General Discussion

Harmony Blue

(3,978 posts)

120. You can advocate for broad social change via law

Sat Jul 19, 2014, 06:41 PM

Jul 2014

but I think self empowerment and knowledge do more in the long run.

Someone up thread brought up that they live in an area where there are no sidewalks and it is 90 degrees outside. Living myself in Florida that is pretty much a reality for most neighborhoods as well along with combating the humidity. But yoga and tai chi are all options for those that must be indoors. Free weights tend to be harder for those inexperienced but also an option. Most people don't realize how many calories you can burn by doing stretching routines or simply walking for 5-10 minutes.

Diet is an important aspect of it but as you have pointed out activity is the bigger part of it. European foods or even Asian foods are not known for being light when it comes to calories, fats, or carbs. But the people in Europe and Asia tend to be more active though.

American foods tend to be fattening but not that much more than South American, Mexican, Canadian, European, African, Asian, etc.

Portions and activity are not emphasized enough in the U.S. education system IMO. As others have pointed out that charts we have been taught as children about the food pyramid is so wrong.

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What can we do about the obesity epidemic? [View all] Harmony Blue Jul 2014 OP

Development that's less-focused on cars Spider Jerusalem Jul 2014 #1

Yes, I gained weight after moving from Portland to mostly car-dependent Minneapolis Lydia Leftcoast Jul 2014 #56

Yep, vegetables and fruit are prohibitively expensive, except for some 'basics'. laundry_queen Jul 2014 #112

That would be the first step, I think. nt raccoon Jul 2014 #86

How about leaving people alone to live yeoman6987 Jul 2014 #89

Does that actually mean anything? Spider Jerusalem Jul 2014 #93

this JohLast Jul 2014 #144

Bring back cooking and nutrition classes to schools. Marrah_G Jul 2014 #2

Good idea YarnAddict Jul 2014 #39

Personally, I think all students should take both shop and home ec! n/t deafskeptic Jul 2014 #77

Yup! YarnAddict Jul 2014 #79

Agreed... awoke_in_2003 Jul 2014 #135

You are spot on, Marrah_G. phylny Jul 2014 #172

Yes- and they don't even know the basics Marrah_G Jul 2014 #185

Destroy every hand held device in America packman Jul 2014 #3

Wonder if capitalism would allow for treestar Jul 2014 #21

A "hand held device" has been a huge aid in weight loss for me Silent3 Jul 2014 #146

I'd start by stopping subsidies for corn and sugar. Erich Bloodaxe BSN Jul 2014 #4

Yes - get the crap out of our food supply. Criminal that we're forced to pay for it too! polichick Jul 2014 #41

+1 lunasun Jul 2014 #136

Bingo. Start with the subsidies. Arugula Latte Jul 2014 #55

Post removed Post removed Jul 2014 #5

Shaming is just legitimized bullying. NutmegYankee Jul 2014 #6

So social ostricization of racists is bullying... AngryAmish Jul 2014 #9

Obese does not inherenly equal killing yourself, or even particularly being unhealthy. Ms. Toad Jul 2014 #71

Why is it okay to socially ostracize the overweight? You really think that'll help anything? n/t nomorenomore08 Jul 2014 #75

Racism is the equivalent to you of obesity? That's effed-up. WinkyDink Jul 2014 #96

You win for not understanding what is an analogy AngryAmish Jul 2014 #107

No you made your views very whistler162 Jul 2014 #127

It was a poor analogy. cyberswede Jul 2014 #165

Yeah not even close. laundry_queen Jul 2014 #115

So you think obese people are the whistler162 Jul 2014 #126

Have you ever heard of an analogy? AngryAmish Jul 2014 #130

A jury gets it too. alp227 Jul 2014 #160

Thanks! NutmegYankee Jul 2014 #161

uh... no, lots we an do handmade34 Jul 2014 #8

Ahh... All_Corners Jul 2014 #28

Care to give a link to your "studies"? BuelahWitch Jul 2014 #32

I'll start you off... All_Corners Jul 2014 #33

These studies refute themselves BuelahWitch Jul 2014 #40

Here's a study that showed positive results cyberswede Jul 2014 #162

'Fat shaming' actually increases risk of becoming or staying obese eShirl Jul 2014 #19

+1000 nomorenomore08 Jul 2014 #76

Can you believe people say such things?! JackRiddler Jul 2014 #152

Social pressure AngryAmish Jul 2014 #7

Try moving somewhere with no sidewalks or pedestrian infrastructure... Spider Jerusalem Jul 2014 #10

I do like that you're the only person thus far to note connections between obesity and muni-planning Chan790 Jul 2014 #45

^^This!^^ BrotherIvan Jul 2014 #50

+2 nomorenomore08 Jul 2014 #78

A good book for city planners or those trying to influence city planners former9thward Jul 2014 #109

Yep, even a small amount of walking makes a difference laundry_queen Jul 2014 #119

+1000 smirkymonkey Jul 2014 #170

I think it is more complicated than "people walk more in cities." Arugula Latte Jul 2014 #180

explain Mexico then- snooper2 Jul 2014 #203

What about Mexico? n/t Chan790 Jul 2014 #206

Or in the winter with a windchill that will freeze exposed skin in 10 minutes. nt laundry_queen Jul 2014 #116

Exactly. Fat people should feel bad about themselves. hughee99 Jul 2014 #18

Some of them... All_Corners Jul 2014 #29

I guess those who are overweight because of their meds could carry a raccoon Jul 2014 #87

Sounds like a right winger treestar Jul 2014 #20

yes.. if only this country had been fat shaming all along there would be no problem now eShirl Jul 2014 #22

Talk to the smokers... All_Corners Jul 2014 #31

You can stop smoking. You can't stop eating or you die. jeff47 Jul 2014 #37

It's a 90% solution and it's well underway... All_Corners Jul 2014 #63

No, it really isn't. jeff47 Jul 2014 #111

You don't have to eat like crap... All_Corners Jul 2014 #123

Yet you still have to eat jeff47 Jul 2014 #124

Not eating like crap includes not eating to excess... All_Corners Jul 2014 #143

So....are you always utterly oblivious? jeff47 Jul 2014 #156

More often than not, there's going to be That Guy who pretends he knows who deserves what... LanternWaste Jul 2014 #223

It is easier for me to stop eating than to stop smoking. RebelOne Jul 2014 #97

Briefly. Then you'll find you want food. Somewhere around 3x a day. (nt) jeff47 Jul 2014 #110

LOL only if you believe it was shaming that made them all stop laundry_queen Jul 2014 #121

But I see this happening, eventually.... AngryOldDem Jul 2014 #38

We might work at the same place! 2theleft Jul 2014 #60

Used to work in a hospital Freddie Jul 2014 #133

Your advice is utterly terrible. jeff47 Jul 2014 #36

Just stop it. Ms. Toad Jul 2014 #72

Because there just hasn't been ENOUGH in the last 150 years! WinkyDink Jul 2014 #94

Hey, can I try that on dipshits who post moronic bullshit? REP Jul 2014 #181

Shame does the opposite of what you want it to do Marrah_G Jul 2014 #186

Get growth hormones out of our dairy and beef cattle.... Little Star Jul 2014 #11

+1. And endocrine disruptors out of everything else. nt laundry_queen Jul 2014 #122

Totally agree n/t pleinair Jul 2014 #157

Or, even better, get dairy out of your diet. Codeine Jul 2014 #167

People have been drinking milk for thousands of years.... Little Star Jul 2014 #168

In Germany the state offers free sponsored sports teams lovuian Jul 2014 #12

Taking the commuter train from downtown Munich to the airport-- eridani Jul 2014 #132

Refute the high carb/man made-frankenfood/low fat/gov-big food companies lies and propaganda workinclasszero Jul 2014 #13

Start with an adequate nutrition curriculum in medical school. flvegan Jul 2014 #14

I like the school idea and would add integrating school cafeterias as labs for those classes. Gormy Cuss Jul 2014 #139

Stop spending the majority of our lives... 99Forever Jul 2014 #15

To start, ban WHITE sugar! TheDebbieDee Jul 2014 #16

White sugar has been around a lot longer than the obesity epidemic. Codeine Jul 2014 #67

White sugar HAS been around for a long time... TheDebbieDee Jul 2014 #74

Removing refined sugar and/or corn syrup from products where they're not needed - nomorenomore08 Jul 2014 #80

The USDA maintains price supports on sugar at 18.75� per pound above the world market price Spider Jerusalem Jul 2014 #108

Social rules treestar Jul 2014 #17

Maybe start with people minding their own business. Walk a mile in others shoes and all. nt Mnemosyne Jul 2014 #23

I am thinking the same thing lost-in-nj Jul 2014 #141

Judging people by their weight is sickening. They have no clue what those people's lives Mnemosyne Jul 2014 #166

How about anorexic kindergarten girls? WinkyDink Jul 2014 #24

Two sides of the same coin. A lot of obese people have eating disorders too - nomorenomore08 Jul 2014 #81

It is the SAME side. How do you think kids GET the idea they should be skinny? WinkyDink Jul 2014 #99

This country has a totally screwed-up relationship with food and the human body. nomorenomore08 Jul 2014 #101

The number one eating disorder in the first world is overeating. AngryAmish Jul 2014 #91

It isn't a "disorder." It may well be a vice (gluttony), but it is in itself not a disorder. WinkyDink Jul 2014 #92

Anything that reduces quality of life and years of life is clearly disordered. AngryAmish Jul 2014 #100

First thing, move towards understanding that obesity is a shared outcome HereSince1628 Jul 2014 #25

thanks for bringing in the sleep disorder issue! Scout Jul 2014 #197

Stop subsidizing crap foods tabbycat31 Jul 2014 #26

$4.00 a gallon tax on gas. lumberjack_jeff Jul 2014 #27

The V.A. thinks both my type 2 diabetes and heart disease are from Agent Orange HereSince1628 Jul 2014 #30

Exactly. Making sure poorer people can't afford hughee99 Jul 2014 #44

Then the Op should have asked a different question. lumberjack_jeff Jul 2014 #48

Perhaps we didn't read it the same way. hughee99 Jul 2014 #58

Something I've completely lost patience with... lumberjack_jeff Jul 2014 #69

I agree with you to a certain degree. hughee99 Jul 2014 #70

"If we believe in individual freedom, then obese people should be respected in that choice." nomorenomore08 Jul 2014 #83

The problem here is that people ordinarily don't decide to be overweight the day they become adults lumberjack_jeff Jul 2014 #90

Totally agree there. But positive reinforcement is the way to go about it. n/t nomorenomore08 Jul 2014 #95

I'm not so sure. lumberjack_jeff Jul 2014 #103

"Sometimes the stick is useful." True enough. n/t nomorenomore08 Jul 2014 #104

You can advocate for broad social change via law Harmony Blue Jul 2014 #120

Exactly. The calorie count in gas is outrageous. Dreamer Tatum Jul 2014 #49

Americans, of course, are the only people who go to work. lumberjack_jeff Jul 2014 #53

Way way way WAY too late on that Dreamer Tatum Jul 2014 #59

Great plan.... All_Corners Jul 2014 #64

If obesitiy is a big problem, then it needs big solutions. lumberjack_jeff Jul 2014 #65

Post removed Post removed Jul 2014 #66

Bathroom scales at the DMV? lumberjack_jeff Jul 2014 #68

It is not feasible to ride a bike everywhere tabbycat31 Jul 2014 #174

It should be feasible to ride a bike between home, work and the market. lumberjack_jeff Jul 2014 #191

You assume a short commute tabbycat31 Jul 2014 #192

90% of us *should* be able to ride a bike 20 minutes to get to the bus/train. lumberjack_jeff Jul 2014 #193

I'm not sure where you live tabbycat31 Jul 2014 #210

Widespread bike commuting would represent a change. lumberjack_jeff Jul 2014 #212

Step 1: Ignore the morons that try to use shame and other negative tactics jeff47 Jul 2014 #34

Best post of the thread! nomorenomore08 Jul 2014 #84

High blood pressure is more closely correlated with lean body mass that with fat eridani Jul 2014 #134

Off the top of my head BuelahWitch Jul 2014 #35

Having lived in West Oakland where there are literally zero grocery stores, #3 is dead on. n/t nomorenomore08 Jul 2014 #85

You are the first to mention stress marions ghost Jul 2014 #106

I think that stress eating is a big part, especially for the working class BuelahWitch Jul 2014 #149

Yep marions ghost Jul 2014 #204

I, for one would like to see more free time so people can be more active. AngryOldDem Jul 2014 #42

So would I. CBHagman Jul 2014 #163

Exactly. Could not agree more. AngryOldDem Jul 2014 #173

so very true La Lioness Priyanka Jul 2014 #215

Do not feel pressured to eat. That bit of advice doesn't apply to everyone, but Quantess Jul 2014 #43

Stop overeating? moondust Jul 2014 #46

Commercial television is a non-stop parade of ads for fattening food aint_no_life_nowhere Jul 2014 #47

Know which large restaurant has the consistently best salad? jeff47 Jul 2014 #52

I'm talking about the cumulative effect of constant food enticement aint_no_life_nowhere Jul 2014 #62

smaller supermarkets IcyPeas Jul 2014 #51

Why would the smaller supermarkets only stock healthy food? jeff47 Jul 2014 #57

How my skinny (100 lbs.) cravings work HockeyMom Jul 2014 #54

Get rid of 2naSalit Jul 2014 #61

A lot of people don't get that people can be obese AND malnourished. Arugula Latte Jul 2014 #73

And all the 2naSalit Jul 2014 #128

Chill the fuck out about it and stop calling it an epidemic. Brickbat Jul 2014 #82

It's more like "endemic" at this point Spider Jerusalem Jul 2014 #98

What's interesting is that rate has leveled off in the past 10 years -- it's not getting worse. Brickbat Jul 2014 #114

Comparison of 2003 and 2010 doesn't look "levelled off": Spider Jerusalem Jul 2014 #117

There are certainly changes in rates by state in your maps, but CDC information shows that Brickbat Jul 2014 #118

Notice that the "no data" of 1985... JackRiddler Jul 2014 #151

Here's 1994 (first year for data from all 50 states): Spider Jerusalem Jul 2014 #153

yes. and STOP using BMI as a measurement that means anything. Scout Jul 2014 #196

Move your ass (excercise) for 1 hour/day & good diet. U4ikLefty Jul 2014 #88

Us Skinnies can too HockeyMom Jul 2014 #102

That's what I'm talking about!!! U4ikLefty Jul 2014 #105

Yep, me too. llmart Jul 2014 #138

Eliminate lobbying to start with SoCalDem Jul 2014 #113

Ban HFC... Drew Richards Jul 2014 #125

Designing cities to make biking and walking less dangerous. eridani Jul 2014 #129

Use Bulldozers from Soylent Green to chase people. Katashi_itto Jul 2014 #131

Breastfeeding reduces obesity. A newborn's tummy can hold 1.5 teaspoons at birth. vanlassie Jul 2014 #137

+1 laundry_queen Jul 2014 #142

Laundry-queen, I would not be surprised if there turns out to be a link between vanlassie Jul 2014 #145

I didn't know that laundry_queen Jul 2014 #159

I think it's a definite connection with soy siouxsiecreamcheese Jul 2014 #154

I totally get it. laundry_queen Jul 2014 #158

Especially when done at Olive Garden. With a pit bull. Silent3 Jul 2014 #147

I understand. Somebody had to do it... vanlassie Jul 2014 #148

1. Walkable cities/towns (sidewalks, pedestrian zones). CBHagman Jul 2014 #140

Stop subsidizing crap food. JackRiddler Jul 2014 #150

Boycott all-you-can-eat buffets Zambero Jul 2014 #155

Instill habits early on, where possible. CBHagman Jul 2014 #164

Treat the underlying sleep disorder. I mean this. McCamy Taylor Jul 2014 #169

Get out the one important fact: We (USA) are addicted to ...salt, sugar and fat..and combos of them Stuart G Jul 2014 #171

This thread reminded me of this comic redqueen Jul 2014 #175

Seriously.... The empressof all Jul 2014 #177

But there are fat people who aren't ashamed of themselves for being fat! redqueen Jul 2014 #187

The answer is quite easy.... The empressof all Jul 2014 #189

cut out added sugar, encourage smaller portions Rosa Luxemburg Jul 2014 #176

Sports in schools for all lovemydog Jul 2014 #178

Eat less sugar and exercise more. JDPriestly Jul 2014 #179

I cut out sodas, began running a cpl miles a week Puzzledtraveller Jul 2014 #209

Wonderful! JDPriestly Jul 2014 #211

wha ever mercuryblues Jul 2014 #182

Unconditional basic income. Joe Shlabotnik Jul 2014 #183

We can look to our own weight, MineralMan Jul 2014 #184

+1 n/t Silent3 Jul 2014 #221

Don't worry, climate change is likely to solve the problem Live and Learn Jul 2014 #188

How did this post ... JEFF9K Jul 2014 #190

It is an open ended discussion and my question is open ended indeed Harmony Blue Jul 2014 #195

Dude...you need to get over that post. cyberswede Jul 2014 #201

The post about New Year's Resolutions was made inoperable. JEFF9K Jul 2014 #205

Illegal immigration plays a factor madville Jul 2014 #194

I am failing to see the epidemic. dilby Jul 2014 #198

This is not about the curvy ladies but societal trends towards unhealthy living. CBHagman Jul 2014 #207

+1 cyberswede Jul 2014 #216

The problem is the way the word "obese" is used. And the focus on weight as opposed to health redqueen Jul 2014 #217

Bingo! dilby Jul 2014 #219

400 lbs is the lower boundary of "obese"? lumberjack_jeff Jul 2014 #213

My problem is I am 6'1" 220 and on the BMI Charts I am labeled as Obese. dilby Jul 2014 #218

Not that BMI is any more than a very rough guide anyway, but 189, not 160... Silent3 Jul 2014 #220

I dunno, maybe I'm oversimplifying here... pipi_k Jul 2014 #199

Message auto-removed Name removed Jul 2014 #200

More "real" food, less processing and HFCS. Ilsa Jul 2014 #202

Soylent Green Puzzledtraveller Jul 2014 #208

living in cities that use public transportation instead of cars. cheap real food instead of cheap La Lioness Priyanka Jul 2014 #214

We can continue the progress which is under way... KurtNYC Jul 2014 #222