The obesity debate

I would say that it is partly down to working lifestyles. If you have to leave the house before 6:30am and you don't get home until 9:30pm you probably don't exercise during the week and you don't do a packed lunch or breakfast as you are just too tired. You go to work and pick up something on the way; probably from a newsagent because supermarkets just aren't on most people's way to work.

For lunch you have to find somewhere close to work to eat/get food - again healthy options aren't as easy to find as a 'takeaway lunch' unless you want to pay for a whole dining experience. While you are at work, you spend most of the day sitting down, and because you are tired from stress and not having any real relaxation during the week, you need something to keep you going. Again unhealthy snacks are more convenient (if anyone sees you eating an apple they will assume that it is because you are dieting, possibly leading to comments/weight-based judgements).

I would also say that it is partly down to the social pressure to be very thin. This pressure is based on conforming to the perceived ideal, and it is definitely a pressure to be thin, not fit or healthy. This pressure can be very strong, and can give people the impetus to lose weight - or it can lead to a 'why bother' mentality as the goals that we are supposed to strive for are unnaturally thin and for some people they are definitely unobtainable. I also think that the speed with which people judge is amazing, and there is tremendous pressure for people who are even slightly overweight not to eat in front of other people, which really messes up your relationship with food.
permanentlyconfused

I think that there are a number of factors as to why obesity is increasing as a whole. I know that there are medical reasons but it is getting more mainstream. There is just no real emphasis on a proper balanced diet and the true benefits of exercise. Everyone is after a quick-fix solution and sadly there is no such thing. I think that there is also the time factor: busy working lives cut down on leisure time. But, really, I feel a lot of us don't make time to cook proper meals - I guess it's just a case of what you see as important. bluehorizon

I think it doesn't help that unhealthy/convenience food is so cheap and available. Having seen the various government surveys about the NHS fighting to deal with the results of obesity/effects of smoking I actually think that many people would have second thoughts if a packet of ciggies was 20 quid and a bar of choccie a fiver?

That brings me to another point. The previous leg of this discussion was really aimed at the overeating/under-exercising sorts of people and the negative feedback was quite shocking. I wonder how many of those with extreme opinions smoke. It's almost not stigmatised because it shows little effect in physical appearance. They may harp on about how they pity large people but what about those polluting our airspace while their arteries are blocking up too...but hey, if you still look good it must be ok.
scarlet72

We seem to be getting fatter as we are doing less in the way of exercise/activity. Children don't 'play out' as much as before as it is not safe. Sports groups and clubs are not well attended or have problems with funding. Swimming pools are cheap and good fun, but not always accessible due to distance or facilities (very few in our area are disabled friendly). Convenience foods are over-used as more of us work and we don't feel we have time to cook. These foods are high in calories but don't always fill you up so you eat more.

School dinners are a starting point - not exactly healthy at our local senior school. The children have even requested heathier options. Pizza and salad, jacket potatoes, beans or cheese, pasta - proof that school dinners can be both fun and tasty. However it is all burgers and chips. My children have switched to packed lunches as they were so fed up.
xxmoxx

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