Obesity to be a big problem soon.

It was frightening to read this in the newspaper yesterday, I didn’t think the problem was as bad as this report makes out, it’s bad enough in the hospitals here as it is with people waiting sometimes days on trollies. It’s happening all over Europe it seems. 2030 is only 15 years off. There is a lot more but this is the gist of it.



"Ireland is on course to become the most obese country in Europe, according to the latest figures from World Health Organisation (WHO) experts.
Europe is heading for an unprecedented explosion in rates of obesity and excess weight — with Ireland at the forefront of the trend, say researchers.
By 2030 Europe will face an obesity crisis of “enormous proportions”, said the report.
Obesity in Ireland ‘worse than HIV/AIDS in the 1980s’

In terms of obesity alone, the estimates show a big jump for women in the Irish Republic, soaring from 23 per cent to 57 per cent.
The proportion of obese Irish men was expected to increase from 26 per cent to 48 per cent, while the figure for those either overweight or obese rises from 74 per cent to 89 per cent.
In 2030, the proportion of obese and overweight men in Ireland is projected to rise to 89 per cent with a corresponding 85 per cent of women falling into this category.
The forecast puts Irish men are at the top of an “overweight” table of 53 countries."

Re: Obesity to be a big problem soon.

Obese people do seem to be outnumbering slim ones these days Jem. In my school days each class would usually have one fat kid, but now each class has several of them. In the mid eighties we took our daughter to Disney World in Florida, we were told to look out for the fat families, and was surprised to see whole families of obese people walking round the park with large buckets of Coca Cola and massive bags of crisps. Back then it was rare to see anything like that in the UK, but I remember someone saying "If you want to see what Britain will be like in twenty years time, look at America now" And I guess they were right.

I blame three things:-
1) The invention of the motor car, nobody walks anymore.
2) The availability of tasty sugar filled foods. Whole Isles in supermarkets are designated to Biscuits, Crisps, Chocolate bars and sugary drinks. And are usually discounted.
3) The lack of exercise and outdoor pursuits due to the popularity of computer games, 24 hour TV and boxed sets.

Re: Obesity to be a big problem soon.

I'm inclined to agree with a lot of that Robert. I Can't remember when I last saw kids outside playing 'Hopscotch', skipping, or whatever.
I do think streets are not as safe as they used to be though, for a variety of reasons, and lots of green places have been built on too.

I read a thing the other day that said "You know when you're addicted to technology when you're on the computer before breakfast."

Re: Obesity to be a big problem soon.

That is so true Robert, when I was young there was only the odd overweight kid now there are so many.
The governments must have seen this coming with all the junk sugary food being pushed on people, yet they did absolutely nothing about it. Something will have to be done soon, just think of all the problems it will bring, 87% overweight in 15 years time, nearly 9 out of 10 people, the skinny folks won't stand a chance.
Another thing, what good is an Army of obese soldiers? Maybe thats why they are working so hard on producing 'Drone' soldiers at present.

I was just thinking about computers Mups, the brain is not even being exercised anymore, folks won't bother to try to remember stuff, "Who starred along with Gary Grant in North by Northwest?" they just google it now, wonder what the long term effects that will have on memory?

Re: Obesity to be a big problem soon.

Well, it would be a little difficult to walk or ride a bike 20 miles to work every day, LOL

Re: Obesity to be a big problem soon.

High fructose corn syrup a cheaper way of making food sweet. Used first by American companies, they claim its the same as sugar but it isnt it causes abnormal weight gain even when the same amount of calories are consumed. Now loads of compainies use it in all sorts of foods.

read here... http://www.princeton.edu/main/news/a.../S26/91/22K07/


So avoid HFCS like the plague

The other is salt.. Its addictive because it carries flavour so well.
The key here is fresh is best because almost all processed foods conatin high levels of salt and fat making them addictive.

I cut our salt to a bare minimum after OH heart attack we both lost about 4 kilos..
I make my own bread and so I control how much salt goes in( 1tsp per loaf) if I eat shop bought bread it now tastes of salt and vineger I never noticed that before..

So its not just as easy as kicking the kids outside although that would help .. Its a case of checking what we eat and remembering that the better it tastes the worse it is for our health (generally speaking)..

Re: Obesity to be a big problem soon.

I am obese, but wasn't overweight as a child. Yes, probably because I was never off my bike or out of the local swimming baths. My sons have always been slim. I never had a problem with them wanting to over eat, but I wouldn't have let them get obese anyway. I think it begins in the home and that parents need to take responsibility.

I was surprised to hear about Ireland, Jem. I saw so many women out walking in pairs/groups when I was there. A fitness thing.

It's usually Scotland who get the blame for being fatties

Re: Obesity to be a big problem soon.

What a delightful pun, very clever.

Re: Obesity to be a big problem soon.

Well perhaps this is just our next evolution and we will end up with bigger brains or something. TBH I have been big all my life, would I like to be slim ? of course but guess what it's not that bad being a bit bigger than average. As long as I can work and live a happy life I think leave me alone unless you are also going to tackle other addictions like booze and exercise (also sees people in hospital BTW).

Re: Obesity to be a big problem soon.

Alcohol related illnesses take up a huge proportion of beds in hospitals these days. Not just people who have an addiction, but people who binge drink on a night out and fall and fracture their skull or the likes.

So, it's not just obesity. It tends to get blamed for most things.

I don't like to see children who are overweight. When I see that I tend to think "bullying" which is very sad.