Obesity supports the economy.......skinny = economic strife.

Charlie003

Have you thought of the ramifications(big word for me) on the economy if obesity was cured. All those business going bankrupt. Medical industry, fast food industry...etc..... The powers that be do not want it to go away. What do you think?

JanelleG0122

I think thats why so many commercials deal with fast food. I saw something once that said "if you want to eat healthy don't eat anything you see on televsion commercials" i think that is totally true!

n2thenight24

We could just open up healthy fast food restaurants and more gyms. Problem solved. Also, people would buy more clothes if we all looked fantastic in everything.

magj0y

Just think of all the extra medical personnel working on studies of obesity, treating them, and the manufacturers who have to come up with bigger medical beds and all that stuff. Put them in a group. Now, take all that energy and focus it towards..oh, I dunno, a cure for cancer? To study things like epilepsy or MS and come up with better treatments or even cures.

If people have money, they will typically spend a specific portion and save the rest. The people who are no longer obese, will just spend it on different things.

DoomCakes

We could just open up healthy fast food restaurants and more gyms. Problem solved. Also, people would buy more clothes if we all looked fantastic in everything.

This is so true... if I could pull off anything, I'd buy a bunch of clothes.

I also love the idea of healthy fast food. I wish I had the time and money to invest in that. I'd do it in a heartbeat. Plenty of stuff to make and sell that is cost effective, cheap, and good for you.

laarae

And what is way crazy to me is the fact that to eat unhealthy is way cheaper than healthy eating. For instance a bag of potatos costs $3.99, a bag of potato chips $1. It seems they are talking out of both sides of their mouths-one side saying "stop obesity" the other side-corn syrup, corn subsidies, corn sugar........I have a friend who has had some serious financial strife recently, she had to go to food bank and everything they have there is white and processed. But when your children are hungry......all the money wasted by our government in many different ways. While I am "ranting" let me just say this-if we could close 1 or 2 box stores in each town-use that space to grow food hydrophonicially we could feed our people-here and in other places also. It drives me crazy when I think about it too much :sad:

magj0y

And what is way crazy to me is the fact that to eat unhealthy is way cheaper than healthy eating. For instance bag of potatos $3.99 bag of potato chips $1.

Eating healthy is not more expensive unless you're really really bad at math and shopping. or just really bad at cooking, which can be fixed.

laarae

And what is way crazy to me is the fact that to eat unhealthy is way cheaper than healthy eating. For instance bag of potatos $3.99 bag of potato chips $1.

Eating healthy is not more expensive unless you're really really bad at math and shopping. or just really bad at cooking, which can be fixed.

Where I live it is more expensive to purchase healthy food-I do not consider myself a "bad" cook, when I shop I try to purchase all fresh-nothing processed and I spend easily $50-$100 more than I did when I was buying easy to fix-grab and go food.

msshiraz

Have you thought of the ramifications(big word for me) on the economy if obesity was cured. All those business going bankrupt. Medical industry, fast food industry...etc..... The powers that be do not want it to go away. What do you think?

50 years ago there was not an obesity epidemic, and there were as many jobs per person as there are now (for the most part). The weight loss industry has become an industry due to obesity. And that just comes down to basics. People drive everywhere. They don't walk, or ride bikes as transportation. They take escalators/elevators rather than stairs. How many plus sized people do you see who ride the carts at the grocery store. Not to say some don't need it, but my dad, (before he died- due to his weight) could have walked thru the store, he just didn't want to. And it starts with childhood. Kids 50 years ago (even 25 years ago) played outside, that was their recreation. They played ball, biked, everything outside. They walked to school. They kept moving is my point. After school, most kids don't go outside to play, unless parents have them involved in sports. They get on the computer, or video games, or watch tv, eating junk food.

There also was very limited processed foods back then, and it was expensive. People cooked. Dining out was a luxury, I think our family went out to dinner maybe 10 X a year- and that is stretching it.

msshiraz

And what is way crazy to me is the fact that to eat unhealthy is way cheaper than healthy eating. For instance a bag of potatos costs $3.99, a bag of potato chips $1. It seems they are talking out of both sides of their mouths-one side saying "stop obesity" the other side-corn syrup, corn subsidies, corn sugar........I have a friend who has had some serious financial strife recently, she had to go to food bank and everything they have there is white and processed. But when your children are hungry......all the money wasted by our government in many different ways. While I am "ranting" let me just say this-if we could close 1 or 2 box stores in each town-use that space to grow food hydrophonicially we could feed our people-here and in other places also. It drives me crazy when I think about it too much :sad:

A bag of potatoes is 3.99 and a bag of chips is $1? Where in the world did you get to the conclusion that the chips are cheaper? A lb of potatoes can cost anywhere from .35 to .99 a lb (this is a demographic price range). Potato chips are over $3 a lb. How many meals can you make out of a bag of potatoes vs a bag of chips- and more importantly, why would you want to.

People need to get an education on reality of cost of food. Not speaking for your friend, I am sorry for her financial issues, and yes food banks are loaded with a bunch of refined crap, but I am pretty sure she didn't get any potato chips there.

I buy meats on sale, and I stock up. When chicken is 1.99 a lb, I buy a bunch, and I separate and freeze for meal sized use. I buy chicken maybe once a month this way. I buy tons of fresh veggies and fruit either at Costco, (membership is $40 a year- and the savings on bulk are completely covered). I go there 2 X a month, and I buy what I need, rarely do I impulse buy. My salad stuff is almost half the cost of what a grocery store would charge. Can't afford (or don't live near) a Costco or Sams? Local farmers markets have great prices on local grown produce, at least 1/3 the price of a grocery store. I buy 2 bunches of bananas a week- no more than .49 a lb. I eat one with breakfast and one before a workout every day.

It is expensive to eat processed stuff. Try going a week without eating anything in a box or a bag. Plan your meals out- there are soooo many websites out their for menu planning. Get an online grocery list, and stick to your list. Never, ever shop when you are hungry. It is cheaper to eat healthy- and as you lose weight, you will see, the cost of a calorie adds up, not just in the diet but in the wallet. I bring my lunch to work every day- almost always I have a salad with something grilled on top. And fruit for snacks- fruits are seasonal, so shop the seasons, citrus, apples and bananas are my staple fruit til summer.