Or prevent obesity?
From a maintenance perspective, I wish calorie disclosure would go further. I would like to see mandatory calorie counts for all restaurants and shops selling food items, regardless of number of locations. Not to the extent of sending food to a lab for measurement, but at least calculating calories for all the ingredients and dividing by their serving size.
Copper_Boom
Member Posts: 85 Member
Member Posts: 85 Member
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People just need to take some personal responsibility. Anyone who's made it past fourth grade should be able to figure this out.
Eat less. Take a walk. Ta Da.
I would just love to know what that awesome Chimichanga I plan on this weekend is going to cost me though.
I don't know if it's a matter of parents being unaware of calories in general or maybe thinking a frozen beverage is somehow less calories than an ice cream sundae.
I would love to see some type of literature/poster in places like Starbucks that illustrate caloric needs of children and what happens when they eat too high calories over a period of time. This could include information on diabetes and other illnesses typically caused by being overweight.
(You can find the information on the website, but why not on the pack?!)
Ultimately, though, I don't think there's much you can do to legislate people's choices. You can only legislate to make some choices easier, or to make the choices more informed.
My point is, if that had not been labeled on the menu I would never have guessed more than 700 at absolute most just by looking at it. I'm pretty responsible, but guesstimating calories..well...we all know how that can work out.
Also, pushing development of more park space with sports fields, outdoor exercise equipment, walking and biking space, etc. This helps everybody, but especially those who can't afford a gym. That's one thing I feel is done well in my country. Lots of freely available tennis courts, basketball courts, soccer fields, along with biking and running tracks. Most of the parks have outdoor exercise equipment as well.
Ultimately though, no amount of public policy or laws can man people eat healthy and choose to get fit. There always has to be individual initiative. But that doesn't mean that things can't be done to assist in that.
32 hour workweek.
Investment in mass transit systems over highways
Longer school day with mandatory % of time in recess/PE/sports
Tax breaks for companies that buy desk bikes/treadmills, provide a cafeteria, or pay for gym memberships or onsite doctor visits, transit cards, bike racks, etc.
Increase the percentage of open space, bike trails, etc. in development codes.
Building codes that require open staircases under a certain story height? (People are more likely to use the stairs if they are big and visible vs. hidden behind a door looking like they're for emergencies only.)
As for calorie counts on food and at restaurants, more and more research is proving that total calorie count is only one part of the equation. Other macros like fat, carbs, fiber, sugar, and protein, as well as WHEN you eat what, are equally as important.
I wouldn't want the job of the people trying to figure out this health/obesity epidemic right now. It is all just so complex. Best of luck to all trying!
A few times in summer I've seen a "mini" size for the frappucinos. Those should be available year round. It's a small enough size to be a decent treat for a kid (obviously a non-caffeinated one).
Seriously, We do have too many laws already.
I agree. And let's take that one step further and call a product that is clearly one serving, one serving. For example, I picked up a tiny premade cheesecake to see if I could afford the calories. It was a little piece that probably most people would eat as a single serving. However, the nutritional info stated that it had 4 servings. To me the only purpose of that would be to appear to have less calories than it did.
Transparency and simplicity would be helpful.
I believe Starbucks is always willing to sell you a smaller size than what is shown on the menus. I don't go often, but when I do I am always getting the very smallest and it's never listed an an option on the menu.
My bigger concern is insurance companies (specifically Medicare, which is for elderly and disabled people) not paying for obese people to see dietitians. Obesity is now considered a disease, yet they only want to pay for diet pills or surgery. It's disgusting to me that they won't pay for us to lose weight naturally and healthily with the help of a dietitian.
Seconded. The number of times I've picked up a little pot of salad at the supermarket, perfectly sized for lunch, and discovered that it's actually supposedly two servings. Ahahaha, no. Please stop it with cheating on serving sizes so that you can pretend the calories are lower; if you want to list lower calories, maybe you could add less oil/mayo?
My sister used to get her kids one small strawberry cream drink and have them split it into 2 cups. And my 11 year old daughter just gets the smallest size possible during the rare Starbucks visits. But we consider health and calories for our children. I think a lot of parents just somehow aren't aware.
Edit: I know all of this is expensive. But what's the cost of obesity to our communities and our countries?