The Obesity “Epidemic”

[jimhines]

So Michelle Obama is launching the Let’s Move Campaign to eliminate the problem of childhood obesity within a generation.  “[O]ne in three kids are overweight or obese, and we’re spending $150 billion a year treating obesity-related illnesses. So we know this is a problem, and there’s a lot at stake.”  (Source)

I applaud the idea of encouraging

Comments

[jimhines]

Heck, I'm still looking for studies establishing that children are really so unhealthy. I'm having a hard time sorting out facts from scare tactics and shifting standards. It's not something I've seen myself while at the schools, but I understand that my personal observations are anecdotal, and don't necessarily hold true...

[suricattus]

Kids were getting unhealthier because they were drinking so much gunk with sugar in it (not only soda but so-called "energy drinks" (the original Gatorade tasted like crap, not commercially tinkered-with to be appealing), plus larger portions of everything. A smidge of healthy eating and a smidge more movement every day is going to be far more useful than worrying about BMI or actual scale-weights.

IMHrantyO, anyway.

[marycatelli]

Actually, I have heard that Gatorade tasted delicious if your electrolytes were out of balance. A prescription for dehydration I heard one: drink Gatorade until it no longer tastes good. Then drink as much water as you did Gatorade.

[suricattus]

the original, according to all reports, was vile, no matter how much you needed it -- but it did the trick. That was before it was a commercial drink, however -- back when only teams at the U of Florida (if I remember correctly) were using it

[squirrel_monkey]

You can start here: http://junkfoodscience.blogspot.com/2009/05/faces-of-child-obesity.html

Junkfood Science is a great source of debunking of various obesity epidemic nonsense.

[jimhines]

Thank you!

[squirrel_monkey]

Cough *Highfructosecornsyrup* cough

[jennielf]

AMEN Sister! AMEN!

[peachtales]

Oh most definitely!