status/1289598474581753857

and here the twitter thread in easy language if you are interested

Emmie12345 · 20/08/2020 07:06

Gummy bears is the term locals use for the obese beachgoers in the SW...

IamTomHanks · 20/08/2020 07:07

Teal99

I'm one of those people who has lost some weight during lockdown.

The relief of not having an hour and 20 minute daily commute, not having to get up at 5am to get myself and the kids ready for the day, not having to stick around the office because of the culture of presentisim, etc has had a massive effect on my stress levels.

I have time to do several sessions of light exercise a day, instead of trying to fit all of my exercise into one intense session (which has been a relief to my bones!)

I have time to cook a nice meal and prepare food.

You can't underestimate the impact of a better work/life balance.

brightbluegentian · 20/08/2020 07:15

@OrangeSunset I’ve not read the whole thread but I just wanted to agree with you about being shocked about the level of obesity. I am also away and yesterday went to a visitor attraction. What was shocking is that I felt small and slim. (I am 5’2” and thanks to lockdown now 13.5 stones.) I have a BMI in the obese range. However in comparision to at least 70% of the other adults there I was ‘normal’ or ‘slim’.

My DCs are at the lower end of the childrens weight percentiles and they looked tiny against MOST of the other children!

I don’t have an answer though - but I’m not going to knee jerk and say its all about junk food. I cook everything from scratch and have 1 takeaway a month. I am still fat though. Changing habits is hard, especially when the rest of the family needs feeding too.

Patchwerk · 20/08/2020 07:20

These threads get incredibly boring. Can't you just find the latest thread about it and pile onto that rather than starting the same boring topic again? The issue is nuanced, is all that ever comes from these threads.

MissBehaviour1 · 20/08/2020 07:25

Next time you see a squad of fatties, slap them on their ample arses before testing their blood sugar levels, or... mind your own body and business because their cholesterol levels don't affect you personally.

Deathraystare · 20/08/2020 08:06

Well it is no surprise to me that I am overweight! Mind you when I go to Southampton and wait for a bus, I am Kate Moss in comparison to the locals (well not quite!). There was even something in their local paper about the amount of obese people.

EvaHoffman · 20/08/2020 08:27

It really isn't to do with countries developing. There are many richer countries than the U.K. which don't have such problems with obesity.

The problem is inequality. The food industries have flooded the market with poor quality food. If you are poor and working all hours and don't have time to cook it inevitable that's what you'll choose. This has now become a cultural issue because several generations have lived in this way and it has ceased to be about individual choice but more about what is 'normal' because everybody else does it.

It's really easy to see this. Go to Norway or Finland. Easier than that, go to a rich neighbourhood anywhere near you and notice how people look.