Disgusting.........

[Jimster]

Argh! did anyone catch the article on 60 minutes about the obesity problem in the US of A??? I started watching and was MORTIFIED!!!!! I couldn't watch as big fat kids scoffed McDonalds and put themsleves WELL at risk of contracting class 2 diabetes!!!!! But this is not just one or two but almost every American kid!!!!!!!!!!

I think it is time we had fat taxes such as charging restraunts $3 for every 10grams of fat in the food thus putting the sleazebags like McDonalds (Who are encouraging obesity) and Burger King (Likewise) either out of business or have them produce healthier food.

The thing that shocked me most was the Illinois school that had a god-damn Taco Bell!!!!!!! I was shocked beyond belief watchng kids bypass Salad for that hunk of shit they call fast food and fuck up thier nutritional balance!!!!!

Thank god we don't have those sorts of problems here in Godzone (Except among the Maori/Polynesian communities) and he cut luch still rules (At least to my knowledge) But I am still seriously worried about American kids though because in 2030 America will be he land of the lard-ass (If it isn't already)

[fearless_simian]

sadly true. It is worse in some places than others. My town for instance is kinda stuck up so almost noone smokes and everyone is worried they will be too fat. So most people play sports or do something else. On the other hand our high school is getting a Duncan Donuts. But we are getting that to encourage attendance more. which actually make s a lot of sense considering many people are late because they are out getting coffee.

Death to Fatty!

[YogsVR4]

Its hardly evey kid, but its way to damn many. We need people to be better educated on nutrition and not pass more stupid behavior altering taxes - they never work anyway, other then put more money in goverments pockets. There are just to many damn unresponsible parents that let their kids eating get out of control. If they weren't brought up on fast food (mom and dad are to busy to cook), I bet a large number of them wouldn't be hooked on that greasy shit.

[RazorGTR]

I do remember seeing ads on our local TV here in New Zealand about the samething. Love live McDonalds aye!

It is a shame when kids are starting life out already fighting an up hill battle with weight as the older you get the harder it is to lose it.

[Moppie]

Funny story,

I have a friend who teachs a 1st year class, i.e. 5 year olds.
They all watched a performance from the schools cultural group the other day, the pasfic island senior school cultural group. (the school is in papatoetoe for any Kiwi's)

After the pefermance (note: the boys or men in pasfic island cultural groups all perform topless) one of my friends little 5 year olds quitly asked, "miss, why do those boys have breasts?"

[jinushaun]

Yeah, it's an epidemic. On one hand we have bulimics and anorexics, on the other we have a large population of obese people.

I wouldn't pin the blame on fast foods. Everything's bad in excess. Like Yogs says, it all comes down to irresponible parenting--as with most societal problems.

[error]

Im aware of this fat-ass prob we have in America, I live here, but Im f'ing polish, as in Im skinnay. I lost 7 lbs in 4 days during spring break, dont ask how, I had 4 means in the 4 days. I love my metabolism That and I do martial arts, so Im skinnay, Im 5'9" and weigh 129-132. Hehehe:flash:

[NeoFreek]

I almost feel bad for those fat people eating fast food. But then I think, if you live in America you are free. That means that you are free to eat any food you want. If they choose a high fat fast food meal over a low fat just as good food then thats their problem. As far as I know the fast food industry isn't shoving food down peoples throats. Its just that the media makes it seem that way.

[speediva]

The problem is most certainly becoming more and more pronounced as time goes on.

Honestly, I think that the government farked things up royally with their multi-million dollar "food pyramid." When I was in elementary school, we had the 4 food groups. Easy: fruits and veggies, grains (including beans, et al), dairy, and meat (including fish and poultry). You had differing portions you were supposed to eat out of each one, but you knew them by heart. Then the government goes and complicates things, only to find out that no one wants to bother to learn 2+ more food groups. So now kids don't care about balanced dieting because they didn't want to learn about what healthy portions are.

Another giant issue is how that Extra Value meal is about 2 meals in terms of what serving sizes ought to be, and about 4 meals in terms of fat. America in particular is eating too much at once. The portions that were ample a decade ago are now almost seen as mediocre at best in today's society. I'm rambling now, but I have done my fair share of research on this topic. Sure, I'm not going to give up my chocolate any time soon, but it's not like I'm eating junk food all the time.

[boingo82]

Achhh, I have to admit, I do eat more junque than I should. I lived with my parents up til a year ago, and my mom is nuts about vegetables and we never EVER ate out, so when I moved out I relished my eating freedom. I'm getting better though, and joined a gym and just this morning did pilates and tomorrow I'm going to Yoga. And I do come from fairly skinny genes. My dad's 6'0 and 170 lbs and my mom's 5'5 and 135 lbs...this is after 6 kids, and I'm 5'5 and 125 lbs, even with my bad habits. Part of the problem for me is that I live by myself and it's near impossible to cook for one, especially one that hates leftovers.

What's interesting about the "fat epidemic" is that it's most prevalent among the lower-classes. And this is in part why we as a society consider fat to be unattractive. Since few are really poor enough that they can't afford food, most of the poor folk can afford the least-healthy food, which is usually cheapest. (How many calories in a $.25 stick of margarine? Hundreds.) Whereas the more affluent can afford healthier food and health clubs and they have the time and self-control to go work out and manage their weight. And this is in addition to the fact that the people with more self-control and drive are more likely to attain good-paying jobs.

This is why fat was so attractive back during the renessaince. Skinny meant you were poor or working class (probably both). Fat meant someone who could afford lots of food and wasn't out doing manual labor. A fat wife was a plus because it meant the husband was providing for his family.

It's so interesting how society adjusts our values to judge people based on percieved class.

On a (sort-of) side note, who saw Shallow Hal? I quite enjoyed it.

[taranaki]

It is not an offence to be fat.It should,however be an offence to make bike shorts in anything over a size 10.