Weight Loss Programs March 2011

[Paul Murphy]

               

 

             Many heavily funded programs continue to garner a great deal of media attention. The obesity discussion is raging in all forms of the media, and the focus is often on physical activity and weight loss programs. Can the media really begin to address the current food environment, while accepting dollars from the giant food industry and the weight loss industry at the same time? This extreme focus on obesity and weight loss could be adding to unhealthy food relationships and eating disorders for our children. The question needs to be about the message of eating right, and the myth about a perceived inactivity crisis. Why would the food industry want to shape the obesity crisis and isolate the individual into believing that food marketing and poverty have nothing to with obesity? Adding physical activity and dieting is a good first step to weight loss, and healthy living. However, living on a scale, and obsessing about weight loss is an eating disorder waiting to happen.

 

                More and more of us are becoming aware of dieting and weight loss .Health conscious individuals are trying to improve their health, and it could be a great new beginning for many. There are countless programs trying to address obesity, and they have good science backing these initiatives .We need to become more health aware and take responsibility for our healthy active lives. Chronic illnesses such as diabetes, heart disease, and cancer are very high amongst the obese across the globe. No one would argue that our obesity crisis requires a strong intervention. Accountability for unhealthy living, and overeating is reality we all must face.

 

                      Increasing the amount of physical activity, and eating right will create some weight loss for many. This effort will allow many to regain a healthy, more active lifestyle. It could not be simpler for many ,and it does make perfect sense.If you burn more calories than you take in weight loss will occur.The argument is well- founded and well researched.And for many in the media it is quite profitable.So why do we have this impending health crisis? Surely people understand what healthy food choices are and what they look like.

www.obesitythunderbay.ning.com is calling for a national debate on the childhood obesity crisis.With all of the obesity tackling programs heavily funded and in some case created by the food giants, I think we are missing the point.We have been talking about physical activity for many years, and yet we are watching our children get fatter and fatter.Many children are under attack due to obesity bullying, and countless are developing unhealthy food relationships. Eating disorders are on the rise, and they are specialized mental health issues.Some children will die as a result of eating disorders.I am calling on you, the reader to add your voice to the www.obesitythunderbay.ning.com project.Obese children are not the enemy, they are the victims of our current food environment.We can learn much from the tobacco movement, and the first step is to openly discuss childhood obesity.Please do not allow our children to suffer in silence.How bout a little Shared Accountability from our food industry?

 

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[Paul Murphy]

When are we going to discuss our food environments?