The obesity debate on Good Morning
[Cross-posted] We have to wade into the whole obesity debate on Good Morning. One of the quotes we have in our briefing is from the TVNZ site: ‘For example, we pay around $38 million in health insurance claims each year for elective surgery or treatment of heart disease and yet the incidence of heart disease for most New Zealanders is highly preventable.’
I imagine I could quote from an earlier post on the issue, and see if the conversation goes toward corporate social responsibility. However, I have been asked to keep the stories personal—pretty hard, considering I have not eaten at McDonald’s since Sundance 2004 (thanks to Mr Spurlock’s story in Super Size Me).
It is something I need to think about some day. My late mother was careful with my diet, though McDonald’s was permitted during my teen years. However, my high school had a PE programme, so the food went into muscle, most likely. I ate a prepared lunch on most days in my high school years, and you could not buy a lot of today’s junk food at school. We saved money this way as well. And I stayed lean.
These days, I hear of families on welfare giving their kids money to buy junk food. It’s parental thinking that needs to change for the sake of New Zealand’s young people; and for those of us who are older, we need to make time to get the exercise we need.
Thoughts are very welcome—I may check comments before I go on air in the morning.
My Groups
-
UK Voxers Updated: 33 minutes ago
-
Creative People Updated: 49 minutes ago
-
Social Justice Updated: 1 hour ago
Neighborhood
Explore friends, family, friends & family, or entire neighborhood.
Comments
What I have learned is that it doesn't matter if you're thin or overweight, bad eating sticks to you. My family has had big struggles with heart problems. The ones who have had less serious problems are the ones whose unhealthy eating made them overweight. The serious heart attacks and loss of life happened to those who were thin and appeared healthy.
My family has had heart issues occur in 2 generations at the same time. My Dad had triple by-pass surgery one year before my brother had Angioplasty.
Diet has been a huge contributing factor to each heart issue in my family. I, consequently, eat very differently now than I did a few years ago. It requires far more discipline, organization, energy and determination than eating unhealthy. It is easier to order a pizza at the end of a long work day than to go home, pull out the pots and pans and cook something healthy.
I have done my research and changed my bad eating habits. I feel better; have more energy and don't succumb to all the colds and flu's I am exposed to. Hopefully, I have also prevented a serious heart issue. My cousin died at 36 years of age and my brother had angioplasty at 42 years of age. Heart disease is not an elderly person's disease anymore.
My mother’s family has a history of cancer and possibly diabetes. My father’s family all lived long lives, often into their 90s, and that’s sometimes with smoking and drinking (my paternal grandfather eventually quit smoking when he was around 85, however). Given that I could go one of two ways, I’d rather watch myself!
Consequently, I will have fish and chips once every three months. I drink coffee on a fortnightly to monthly basis. I do admit to helping a local church group and buying a hot dog from them a little more regularly though!
I hope you end up on the side of the family with good health.
Hot dogs every once in a while won't hurt you. The heart dietician I learned from said that problems arise when treats become a staple.
I am a coffee addict. It used to be Coke with ice in a wax cup but sugar is a major heart faux pas. I just have it once a month:( Coffee is better for me than Coke.
How remarkable to quit smoking at 85!!!
Did the show go well?
Hmmmm, I feel like having fish a chips now!