Obesity Discussion

[Meringue]

Hi All,

I'm currently studying a Master in Public Health in Australia, and I have a workshop to present on the obesity epidemic in Australia. We are all aware of the growing problem our countries face. Here is my dilemma...

With all the campaigns our Governments implement and put out there for the population to become educated on health, obesity, healthy lifestyle etc...

Why isn't the message getting through???

To those of you who have or are working in the health and fitness industry, and to those who have battled with obesity, I am interested in your thoughts and ideas. Please shed some light! This is potentially a Doctorate topic of interest for me as well, as I have a desire to work in the industry and help those who are struggling with overweight and obesity.

Why are the campaigns not working? Why is the obesity rate still climbing?

[Frankie]

A campaign is not the same as taking someone and educating them. A lot of people simply don't understand that their horrible diets are so bad for them...they're under the assumption that they are cursed with a "slow metabolism" or "bad genes" or a hundred other reasons. But personally I think it boils down to just not being educated about it.
Show me a school without a nutrition program and I'll show you a school full of little porkers and future fat adults.
Now show me a school where nutrition is taught to children, and I'll show you kids who make better choices.

[TiffanyGT]

In my opinion it's because the people developing the campaigns don't know how to reach or relate to their target markets. Not to say campaigns aren't in the right media or realms, but they really should engage more players in the initiative instead of marketing around them. We all know childhood obesity is on the rise. We know young people are spending more time in front of computers or PlayStations. I'd like to see overweight World of Warcraft or Sims characters who run slower and die sooner, for example.

There are campaigns left and right for this and that and we become immune to the point we don't even notice them. They should be integrated into our daily experiences instead of floating around them.

[TStiner11]

i agree with frankie, people aren't being educated. to simply see a campaign advertisment isn't the same as actually being involved. it's easy to contribue to a cause, such as donating money, without lifting more than a hand to write a check. i think biases might come into play also. with the health care reform bill just passing, i'm sure there are people that will completely ignore any advice the government provides just because who is backing the endorsement. lastly, even as enticing/exciting as a campaign might apprear to be, if the end result seems nearly impossible (i.e. weight loss) it will most likely become a lost hope.

[TiffanyGT]

Education is obviously important but I don't think it's as effective. I was in a school system from elementary and through college that always included required health and physical education. Alas, there was no visible impact on the lifestyles or mentality. It's in one ear, out the other just like my Spanish classes. Sure, I may know it or have heard it, but I might not ever put it into practice. What is the incentive? Having piece of mind on your health isn't enough.

It makes me think of the athletic programs at my high school. We had more resources and more opportunities than inner city schools in Miami yet we got killed in just about every sport other than cross country. Why? Because the incentive for the kids from low income families was that sports was their way to get to college through athletic scholarships (it correlates that there are far less cross country scholarships given).

Weight loss should be an indirect goal to something larger or more important to people. As in Biggest Loser, many women lose weight because they want to be able to have a family; like sports as a means to college. But if you don't have a need/desire met via a healthy lifestyle, it's easy to let yourself down in the health area and succeed in other areas, like a career. Campaigns don't highlight these links to other personal motivations.

Government is too political and stretched thin with little money to properly drive campaigns, especially through education. They have less control on organizational business decisions (in fact or more influenced by lobbyists). And with less public outcry against sodas and cupcakes than cigarettes, it's unlikely they'll put their best foot forward for this battle.

From a business perspective, if my goal is to get my products into the hands of as many consumers as a means to drive profit, I would be motivated to promote my best tasting, sugar filled goodies. We can't expect everyone will want to be socially responsible and do the right thing. But by getting the relevant players in the promotion scheme involved, you can better influence the behavior of such organizations.

If Nickelodeon chose to charge companies that want to advertise sugared drinks based on the sugar content (lower than average costs less, higher costs more, etc), then even the socially irresponsible company would consider promoting less sugared products because it's cheaper or not promoting junk food because it's pricey. Almost like a fat tax but without the need for government intervention.

Having been an overweight child to an athlete to ignoring my health for 4 years and now just coming back to a healthy living, this is how I feel. But to be honest I can't really recall any campaigns for health other than some classes. Guess that's also a problem. =P

[Shoshana Pritzker]

The problem is that unfortunately Obesity is a disease that has no cure and it's highly unlikely it will ever be cured.

[lauras]

Hi girls,
As someone who has been fighting the battle of the bulge since childhood, I definitely have opinions on this subject.
First, let me say that you can have all the campaigns you want, and people just will not listen. Most people are caught up in the whatever country dream of having whatever you want w/ no consequences.
The owners of the food companies care about 1 thing: making money. Advertizers are paid huge sums to promote junk foods.
Once again, the mindset of most people is that they should be able to live any way they please, and suffer no consequences. They believe somehow they are owed this.
The very real fact of life is, we live in a hard unfair world. No matter what we are told, we don't get everything we want.
we are not owed anything.
We were made to survive in harsh situations. Our bodies don't know if they are going to outrun a lion on the Serringetti, or sit in front of a computer. When we don't get proper nutririon, we crave fats, and sweets. They are quick energy.
Unfortunately, most people don't care about that, they just want to have what they want, and then believe that some fad diet is going to magically take off the pounds. Why do you think people spend billions on diet pills, and wear tose dangerous sweating suits? I've seen a lot of them recently, and they scare me.
In my personal case, I wasn't even unhappy w/ myself, I had just dropped a few LBS w/out trying, and wanted to see what would happen if I put some effort into it. 87 LBS later, I LOVE shopping in the misses dept. I hope I can keep it off. I can no longer get pregnant. Up until then, I had been at the same weight for 16 years. I have always been active. I even took Martial arts for 4 years, w/ no change in body mass.
I don't know what the answer is, but campaigns probably won't hurt. Will they help? Who knows?

[Jess]

Ignoring the problem of being overweight was what kept me from trying to change, I was complacent and didn't care that I was unhealthy. understanding that food can b an addiction took a lot, how embarassing was it to admit that i couldnt put the bag of chips down? *Booze and drugs are an addiction, even things such as anorexia/bulemia are permisible in society. It seems that being fat is looked at as being a joke, and obesity a choice.*
As children we r taught neg eating habits, portion control is non existent, and instant gratification in fast food.
At 24 I reached 337lbs and was 5'7. I can't really pinpoint what made me decide to change, it was multiple things. I attended a seminar for bariatric surgery and was scared, realized I needed to tak control of my life or I'd always b fighting a losing battle.*
once I did decide to diet and excerxise the support from friends/family/ and the Ymca was amazing. Thus far I hav lost 74lbs and plan on losing another 60lbs by dec. It seems now that I am trying to b healthy and not ignoring my weight I hav run into more body image issues that I hav to work thru.*
Let me know if I can answer any specific questions regaurding being obese or weight loss.

[lauras]

Jess, You pinpointed the problem. People know that a sedentary lifestyle, and eating junk foods is bad for them. They just don't care.
A few will be reached, but as life tends to work, most will ignore the problem until they are losing limbs to Diabetes, and even die. For some reason human beings are that way.
When you were faced with the choice of changing your lifestyle, or having major surgery, you chose the former. You were smart. Many more will face the same choice, and choose differently.
I, too have been obese for much of my life. While it isn't a disease, there is also no blanket answer.

[davinarn]

One thing I don't see mentioned is the cost of food. At least here in the US, the cheaper food is the unhealthy stuff and if your on a fixed income you go with cheap

[lauras]

That is a factor. Trying to feed kids on a tight budget definitely comes into play. A lot of it is convenience foods. Instead of cooking oatmeal, they have instant, or cocoa puffs.
tv dinners, for harried moms.
In this area, it's a combo of that, poor training, and money. You should hear about the 900 LB woman that my paramedic customers have to deal with. Becaus of her obeisity, she gets all her medical bills paid. That's a whole other discussion.

[slfowler1]

I think another big problem is from a psychological perspective. People tend to fear change. There is actually a stage of change model that we use in the hospital I work at. In the model it talks about how people have to relapse though several times before they make the change permanent, and if they can do that they learn valuable things each time that help them in the future. The problem is when people relapse they feel negative about themselves and not be inclined to want to try to change again. To get someone to even try to change though they have to own it. They have to be the ones to want it and to feel like they can do it. Another big issue with food from a psychological standpoint is that people use it for feeling taken care of and fulfilled. if someone is depressed or a child doesn't have parents that give them enough attention, they turn to food to feel filled and loved. It doesn't work, but it does provide some relief. Educating people about how food is used is another huge part of it I think.

[kimanddianna]

Not sure this was mentioned already but the obesity epidemic is in most part directly related to food addictions in most people. Thanks to the governments not properly regulating ingredients and sugar content it's a free for all. Britian has banned harmful dyes from all foods and that's not even being considered in Canada but they've done studies agreeing on the harmful effects of artificial ingredients specifically colours on children. There is too much power with the big sugar industry so were left to completely rely on our own Choices. I'm sure this is more challenging for children and teens since it's hard to picture your own mortality at that age. I'm sure the campaigns are working and the educating is successful in schools for many people. Just think, it wasn't that long ago that people didn't know smoking was harmful and everyone smoked, we've come a long way since then so were on the upswing!!!

[lauras]

Here in the US, no matter what the politicians say, it's a money game. They will look the other way for their supporters.
Another thing that comes into play, is the civil rights thing. Many of the bans step on so many civil rights legislations.
My husband is a truck driver. In '09, an amandment was added to the national safety regulations for drivers. It was to revoke the cdl, for overweight truck drivers. The big thing was that it gave no guidelines. I mean 10, 20, or, 100 LBS? DH is 80 LBS overweight, but he is perfectly able to do whatever he needs to. It would have been used without real oversight, and to remove drivers who were unwanted, for whatever reason. It has since been removed from the books. Too many civil right violations. That's a whole other thread.
Back to square 1. Our bodies, when not getting enough nutients, crave fats, and sweets, quick energy. Food makers know this, and use it to keep people adicted to their foods.
Unless americans, dedcide to not eat those foods, this will continue to be a problem. All these people know this food is bad for them, they just don't care. They come into my store, and buy it, and laugh, knowing it is adding to their health problems. I can't say don't eat this. They have the right to eat whatever they please. No law is going to change human nature.
Of course, we can go all day on this carosel, and get nowhere. What to do? Who knows?

[CCBloom]

There's only 1 reason i'm happy I don't live in the (South of) US!! The food!!! everything is like really really yummy and there's these small roadside BBQ places that sell BBQ porc...and a lot of food is deep friend but yummy deep fried, nothing like macdonalds but the real deal. Food is available at every streetcorner and compared to here it's DEAD CHEAP!!! here going out to eat or ordering in is kinda like a 'big thing' like going out...not sthing you do every day! A home cooked meal on the other hand is a smaller 'thing' than in the US (as far as my experiences go) and ppl take time to eat and when you have kids you eat with the whole family at the table...eating on the go isn't very good for you either..... how would you eat egg plant baked in tomatoes and olive oil on the go?

[missmar]

I agree a lot with this statement. I have relapsed probably 100s of times on a program or a goal and i have to take what i have learned and reapply it. Another factor i agree with is we self loathe ourselves for giving up and feel it is too hard so we give up and comfort ourselves with food until again we get the urge to try again.
Also food was everywhere growing up. When I went out with my dad we ate, we ate at the movies in the park while shopping while driving while sitting around while studying you name it food was there so it was integratted as a means of comort distraction and to alleviate boredeom. Now as an adult i have been teaching myself new ways to go through life food doesnt always have to be there. it is sooo hard. but by sheer will and determination even i am making progress.

[lauras]

You are right about the south CC. I hate to admit it, but down here grease is God. I've gotten to where I don't even like fried foods anymore. When I eat it, it's good for a moment, then it starts making me sick.
In reality, I don't see the problem getting smaller. If you watch the Biggest Loser, every season, the contestants are heavier than the season before. Where will it stop?

[lauras]

BTW missmar, you're not alone. Just don't beat yourself up. If you binge a bit, just get back on track immediately.
We all have issues w/ food to conquer. I was fussing at DH. He's slacking off from exercise, and eating right. He knows how much better he feels when he keeps up, but frequently looks for excuses not to keep on the right track. He just doesn't want to do the work, and would rather be sick.