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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think most people don’t care about healthy eating, exercise, etc

383 replies

Notcontent · 17/05/2019 21:32

We keep hearing about rising obesity levels, diabetes, and how sugary/processed good is responsible for a lot of it, etc.

But it seems to me that most people are completely ignoring those messages - either because they think it’s all nonsense or because they think “oh well, I want to enjoy my food and drink and I don’t really care what happens when I get to 50”.

I completely agree that we need to have treats and enjoy food because that’s what life is all about. But a lot of it is just simple stuff, like having water instead or sugary drinks. Why is that? Yes, I know some people can’t afford healthy food, but most of us do have some choice about what we feed ourselves and our families.

OP posts:
AllAboutMeAlways · 17/05/2019 21:36

What’s it to you what other people eat?

Looobyloo · 17/05/2019 21:37

I do care and I don't think its nonsense but I also love crap food, pizza, cake, burgers, chocolate, etc. I keep thinking I need to sort my diet out! I run everyday and do a spin class a week so I'm very active I just love crap food. I can afford to eat healthy too. I suppose a lot comes down to lazynesss.

Looobyloo · 17/05/2019 21:38

I do drink a lot of water though 👍Grin

Original poster
Notcontent · 17/05/2019 21:42

AllAbout - I am just curious what people think - of course everyone can eat what they want. Although if we all become obese and unhealthy then yes, it will have a huge impact on society. So maybe we should all care.

OP posts:
RedPanda2 · 17/05/2019 21:45

Why do you care about what other people eat or if they exercise? MYOB

GlamGiraffe · 17/05/2019 21:45

I assumed I gave my family normal food until all my friends started commenting how healthy my food was and how it was so good I made it all from scratch. In reality I just dont by ready meals or product short cuts which are full of salt sugar and oils amongst other stuff. If the meal I'm cooking has a sauce I make it. Its simple,really tasty and cheap and is good for you plus takes only a couple of minutes.
Last time I went shopping I was amazed what went in to peoples trollies. People do think being thin is the only measure of health, they arent considering what rubbish they put in their bodies. Nutrition sems to rate far below satisfaction for many people. Its really worrying that many people are spending quite large amounts of money of food and buying completely nutritionally unbalanced and lacking meals.

shitpark · 17/05/2019 21:50

I eat generally healthily, and try to ensure my children understand how to eat properly. I make a point of enforcing food rules at home, I don't ban treats but I limit them, and my children understand that they should only eat them once a week.
When people find out how I eat, they try to feed me up, insisting I eat cake, and junk food. It's very strange. I tend not to talk about it

Squirrelblanket · 17/05/2019 21:55

Omg people, the OP is just posing a general question. Don't be so defensive! Hmm

DulcieRay · 17/05/2019 21:57

When my life is really shit sometimes the highlight is chocolate, chips or Chinese. I do not think I'm alone in that.

Babooshkar · 17/05/2019 21:58

I think a lot of people see junk and treat type food (pizza, ready meals, jar/tin sauces etc), as an every day food these days. There’s definitely a sort of attitude of ‘I deserve it’ - and so eating a whole big bar of chocolate or tub of ice cream most evenings in front of the telly has become normalised.

Availability and utter cheapness of shite food..

OP - you should read Bee Wilson’s books if you’re interested in learning more about the history and psychological marketing of junk food in the last few decades.

coffeeforone · 17/05/2019 22:00

I don't think most people don't care. They do care but don't have the willpower to stick to a healthy routine long term, they go through phases of caring and not caring, so often have a raised BMI as a result.

WorraLiberty · 17/05/2019 22:04

As a couple of posters have already shown, it can be a touchy subject OP for various reasons.

I'm all for a varied diet and moderation. I don't think any foods are actually bad, unless too much is eaten too often.

Iwantacookie · 17/05/2019 22:06

Atm I'm stuck in a depressive cycle of eating pure crap. I just don't have the motivation to do anything other than throw sausage and chips in the oven then eat an entire cake.
When I'm not really low I'll do really well all day then crave chocolate/cake in the evening but I can limit myself then.
So I do care but I'm trapped. Also it's just so bloody expensive. I really fancied some water melon today but I haven't got £2.80 to buy one which makes me more depressed which makes me crave sweet stuff more. Sad

Prisonbreak · 17/05/2019 22:12

I was one of the ‘couldn’t give a toss’ group. I was overweight, didn’t exercise and ate anything I wanted whenever I wanted. Until last year when I watched my mother in law slowly die at age 54 from numerous health issues that were 100% preventable had she not abused her body. It gave me a damn fright and I’ve lost 4 stone. Now a size 12, I exercise daily and I eat healthily. I have 1 more stone to lose. Apart from the change to my body, I have a happier mindset and more confidence. I would agree that most don’t care and I used to be one of them

Taswama · 17/05/2019 22:21

I agree OP but I don’t know why it is.
I do care and do my best to eat healthily and incorporate exercise into my daily life. But I’m definitely in the minority. I think it’s mostly about priorities. Cooking from scratch is the harder, slower and frequently more expensive option. If you don’t have the time, money or motivation to do it, it’s easier to get a ready meal or takeaway and watch tv instead. Ditto with exercise really. Taking dc to activities by bike certainly takes longer.

sanmiguel · 17/05/2019 22:25

I'm slim and do exercise and generally eat healthily, but crisps, chocolate, beer (!) are nice. Bread is heavenly. Cheese is delightful. There are many foods I enjoy that probably wouldn't be great for me to eat daily (so I don't) but some struggle with control. Surely that's not too difficult to understand? My husband says he could eat all day long, grazing and munching and would never tire of it. Rarely feels full. Always thinking about his next meal. He however has much more control over spending than me, isn't as lazy as me when it comes to doing the gardening etc. So we all have our strengths and weaknesses. I even know someone who forgets to eat and needs reminding that a meal time has passed. Now that is hard for me to understand!!!

Ilove31415926535 · 17/05/2019 22:29

It's harder work to eat healthily, and exercise than it is to heat something up/go to the chip shop.
We all work ridiculous hours, and junk food is easier, especially if you don't have the money to purchase the healthy choices/don't know what to do with it/are knackered from working 2 (or more) jobs just to get by.
I'm privileged in that I can afford (both time and money) to eat healthily and exercise, but I'm well aware many people can't.
I'm also educating my children how to budget, how to cook from scratch, the importance of active lifestyles, but I can well imagine some children aren't given this information, and do the best they can.

Loullzz · 17/05/2019 22:29

I know exactly what to eat and how to train, I'm too depressed and lazy to care at the moment! I've put two stone on in a year but until this awful chapter of my life is over I couldn't care less about what I eat and drink. To be fair I'm only mid twenties so I feel like I've got a few years to sort it out. Being happy in my brain and daily is trumping my need to focus on my looks, that can be for a later date

sadbones · 17/05/2019 22:31

*type 2 diabetes

CSIblonde · 17/05/2019 22:31

How can you say with any authority 'people are ignoring the message'? That's just an opinion not backed up by anything concrete. I can't remember but I think it was a recent news item that said new survey showed we are drinking 24% less & "it's down to and lead by millenials interest in health & fitness". Smoking by those under 25 was also down due to new restrictions on displaying in shops.

Ilove31415926535 · 17/05/2019 22:31

And, as PP, I never miss a meal! Grin I know there are some people who don't seem to feel hungry and forget to eat. It would be an exercise in hanger for me to miss a meal!

Fairylea · 17/05/2019 22:32

I think people have complicated lives. I have a lot of chronic health conditions that aren’t related to what I eat, so I have a lot of days where I think what the fuck does it matter and eat tons of junk. Comfort eating I guess. Then I have days where I panic about it and try and eat healthier and exercise. I think most people are something like that really. It’s very hard to be “good” all the time.

I think seeing someone die from cancer (my mum passed away from bowel cancer in March) can either make people go super health conscious or the other way where they think we’re all going to die anyway so might as well enjoy it while we’re here...!

bridgetreilly · 17/05/2019 22:32

we need to have treats and enjoy food because that’s what life is all about.

It really isn't, by the way.

BloggersNet · 17/05/2019 22:34

I think most people have so many other, more pressing concerns than eating healthy and exercising.

Fairylea · 17/05/2019 22:37

For many, many people having treats and enjoying meals IS what life is all about. Others might not agree or might enjoy different things but that doesn’t make someone else’s experiences or likes less valid.