How Fat Went Global

"If the government is going to pay for all of this, that affects everyone, and we need to do something about it."

So why have the government pay for all of this? Could it be that this dissociation with one's heath and their own responsibility is the major problem there? The prevailing mentality that if the government isn't regulating something it's must be ok, or that one doesn't need to take care of one's health because that's the job of some bureaucrat. "No I can't give any thought to this- I gave at election time."

A modicum of brain activity tells us that eating more and exercising lees makes you fat, but the but the mentally apathetic masses await an "expert" to impart his "wisdom", and then demand government force them to do what they should have been doing in the first place. Cuz' you know, alcohol taxes keep people from developing and/or continuing alcoholism.

"If the government is going to pay for all of this, that affects everyone, and we need to do something about it."

So why have the government pay for all of this? Could it be that this dissociation with one's heath and their own responsibility is the major problem there? The prevailing mentality that if the government isn't regulating something it's must be ok, or that one doesn't need to take care of one's health because that's the job of some bureaucrat. "No I can't give any thought to this- I gave at election time."

A modicum of brain activity tells us that eating more and exercising lees makes you fat, but the but the mentally apathetic masses await an "expert" to impart his "wisdom", and then demand government force them to do what they should have been doing in the first place. Cuz' you know, alcohol taxes keep people from developing and/or continuing alcoholism.

Let's not forget that many countries are using food additives such as MSG and artificial sweeteners, which mask feeling full and/or excite the brain to increase taste, increase appetite among other things. Not to mention that we are fed non nutritious food, which doesn't meet optimal standards for nutrients, thereby leaving our bodies wanting more.

I am 46 and am more than 50 lbs overweight but I have walked for many years and have the triglycerides, cholesterol and glucose, blood pressure of a teeenager. I drink water and diet soda, so the soda tax is great-all my skinny firends drink it!. My question is: aren't the drug addicts and crack heads a bigger drain on the US tax payer, Crime costs and and Insurance costs? Gun shot wounds in the hospital, 12-15 rehabs, long term health problems and govt support to get 'backinto society'--If we made all these drugs legal, opened Govt run stores to sell them , and taxed the heck out of them-we probably could do a few more bailouts!

I am overweight and my triglycerides, glucose , cholesterol and blood pressure are that of a teenager I am told ( I am 46 and more than 50 lbs overweight) so maybe I am a fluke I only drink water and O calorie soda so maybe that is a key! at any rate, What about the Drug addicts and crack heads crime cost and emergency room costs, rehab (10-15 times) and long term health problems associated with drug use? Isn't this a far larger drain on the US tax payer and society than fat people? Let's legalize all the drugs, control them through govenment stores and tax the hell out of them- probably could be enough for a few more bailouts in a short time frame!

While all the points bein made are valid in this article, another vital one came to mind. Genetics, not so much in the sense that you cannot control your weight, but rather those people who are more susceptible to compulsive or addicting eating or those who have naturally lower metabolism. The way this influenses these ridiculously high numbers is that it has become acceptable to be this big so more and more people that have these genes are reproducing together and perpetuating the problem. Even just 50 years ago it was far less acceptable overweight. Weight used to limit how successful and therefor appealing a person was, but now techonology has allowed humans to overcome any physical deficiencies. Wall-e wasn't too far off to suggest technology will be our physical downfall.

I would like to add something that I think many people ignore. It's not only important to eat right but to consider the things you are eating. For example, crab, shrimp, and lobster taste great, but how many people realize that they are basically underwater cockroaches. Same with pigs. They are scavengers eating dead things or trash for the most part. Here's another: Have you ever seen a 1%, 2%, or skim cow? Of course not! It's been altered by processing. Same goes for "enriched flour". Why do they strip the good stuff out of wheat and then "enrich it"? Wouldn't it be easier (and more cost effective) to just process the wheat as it is? I think people can and should eat right as well as be more active, but I also think it is time to get away from all of the processed things we eat like enriched flour, processed sugar, fake sugar (I read that splenda is made with chlorine molecules. Think swimming pool. Yummy!), high fructose corn syrup, etc. Get back to the good stuff grandmas and grandpas ate before convenience ruined them. I would like to see more health experts address this.

What about places where there is little to no choice about what to eat. If 95% of the things for sale in the only supermarket in town are packed with sugar, and theres no government intervention to say you need exercise and you should eat right, your cultural foods are all fried because its a luxury to have an oven. Dr. Zook what do have to say about that? Its one thing to say individuals should take responsibility for their own health but what if there is no education available to tell you that this way of living will bring about obesity (which is not looked on as shameful here) and early death. If one is not privileged to the information then the government needs to be the momma, because the momma doesnt know any better than the child. And the sad fact is that the Government officials are seriously too busy lining their pockets to care if the people are healthy or not. People are extremely selfish, I have little to no hope for the human race. Remember, before you blame and made wide generalizations put yourself in others shoes and find out the real situation.

What about places where there is little to no choice about what to eat. If 95% of the things for sale in the only supermarket in town are packed with sugar, and theres no government intervention to say you need exercise and you should eat right, your cultural foods are all fried because its a luxury to have an oven. Dr. Zook what do have to say about that? Its one thing to say individuals should take responsibility for their own health but what if there is no education available to tell you that this way of living will bring about obesity (which is not looked on as shameful here) and early death. If one is not privileged to the information then the government needs to be the momma, because the momma doesnt know any better than the child. And the sad fact is that the Government officials are seriously too busy lining their pockets to care if the people are healthy or not. People are extremely selfish, I have little to no hope for the human race. Remember, before you blame and made wide generalizations put yourself in others shoes and find out the real situation.

I thought the article was interesting only I found the 'Smarter than Botox' ad so distracting I gave up on the article.

In reference to the fact that everyone has to pay for the increase in health care costs due to the irresponsible life styles of some, I think people who are at much higher rise of developing costly health issues should pay more for health care. If you are more than just a little overweight and develop weight related health issues such as high blood pressure, heart disease and Type II diabetes, you should pay higher premiums/ copays. If you work at reducing your weight, then you could be moved into the lower cost category. Likewise, if you smoke, you should pay more. This would penalize the person a lot more than simply charging an extra "junk food tax". Money can be a great motivator. Besides, you can become obese from eating too much of anything - not just sugar added foods.

So people eat too much and move too little and consequently become obese. Wow! What a newsflash! Like, we haven't known that for at least 50 years. The author of the article says many good things, but his solution is for governments to tax foods that THEY decide are bad for us. Well, that's brilliant isn't it? That will work for sure. I mean governments put huge taxes on alcohol and cigarettes and no-one uses those items to excess do they? What utter stupidity!

How about if individuals take responsibility for their own health rather than expecting governments to be their Momma for them? You ate too much of the wrong things and didn't go out to play for exercise, so Momma government is going to whip your butt with more taxes. It is sad and pitiful.

There was a movie a few years ago called Muffin Man - it was a "mockumentary" of the downfall and extinction of the human speciies due to obesity. I think the website is www.MuffinManTheMovie.com - it was very hilarious, but kind of harsh.

When government allows corporations to impact lifestyles by producing goods and services that create anaerobic lifestyles, government also must get involved to protect public health.

Soft drinks, fried foods, and similar products are the modern-day equivalents of cigarettes. It's just that no one is running around yelling at them.

It's not a bad idea, except for one glaring omission. We need not protect consumption of low fat or skim milk. Casein, the most prominent protein of cow's milk is the most potent and relevant chemical carcinogen ever tested in the laboratory. This was shown in a series of dozens of experiments, published in dozens of peer-reviewed scientific papers, funded by the American taxpayer and now told in our book, The China Study (2005), now a national best seller more than 3 times over. And this is only the start of an even bigger story about diet and health. We know how to prevent obesity and even to cure heart disease, type II diabetes and other serious diseases. The reason that the public has not heard this story is because scientific information is controlled from the top because that's where the money is. I know first hand and it's ridiculous! We are unwitting slaves to a health care system that is run by masters the public hardly knows.

It's not a bad idea, except for one glaring omission. We need not protect consumption of low fat or skim milk. Casein, the most prominent protein of cow's milk is the most potent and relevant chemical carcinogen ever tested in the laboratory. This was shown in a series of dozens of experiments, published in dozens of peer-reviewed scientific papers, funded by the American taxpayer and now told in our book, The China Study (2005), now a national best seller more than 3 times over. And this is only the start of an even bigger story about diet and health. We know how to prevent obesity and even to cure heart disease, type II diabetes and other serious diseases. The reason that the public has not heard this story is because scientific information is controlled from the top because that's where the money is. I know first hand and it's ridiculous! We are unwitting slaves to a health care system that is run by masters the public hardly knows.

There's no mention of any correlation with corn syrup and the rise of obesity, but a tax on it and plain white sugar would make sense. The corn syrup tax could be offset by ending farm subsidies, which is lobbyist driven, which that idiot Newsweek reporter believes is a good thing.