MS Bill will make it Illegal to feed the Obese

http://blogs.usatoday.com/ondeadline/2008/02/bill-would-make.html

 

Obesity is a problem particularly with kids that has alarmed parents and government sufficiently to take a stance.

For example, last year the Minister for Education and Training announced a ban on the sale of sugar sweetened drinks in our State's government schools as of first Term, 2007. The Catholic Education Commission and the Association of Independent Schools strongly support this ban and will encourage it in their sectors.

Some Sydney schools with parents and govt support are also now tackling obesity by weaning kids off junk food, by enforcing a canteen junk ban.

As for alcoholics, if they are drunk, then in our State, there's a doubling of penalties for venues and staff which are repeatedly caught supplying alcohol to intoxicated people.

 

i think it's not just the food the young eat now but aligned with the fact that they spend hours (just like us) in front of a computer they get very little exercise and become dormant so are not burning the calories.

i know when i was a school in the 50s every school had a sports field but those have all been sold off for development and compulsory sport activities is no longer in the curriculum, it's no wonder our kids are putting on weight.

 

i totally agree with you it's not safe any more for the kids but the government is now reacting to a problem of it's own making.

before the great sell off the sports fields were a controlled environment where activities could be organized, i know many will say the teachers are no longer prepared to do extra curricular work with the kids and thats a real shame, we are now at a stage where land is at a premium and it difficult to find places where the young can play in safety.

the main point is that kids eat huge amounts of junk now as a response to both parents having to work and time is the problem for working mums to start cooking a healthy meal after an 8 hour working day

 

The proposed law does have some comedic aspects... 'No burger for you tuby!'

But if you think about it, how would the law be enforced? Is the person truely obese, or just a little out of shape? Do we install scales at the counter? And what about the drive through?

Personally, I am for much less government. It seems too often that we see a problem, and expect the government to fix it. Now these are the same people who can't seem to balance their own budget.

I can see it now... everyone gets a government issued Guardian Angel... wait, can't do that, implies there is a higher being... Government Issued Decision Counselor... I like that one.

Me: 'Sweet, a quad core CPU, man I am upgrading!'

GIDC: 'But do you really NEED a quad core? Can't you do most of the stuff you want on a Socket A or MAYBE a dual core?'

Me: 'Well, I guess I can.'

GIDC: 'And the money you were going to spend on the new CPU will do more to help the Kommon good in the Kollektive won't it?

Me: 'Kollektive, oh Cr@p!'

GIDC: 'That word could be found to be offensive to the constipated. You will begin Sensitivity Klasses in the morning!'



E

 

roflmao

I think there should be law to prevent "feeders" the people who feed people up so big they can't leave the house,if they can manage to get to a fast food joint without a forklift truck let them eat,I don't see why the US government cares,I wouldn't be surprised if people who want the bill passed have ties to the insurance business where obese people cost them a fortune.

 

Shut down the drive through, and make the doors narrow...

E

 

Besides TV, game consoles and majorgeeks to keep one inactive, we are also inundated with food ads, I believe just behind beer and pharmaceutical ads, at least in the states. Another huge factor(no pun intended) is the portion size, esp. in the States when I took a road trip down there. I needed a doggie bag at every place I went to!:eek and I'm abig guy at 6' and 200+lbs.The breakfasts down there lasted past lunch time!

As to government putting rules in place, that's just asinine. Remember when New Jersey mandated that eggs be well done, sunnyside up was made illegal because of fear of salmonella! It wasn't the eggs fault, just the processing plants cutting corners! The Canadian gov tried to ban unpasteurized cheeses and the French here went ballistic! Went up in arms over that one. Needless to say, it never passed.

As Julia Child has said over and over again, moderation is the key! I'm an older person and still remember the 6oz. coke, why the heck are people shoving down 12oz+ these days and on a regular basis/day?! Government can't solve this as they get tax revenue, kind of like a wolf in the chicken coop. Conflict of interest there.

I could go on ranting but I won't as I'll hear people falling off their chairs from this uncharacteristically long post by me. Parents have to get involved.

I make most of my food from scratch but I have the time. I feel sorry for the folk who can't.

BTW, I agree with New York banning trans fats as that crap is just evil, still comes down to moderation.

 

Great points augiedoggie! Moderation is the key.

And making food from scratch is the best way to go...the less "human intervention of processed foods" (eg like frozen meals from stores; fast foods), the better.

Here, we try to follow "the rule of thumb", by using parts of 5 vegetables and 3 fruit per day in our diet - works wonders and so easy to apply!

One thing I must disagree with is the timing for cooking/preparation of food. For example, a quick stir fry of foods (ie throwing vegies into a lightly oiled pan which can include sliced meat or chicken or fish) takes 5 minutes to cook! (All 'round prep/cook time is 15 mins for washing/chopping/cooking vegies). There are lots of different types of quick recipes about that can up to 15 minuted prep/cook time...so I can't count timing as a problem for today's busy schedules.

 

If you don't eat, the body goes into starvation mode and stores fats, no matter what size you are. Telling a fat person not to eat is rediculous and just another way to make the problem worse. Doctors will tell you to have them eat MORE, and all day long...just better foods. More fish fats and monounsaturates,veggies,fruits, and less crap food. Crap food is so much less expensive than real food though, and here we have the REAL issue.

 

Absolutely correct and very healthy and tasty too! BTW Legalsuit, you must have a good sharp blade and the skills to use a knife properly which you obviously do.

Spot on immaculatevice, I couldn't have said it better. I saw a show recently on CNN where in this one poor neighbourhood, one couldn't find a fresh veggie in sight! but there were so many fast food outlets, you couldn't throw a rock without hitting one of their windows. It's really quite a sad situation.

 

Banning the obese from restaurants? Absurd. Simply absurd.

 

Thought the heading might be "Microsoft--Bill...". Is there anything he won't attempt. LOL Bazza

 

Let me just say, if this is what the government wants to spend money on and continue to tell the federal reserve to print money for it, then I'm moving to Canada. Socialized health care is a small price to pay for moving away from the carelessness of the American government to create a budget that is balanced and to quit using "magic" to get money to pay for all of these programs and things they want to do.