What are your opinions on this claim from the Tory's. No excuse for obesity?

Question

I believe you are what you eat with very few exceptions. I would be happy to hear other peoples views whatever they may be.

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/pressass/20080827/tuk-no-excuse-for-obesity-claim-tories-6323e80.html

Answer 1

How about starting with the fat MPs first?

Answer 2

Quite right - there's no excuse for undereating, too.  I mean, all you have to do is eat what's put in front of you.

We've all got too much money, and too much fast food, in the way of sweets, chocolates, biscuits, crisps, etc.  And people do comfort eat.

Basically, it boils down to eating what we want, not what is good for us.  People do need more education in eating properly.  

Answer 3

well I have to say only that person puts food in there own mouth so he is right  

Answer 4

I do agree that, for the most part, obesity is in the hands (and mouth) of the individual.  However, some people have health issues that require them to eat only certain foods (which can make them fat); some have diabetic issues; some have restrictions that keep them from exercising.  

Frankly though I think it's a person's own business and not mine.  If they want to be fat, I'm okay with it.  I can only answer for myself and I choose not to be.

Answer 5

i personally believe that naturally people are different sizes, some are naturally slim, while others are naturally bigger.... but i believe NO ONE is naturally obese.  Yes i think it is all excuses, they don't seem willing enough to lose the weight, and those who are willing need more help in how to do it successfully.

Answer 6

I absolutely agree.

Back in the U.K. this summer I was shocked at just how many people are obese, not just fat but obese .

I particularly noticed the children and young women.

I do not recall so many obese people around when I was growing up.

What are the reasons for the epidemic?

Money is not an issue in healthy eating.

It is a question of time and effort.

There may be some medical reason why a few people are overweight but this must be a small minority.

The vast majority eat badly through a combination of ignorance and laziness.

Eat too much of the wrong food and you get fat.

No excuses.

If adults wish to be overweight I have no problem with that, but I am very concerned about the increasing number of children who are obese through no fault of their own.

Eat less c**p and move more.

Watch what your kids eat,don´t abuse processed or convenience foodsTeach them to eat fruit and veg. Don´t fill up your kitchen cupboards with crisps and biscuits.

It´s not rocket science.

It gets me mad to see so many obese children. It is avoidable.

I couldn´t care less about fat adults , but something needs to be done about the children.

Answer 7

there is no excuse to be thin most of us have enough money to eat and the education to eat properly . yet so many people are skeletal  

Answer 8

I agree with it. Like that 30st girl in the paper and the Mother was like it was not her fault. Even though she was very big herself. I think we do need a help with obesity.  

Answer 9

I think it's right and wrong - we all control what we eat, and when we eat too much it is our fault.  But, sometimes people's problems with food stem from underlying emotional issues such as low self-esteem and bad relationships; not greed - there is such a thing as comfort eating!  Rather than people going on diets, they would benefit from an all round holistic approach to losing weight, taking into account emotional triggers and exercise as well as literally just what they are putting in their mouths.

The exception, and the issue that really annoys me, is kids being obese - parents should take responsibility for what their kids are eating, they want them to be clothed and safe, so why give them health problems by letting them eat too much or unhealthily?

As with everything else, it all comes down to lack of education and lack of resources to improve the problem.  

Answer 10

On the whole yes obesity is down to the individual. You will always have people who are naturally very thin or naturally a bit bigger, but for most people they are the size they are because of their own lifestyle.  

Answer 11

there are no excuses anymore not to change lifestyle habits, the problem is we have a problem with weight for several reasons, 1) ppl are more inactive when i was a child not many ppl had cars we walked everywhere. appliances in the home require less effort ie; washing machines etc. 2) ppl can afford to buy more and more food, when was the last time any of us went into a supermarket and put a product back because we couldnt afford the extra few pounds or pennies, not many i suspect. 3) fear of the outdoors, many kids are kept indoors as parents are worried about perverts and murderers, that are not lurking round every corner as the media would have you believe. i could go on and on about why but the problem is ppl have become lazy and this is the main reason along with eating c**p that we have become a nation of lard arses, now i'm no beanpole when i was a kid you had bread with EVERYTHING it was filling and cheap and you weren't allowed to leave food on the plate, coupled with lazy teenager years, leaving home at 18 and stuffing ones face with c**p has led to being able to pinch more than an inch lol, but i am doing my best to reverse this, i eat healthily 80% of the time and i attend the gym except for the school holidays, we have loads of outdoor stuff at home like trampolines and tennis rackets and nets, footballs the lot, anything to encourage the family to get out and do more. sometimes i feel like i'm fighting a losing battle but this is a marathon not a race, a lifestyle change, i do what i can and that is enough for me,  i don't want my kids growing up with eating problems and they pick up on everything we as adults say and do, i try my best to lead by example and i only pray that as a family we have long, happy and healthy lives. xx

Answer 12

I don't believe this!  

This is unfair on those who want to lose weight but can't because of emotional eating and their problems or the way they have been brought up to eat unhealthily.  

The supposed EXCUSES are where obese people need help not where they should get penalised and put down for being obese...  it's not right.

Why haven't they said that there is no excuse for smokers or no excuse for drinking?  Because these ruin your insides and don't make you look bad on the outside.  Being obese does but the key here is that the personality counts more than the looks.  Im slightly overweight and that doesn't mean that I am a horrible person.

That's my opinion.

Hope That Helps ;]

Answer 13

i believe for 99% of people yes, there isnt any excuse for obesity.  

Answer 14

I agree with him, we are responsible for our own health and well being - if you don't want to be fat put the burger down!!!

Answer 15

Absolutely right but you'll get lambasted for saying it!

Answer 16

I also believe you are what you eat, of course there are exceptions as you have said, I think people have become very lazy indeed you see the parent who takes their child to school by car when they only live a mile down the road, I mean how long does that take to walk 10 Min's of brisk walking even with a child. Then you only have to go around the supermarket look at what they are buying, trolly loads of high fat junk the poor children just don't have a chance with parents like this.

Answer 17

I agree and I think that story about the 15 year who was overweight is sick. When I was a student, I couldn't afford luxuries such as chocolate and so on so I just bought fruit, veg and meat from local greengrocers and butchers. I also remember when you could buy the basics at Sainburys, (bread and baked beans) for under £2.00. There is no excuse as healthy food is a lot more cheaper than chocolate, crisps and so on. I think it is sheer laziness on some people's behalf. There are exceptions to every rule but some of it is bone idleness and makes them look disgusting.

Answer 18

Disagree!  There are scads of excuses.  Unfortunately - few are worth a d**n.

Answer 19

i agree with it to a point. most people claim that if you're on a low budget it is impossible to buy healthy foods, not true. i'm on a low budget and i buy healthy, i just don't buy the brand names, i go for the store brand or even better, shop at Lidl. no-one in my family is overweight.

if people eat at take aways 6 out of 7 days in the week, and eat nothing but biscuits and crisps washed down with full sugar soft drinks, of course they are going to pile on the pounds. and it it their own fault, nobody elses.

of course there are also those unfortunate souls who have real illnesses that make it impossible or extremely difficult to stay at a more normal weight.

Answer 20

I loathe to agree with them, but there is no real excuse for 90% of obsese people to be obsese.  I think that people should be better educated about eating habits and how much eating food that is quick and easy but bad for you affects you.

However, it is pretty hypocritical of them. How many of their MPs are overweight?