U.S. sets off furor in anti-obesity fight

[baldguy]

snip

The Bush administration alleges that the WHO plan, under development for three years, relies too heavily on questionable science to recommend that people limit their intake of sugar and other refined foods, among other measures

snip

Rigby and others suggest that U.S. criticism of the plan is being driven by the sugar industry, grocers and other U.S. multinational food companies that want to forestall emerging international efforts to regulate food marketing, pricing, production and trade.

more

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=2027&e=5&u=/chitrib_ts/20040120/ts_chicagotrib/ussetsofffurorinantiobesityfight

[forgethell]

1. WHO

should butt out of trying to run people's lives. I'll eat what I please, when I please. I don't need some self-righteous beaureaucrat somewhere telling me what to eat, or worrying about my weight, or health. And trying to pick my damn pocket at the same time.

[patdem]

2. You prefer ignorant bliss to being and informed consumer?

No one is trying to grab your cola from your hand...just to educate people that when you drink that cola it is going to make you fat and obviously stupid?

[stopthegop]

4. the WHO is also pushing for special taxes on high fat food

and such...and that is a valid issue...

[forgethell]

17. Think tobacco

n/t

[DRoseDARs]

3. Forgethell, your avatar is a bit ironic...

God forbid individuals or whole organizations concern themselves with the welfare and well-being of others.



:eyes:

[el_gato]

5. if people want to be fat who cares?

I don't see how people eat all that manufactured garbage anyway.
If it has a list of ingredients a mile long I don't eat it.

[forgethell]

18. Concern themselves

that's OK. Coerce them to do what YOU think is best for THEM is fascism.

As for my avatar, I just liked it. I change them every now and then, just like my underwear.

[Tempest]

6. Eat whatever you like

Just stay the hell away from government sponsored health care options when your HMO refuses to pay for your treatment because they determine your condition is a direct result of the poor choices you've made for yourself.

[DRoseDARs]

7. Exactly, I don't much enjoy paying for other peoples' mistakes.

eom.

[forgethell]

20. Not you

the government. Look, the Repukes aren't the only ones interfereing with our freedom. OK, these guys have a soft heart, and are concerned about our welfare. Nest though, will they be worried about our sex lives? STD's are a major health threat, and I'm not just talking about AIDS. Can they control that? What about the studies that keep popping up from time to time, church-goers are healthier tahn none church-goers. Will we all have to go to church? Mormons seem to be healthier than a lot of others, perhaps it's the coffee thing. will we all have to become Mormons?

Ridiculous, you say. Maybe. But considering just how oppresive some regimes have gotten in the past, I don't consider it at all impossible. Nip it in the bue, now!

They want to volunteer to cover me, fine. they want to force me to contribute, fine. But I will eat what I GD please.

[forgethell]

19. Fine

so long as I am not forced to contribute to them, first. I do not concede my right to determine what is best for me. I pay my insurance to cover me in case I get ill, regardless of cause.

[Sugarbleus]

13. Bravo FGH!

How OLD are you folks talking about this??????????????????????

A few weeks ago, there was a thread in DU about obesity; it was STARTLINGLY hateful! For one thing, that old thread was stating that America was the fattest place on earth. That simply isn't so(obviously the WHO has it right). There have always been fat people and they are ALL OVER THE WORLD.

Wake up! We've always had coke, twinkies, pizza, and chocolate...that's not the problem. There is more obesity now because of the nature of the lives we lead today. Too much TV, movies, playstations, computer surfing, AND NO MANUFACTURING JOBS to make people have to actually DO something when they work. Those that are fortunate enough to have a job have to work TOO MUCH TOO LONG TOO HARD; that then, in turn, creates stress and anxiety and depression. When people are young, they can cope better with these stresses, but beware.....................IT CATCHES UP WITH EVERYONE later on!

Stresses in the workplace, school, families, marriages/relationships etc. cause people to yearn for "comfort". Some turn to drinking, some to drugs, others to food. IT'S AN ADDICTION thing peeps! Not all folks who are overweight fit in this catagory either. Many folk are disabled, on certain life sustaining drugs that create bloat and an exaggerated appetite. There are so many, many variables to this situation that it simply cannot be dismissed so glibly as these threads are trying to do.

In terms of having to pay "taxes" to help people???????????????????????????????????????????????????????? Are we dems or republicans here???????????? I'm SHOCKED at this language and stingyness. Who the hell are you people? In order to have a well oiled, beneficial working nation, we WILL HAVE TO PAY MORE TAXES!! If "fat people" offend someone, THEN VOTE FOR HEALTH CARE THAT ALLOWS fat folks to get the help they need, when they need it, and where they need it WITHOUT the stigma and cost! There should be clinics that are available and accessible to all people rich and poor to address the underlying problems of overeating and obesity in general. HELP us. Don't STONE US! WTF!!

I'd also advise those, who think that it's all that simple for the heavy folks to "just change", to watch what seeds they sow............you may find yourself in such a position one day without intending to. LIke I did. When I was young, I made fun of fat people; made disparaging remarks that were hilarious at the time.......now I'm fat. I have been through hell in my lifetime; I wouldn't wish my life on George Bush (well, maybe I would). I'm in pain, I'm poverty stricken, I haven't had sex in 25 years, I'm a survivor of abuse and this fucked up amerikan system. I can't even STAND UP TO COOK... I need help. Are any of you ready to come over here and help me? If my fellow americans cannot help those of us who struggle in misery, befriend those of us who die on the inside, or encourage us/me/the "fatties" then SHUT UP and mind your own business.

This type of bigotry behind heavy people and those that have medical conditions or "don't fit the mold" is UNCALLED for and IGNORANT. Want me to eat differently? Then help me go buy/obtain that food. Then stay awhile and help me COOK it. Put your arm around me and be my friend not my tormentor. Come and take me out to a function and do it without grimacing. Talk to my heart with kindness and encouragement. Help me with something practical and tactile in order to get well/better. Help ME to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Help unburden me with some of the aweful cares of this world (too many to mention)
Otherwise, I don't want to see this crap on DU again. I am ULTIMATELY offended and ANGRY over this subject. I wonder what the ACLU would say?

[yellowcanine]

8. It is the old "science" dodge once again.

"The Bush administration alleges that the WHO plan, under development for three years, relies too heavily on questionable science."

What does the Bush administration know about science and when has science had any bearing on Bush administration policy? What a crock of high fat cheese.

[arcane1]

9. I'm sure they are checking the Old Testament now

for the "sound science" :eyes:

[kayell]

12. They better be careful with that Old Testament science*

or they might find that section where Daniel and his buddies live better on lentils and water than the other children who eat meat and drink wine. Or that scary bit in Genesis where God says "Behold, I have given you every herb yielding seed which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed--to you it shall be for food (meat)."

Hah, the OT says we should all be vegetarians! Mad Cow must be a JUDGEMENT against the evil republican meat eaters.


* 'cause you can prove ANYTHING you want with the OT.

[BiggJawn]

10. "No! It's really CANDY! Tasty Cotton CANDY!"

"I was just kidding about it being real cotton! here, try some more"

"Milo, people can't EAT cotton..."

Another thing this asshole and his henchmen did that reminds me of a line from "Catch-22"....

Another industry gets a GOP BlowJob....

[fizzana]

11. I can understand objecting to some of the proposals laid out

by the WHO but to go out and dispute the science shows just how insane these people are.

[forgethell]

21. Scientists have agendas

just like everybody else. Funding, for example. Peer review is supposed to cut down on this. That being said, I don't dispute that fat people are unhealtier than slim ones. I don't deny that high caloric intake contributes to obesity. It is still not WHO's business what people choose to put in their mouth.

[Sugarbleus]

14. Kickapoo

[Systematic Chaos]

15. Hey Sugarbleus....

I wanted to PM you but you're not allowing it.... And believe me it was NOT going to be any kind of attack.

[Sugarbleus]

16. I tried to PM you too...guess our ships are passing in the vegas night eh?

I'm not sure I'm allowed the pm feature but I'll try to turn it on or you can email me. Thanks