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

[Notcontent]

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.

I'm still in shock that someone has stated smoking in pregnancy is as bad for the baby as obesity.

it really really isn't.

@GnomeDePlume, adipose tissue is an endocrine organ, meaning that it can effect levels of hormones. When we talk about females, unoppossed oestrogen levels are a significant risk factor for some types of cancers.

However, I was mostly referring to DM2 ( diabetes type 2), it is largely related to lifestyle. Overweight >DM2>morbidity = atherosclerosis, peripheral artery disease requiring (often) repeated expensive endovascular procedures and amputations. Then there is diabetic nephropathy, which can eventually lead to dialysis. Problems with eyes, diabetic retinopathy. Just to name a few! So yes, the weight of the nation is important!

Of course, quid pro quo, it might mean people will live longer and cost the NHS more in terms of social care and morbidity related to old age. But I think it's worth it to see my family members living longer.

I also strongly advocate bariatric surgery, it's not a quick fix. People really have to change their life after it, and some just need a more help than others. Being morbididly obese is a disease, we don't actually know why some people struggle to control their weight. It may be calories in =calories out, but why does one person feel drawn to eat more than another. It's so complex. Very important not to blame, just support.

It's simple...junk food is delicious and if i could eat it all day every day without repurcussions i would. However i would be an elephant so i moderate my consumption.

OP here - I have just come back to this thread.

Look - I fully realise that for some people the causes of obesity are very complex. But actually, that’s not what my thread was meant to be about. It was more about the food choices we make and people’s attitudes to it.

And I guess in that way this thread has been quite revealing - for some reason, in the U.K. there seems to be this attitude by many that healthy eating is a bit of a middle class wank... and I think there is also some misunderstanding too.

For what it’s worth, I am a working lone parent and I certainly don’t have time to spend hours in the kitchen. But I just try to buy basic food that doesn’t have too much shit added to it. That might mean having really plain pasta or an omelette and some veg for dinner, if I have no time.

What is the answer? I don’t know. I think one radical solution would be for processed food to have warning labels on them in the same way as cigarettes - e.g. this smoothie has 8 teaspoons of sugar in it. But that’s not going to happen, is it...

Op I agree
These threads always go the same way as some People are emotional eaters and massively struggle with it . They take these comments very personally . And find them hurtful which is understandable .

Bottom line is staying slim in this day and age is a battle . For everyone that finds it easy there will be 3 more that work hard at it . I lost weight and a have gained back a stone but by living life normally . Healthy most days , but a meal out here , a drink there , and slice of cake here - BOOM

Unhealthy food choices and large portions are easily available and we love a drink here too

Notcontent, I agree. I just really believe that the government should be helping more. We tend to blame people for being overweight and it's just not fair. The mental load of being overweight is really immeasurable. It's nonsensical that people would willingly choose to be that way. I really don't think it's a question of willpower alone.

I think a lot of people care. It's just they done always eat healthy food or exercise Many people enjoy the feeling of 'treats' more strongly than their willpower for healthy. (frequency of treats can be daily, which in reality means it's not actually a treat!!)

To never indulge and 'have' to exercise so prioritise it over everything then people are more in the obsessed that 'care about' category. This type of personality would be outside of most people.

There are certainly people who don't care at all, wouldn't say it most people though.

Vegetables are very cheap

Everyone has struggles in their lives - it doesn't make everyone fat though, that's just an excuse. The nation is fatter as a whole, it's not caused by poverty, or the economy or by lack of education or struggling with life in general- these issues have always existed and we weren't fat in the past. What is acceptable has changed, diets and lifestyles have changed. We can't watch TV now without eating a big bag of sharing crisps, there are pizza restaurants, burgers, milkshakes, doughnut outlets, etc. People believe they deserve treats and feel they are deprived if they can't have chocolate and cake. Food is cheap and available- if you wanted cake in the 1950s you had to make it- now you pop out and buy one for a pound. Medical conditions aside, overeating is the only thing that makes you fat.It takes willpower to resist all this. Dieting does work if you stick to it as a life-style option and don't go back to your usual habits afterwards. If people really wanted to change their lifestyle and their weight then they would- it's simply about willpower and educating yourself. I'm slightly overweight, and that's because I can't resist the biscuits in the staffroom, I like a glass too many and I enjoy eating out. I am thoroughly aware of what I eat, and I thoroughly believe if I really wanted to lose weight I could- but you have to really want to!

I did MFP calorie counting for just a week a couple of years ago and it was a revelation. Probably stupid but i had just never considered calorie intake before. I still love pizza & cake, but now eat less junk and more veg, lost 10 kg and feel loads healthier. Which is great

Just common sense, Fresta. Unfortunately lots of people don’t like hearing it.

The issue is not lack of care. Not even one of time or money.

The issue is a complete failure of people to take a long-term view.

This happens in many areas of life, but with nutrition in particular.

At the risk of completely outing myself, 3 weeks ago I bought 4 packets of seeds and nuts and 5 packets of dried fruit (all on multibuy offers, but still). My shop came to about £15 - quite a massive outlay. However, in mixing my nuts and seeds, and adding a small(ish) amount of dried fruit, I have sorted about 20 breakfasts and 20 lunches out. No need for a fridge, no need to store masses, no need to heat up.

Each morning I make up a large handful of fruit/nut/seed mix (takes me all of 2 minutes, max) and take the tub into work - I have part of it for breakfast, part for lunch. The amount of fat, sugar and fibre means that I don't need to eat much (and I am one of those people who can pack away vast amounts of food), the size means that my eating is slowed down and I have just done my body a massive favour in getting a shedload of nutrients in.

How many people can say that they can buy 40 meals on only £15, can make a sandwich/ run to the shop and back quicker than that? The difference is the initial outlay, but if you plan your shopping more long-term (ie. monthly rather than weekly or even daily) it is completely do-able.

Exercise is a different matter, but again, so many people complain about having no time, but then spend so much time on social media. I bought an exercise bike and use my phone to access mumsnet while I tread along for 10-30min each day - I don't even need childcare as the kids can just play in their rooms or are asleep when I do this. My husband listens to audiobooks or podcasts on his run.

It's excuses (I will get flagged massively, but there are not that many people in all the exceptional circumstances that will be thrown back at me - this is about the vast majority of people) and lack of forward thinking.

I think the problem OP, is as you say, it’s very simple, and yet you seem to assume the general population “don’t get it”. Why?

Go on, give me a few examples of poor people you know who eat a dominos pizza every night finished off with chips and cheese. Let’s concentrate on those unusual types to try and explain a whole population

However the vast majority of the population are just as smart as you and well aware of how to knock up an omlette.

The point of the criticism against you and other smug posters is you don’t know what you’re on about, and you don’t have the answer. It’s nothing to do with you caring more, or being smarter, or better educated or god forbid RICHER. Because you’ve got the complete wrong idea about causes of obesity in the first place.

Tessalectus Can you bollocks buy some seeds and nuts and eat nothing else for 2 meals a day 🤣 what a bloody weird post

Tessalectus Can you bollocks buy some seeds and nuts and eat nothing else for 2 meals a day 🤣 what a bloody weird post

Umm I do, so I can...?

Yeah but you might be an anorexic for all we know. It’s not normal eating to do that

Eating nuts and seeds and not much else isn’t healthy. And quite frankly I would be bored to tears eating that.

Nuts are quite calorie-dense. Not an anorexic type food at all.

I like the idea but it would be monotonous for me.

I think it's quite area dependent. When I'm out and about it seems like every other person is in gym gear, you see a steady stream of runners and cyclists. I was in the park the other day and noticed all 10 parents there were very slim. Half of them should have been fat according to statistics.

Fairy I assume she is eating a normal evening meal with vegetables as well.

I'm a bit confused because £15 isn't much money at all for lots of breakfasts and lunch and I can only assume it is outing because you are telling everyone about it. I would find having just fruit and nut for 2 meals a day for 20 days really boring and much prefer a varied diet.

Oh I have an anorexic friend who eats nuts and seeds all the time. It’s disordered eating. She’s been suffering to various degrees for 20 years.

I stand corrected. I have an extended family member who succumbed to anorexia nervosa. I think she only ate tomatoes and cucumbers voluntarily, and I was under the impression that all sufferers went for low cal options. Sorry.

It's simple...junk food is delicious and if i could eat it all day every day without repurcussions i would. However i would be an elephant so i moderate my consumption.

No, junk food is not uniformly delicious. In cultures which have not yet embraced over processed food as normal, junk food from here would not be considered delicious. Junk food is basic and one dimensional in flavour profile, and people who did not grow up with it don't find it appealing.

If people had the self control to eat the same thing day in, day out with no snacks in between they probably don't have the same food issues that overweight people have. Also, dried fruit has a shit ton of sugar in it. I could say I could do the same thing with a 10kg bag of rice and lentils, and just eat dhal and rice for 2 weeks. More appetising and I could feed the rest of the family too, but that's hardly helpful or sustainable for most people!