wab said:
Bottom-line: we've done nothing to address the problem so far. Try something. If a tax doesn't work, repeal the tax and try something else.
I'll go back to what I said when this thread started (and before I had the meltdown): Let us have a national initiative to fight obesity and addictive disorders. Tax cigarettes even more and use that money to help finance free nicotine substitutes. I am OK with some sort of bad food tax. One easy target would be trans fats, which is unequivocally bad for you. Tax those McDonald's fries. Tax those candy bars. But earmark money into subsidies for good for you food, the fresh fruit and vegetables. This won't be enough, because you can get fat even eating foods that are good for you and that you prepare at home. So, we need to help people find ways to motivate themselves. Exercise once started can be a good motivator. With the government initiative, doctors would be encouraged to prescribe weight loss programs and exercise programs for the obese. One problem is shame--people won't much want to exercise with a bunch of gym rats. Start gyms specifically for people who are more than a certain BMI. My town has a hospital with a very fancy health club. Have hours just for people who are obese. Have hours just for women and just for men. Subsidize through tax deductions and sliding fees.
Increase the number of public health nurses or have public nutrition classes that can be prescribed by physicians. Employers can send their employees. Nothing should emphasis shame, but instead emphasize that this is a public health initiative to improve American's lives. Encourage employers to let employees take time from work to exercise. People waste about a third of their work time anyway.
There is a woman who wrote a book on improving school lunch programs and what they have done in Berkeley California to have healthier lunches that kids will eat. Follow her program.
Physical education in the schools should be changed dramatically. Again, the emphasis should not be shame but success. Spend time and ask a kid what do you want to do. Ride an exercise bike? Run the track? Get them moving and competing against themselves instead of others.
lets-retire said:
Many people don't see their weight is a problem and until they do nothing will motivate them to lose the weight, others see the problem but lack the desire to do anything about it.
I think most overweight people know their weight is a problem and desire to do something about it, but feel hopeless. If we removed some of the shame from the process and focused on holding someone's hand and walking them to the nutritionist and the gym, we might help people find motivation in themselves. A taste of success can go a long way in building new habits. Much like the AA model, we can enlist people who used to be too heavy or used to be out of shape as sponsors.
I am not in the health business, yet I can think of many ideas to promote public health. There is much positive we can do if we just do it. Crisis of motivation for us all.