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Prince Charles warns Brits not to get fat like Americans
http://drudgereport.com/ ^

Posted on 01/27/2006 1:41:43 PM PST by Angus MacGregor

Don't follow super-size Americans, says Prince

By Andrew Pierce

THE Prince of Wales warned the British people last night that they were in danger of becoming as obese as many Americans because they did not walk or cycle enough.

The Prince, who has a fleet of chauffeur-driven cars and has rarely if ever been seen in public on the saddle of a bike, said: “We are perhaps not very far behind our American cousins in the ‘super-sizing epidemic’.”

In his speech at St James’s Palace he gave warning of a worrying sharp rise in childhood obesity. His intervention comes after the British Medical Association said that Britain’s fat youngsters, who account for a third of all obese children in Europe, were at high risk of developing life-threatening conditions, including diabetes and heart disease. One million under-16s were so fat that they were putting their health at risk, the BMA said.

The most recent statistics from the Department of Health indicate that more than 40 per cent of men and 33 per cent of women are overweight and 20 per cent of both are obsese.

The Prince, who credits his trim figure to a diet of one organic meal a day, which he calls the Des O’Connor diet, and long walks on the Scottish moors when he is at Balmoral, said that the rise in obesity was partly caused by the design of modern towns and cities.

“Research suggests that walking or cycling for just half an hour a day can have a significant improvement on our state of health. But why don’t we do it more?” The answer, he said, was that too many towns made it virtually impossible. “It might help if the built environment was more appealing and attractive to pedestrians.”

He urged the Government to embrace the work of Richard Jackson, a former adviser on health to Arnold Schwarzenegger, the Governor of California. The Prince said: “Dr Jackson and his colleagues have pointed to a disturbing link between the built environment, physical inactivity and what he terms a syndemic of diseases, including, perhaps most worryingly, childhood obesity.”

Last year Ruth Kelly, the Education Secretary, and Margaret Hodge, the Children’s Minister, said that junk food advertisements during children’s television programmes would be banned by law if the industry failed to agree a voluntary code. They were contradicted by Tessa Jowell, the Culture Secretary, who said that the scheme would undermine income for ITV.

The topic of how building design affects public wellbeing is one of the Prince’s favourite hobby horses. He set up the Foundation for the Built Environment, which hosted last night’s event, to promote traditional urban design and architecture that put communities at the centre of the process.

In the past, he has called for greater integration of complementary medicine, to be used to tackle obesity, especially in youngsters. In November he backed demands for healthier, more nutritional, school meals.


TOPICS: Health/Medicine
KEYWORDS: obesity; princecharles; princeupchuck
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To: DogBarkTree

Not only do we super-size our meals and have buffets galore here in America compared to Europe - but we have those sweeteners that mess us up - not to mention computers that won't release us so we can exercise! Thus, no lean machines! I admit - I'm guilty too!

And - You're absolutely right - they put growth hormones for animals to fatten them up for the market - and guess what! We are fattened up too! Have you seen the commerical about choosing chickens that have not been treated with growth hormones? I recently found out soy and broccoli makes you fat too! And - I love broccoli!

Bottom line though is the best exercise - Think Thin! What would a Thin person eat? And would they eat as much as I have on my plate right now...?


41 posted on 01/27/2006 10:36:40 PM PST by Anita1 (You can't argue against the truth!)
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To: Angus MacGregor

"The Prince, who has a fleet of chauffeur-driven cars and has rarely if ever been seen in public on the saddle of a bike, said: “We are perhaps not very far behind our American cousins in the ‘super-sizing epidemic’.”"

I guess we cannot tell what this paper's bias is towards charles....why don't I ever see something this inflammatory when it is a DNC politician yakking.

Of course, with the UK the response will be to put fat people on a special list and incrementally deny them certain medical services.



42 posted on 01/28/2006 3:34:35 AM PST by WoofDog123
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To: af_vet_rr

"
I am as well - some of these people not happy with his comments remind me of some people being upset over Bill Cosby and his comments about the black community."

It does seem predictable when a foreigner is reported with comments that point out a factual or honestly debatable issue with americans or america, they shoot the messenger and often ignore the message.

If we don't want to be referred to as fat by foreigners, I guess that is tough, cuz americans as a group sure ain't gonna give up twinkies.


43 posted on 01/28/2006 3:37:37 AM PST by WoofDog123
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To: DogBarkTree

I suspect it is hormones, because diet overall is certainly not better than even 20 years ago, certainly not in things that help growth.


44 posted on 01/28/2006 3:40:16 AM PST by WoofDog123
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To: WoofDog123; Angus MacGregor

Whoa, why did I use the future tense? The UK is denying certain medical procedures to the fat already! NHS is faster than I thought.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1542542/posts


45 posted on 01/28/2006 3:43:37 AM PST by WoofDog123
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To: dixiechick2000

I have actually counted the percentages of truly fat folks in a Wal Mart or Cracker Barrel or Sams or maybe even while I'm parked out front of a TJ Maxx waiting on my wife.

It's astounding and there is a definite socioeconomic component that seems to cut across all races.

Folks used to say it was because poor folks ate crap because it was cheaper. I think it's also about self discipline....which applies to work ethic same as appearance though no doubt there are stronger social pressures on wealthier folks to not get fat....especially the wives.


46 posted on 01/28/2006 7:40:59 AM PST by wardaddy (Alito is Clapton)
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To: wardaddy
I agree with everything you said.
It's all very true.

There is only one thing I would add
that may play a role in this subject.
England's food is less than palatable. ;o)
47 posted on 01/28/2006 8:36:52 AM PST by dixiechick2000 (There ought to be one day-- just one-- when there is open season on senators. ~~ Will Rogers)
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To: dixiechick2000

no kidding....once past fish and chips, shepherd's pie and yorki pudding it gets sorta rough


48 posted on 01/28/2006 8:42:02 AM PST by wardaddy ("My name is War, and I'm a FReepaholic")
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To: Angus MacGregor
Prince Charles warns Brits not to get fat like Americans

Americans warn Brits not to get jug-eared and fugly-wived (-wifed?) like prin(cess) charles.

49 posted on 01/28/2006 9:34:31 AM PST by solitas (So what if I support an OS that has fewer flaws than yours? 'Mystic' dual 500 G4's, OSX.4.2)
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To: Angus MacGregor

I guess there is no point in warning them not to be inbred like him. The stupid inbred Kraut.


50 posted on 01/28/2006 11:10:53 AM PST by nickcarraway (I'm Only Alive, Because a Judge Hasn't Ruled I Should Die...)
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To: Angus MacGregor

51 posted on 01/28/2006 11:30:24 AM PST by new cruelty
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To: Angus MacGregor

Americans ARE fat. Truth hurts.


52 posted on 01/28/2006 11:36:15 AM PST by dinodino (Mrs. Dinodino)
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To: wardaddy
I have actually counted the percentages of truly fat folks in a Wal Mart or Cracker Barrel or Sams or maybe even while I'm parked out front of a TJ Maxx waiting on my wife.

It's astounding and there is a definite socioeconomic component that seems to cut across all races.

Folks used to say it was because poor folks ate crap because it was cheaper. I think it's also about self discipline....which applies to work ethic same as appearance though no doubt there are stronger social pressures on wealthier folks to not get fat....especially the wives.


You look at poor people in this country, and you look at poor people in a third world country, and you'd be surprised at how healthy our "poor" people look, in fact quite a few are fat.

You bring up being able to afford certain kinds of foods, and I often wonder if that is a part of it - not everybody can afford to eat healthy foods, and some people say "well, you can only afford to exercise if you are middle class or upper class", and while that maybe a component of the overall equation, there is still something missing, because anybody can get out and walk or run everyday, regardless of how much they make in a year)=.

I think what's missing is, is what you brought up - self discipline. If self discipline wasn't such an important part, you would only be able to find a handful of self-help books in any large bookstore.

Another component - lack of concern on the part of parents - there is no reason why a normal child should not be outside playing quite a bit, yet it seems an awful lot of parents let their kids turn into couch potatos.

People talk about how kids are antsy in class, and have to be given drugs - I'm sure a very small portion of those kids have actual problems - the rest just need a real playground, real recesses, and to get away from the "everybody wins" games. Soccer is the perfect sport for this - if you have a large playground, you could get most of the kids involved for the price of a soccer ball. It doesn't matter if you have 20 or 30 little kids on each side, they'll be running their butts off. They'll expend a lot of energy, and it'll help them keep in shape.

It seems like we have a lot of fat people now, just wait 20 or 30 years from now, because everytime I see a new school go up, I see a playground not much bigger than a couple of basketball courts put together.
53 posted on 01/28/2006 1:20:15 PM PST by af_vet_rr
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To: Angus MacGregor

That pic belongs in the big book of british smiles!


54 posted on 01/28/2006 1:26:50 PM PST by Trillian
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To: af_vet_rr

My wife and I are friendly with some doctors and nurses.

They tell us they now have to keep longer intramuscular syringes around for injecting larger buttocks....no joking.

I'm 6'5 and 225 and folks say I'm thin when in reality I should be around 200 to be appropriate weight.

My wife is thin.

My oldest daughter at 5'4" and 110 lbs is told she is too thin....which is ridiculous.

When I lived in Manhattan in the 80s, I saw almost no fat folks aside from some goombahs who worked at it.


55 posted on 01/28/2006 4:43:34 PM PST by wardaddy ("Hello Everyone....my name is War, and I'm a FReepaholic")
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To: Angus MacGregor
:') There are plenty of ways to get exercise...

Riot police clash with English

56 posted on 01/28/2006 8:28:45 PM PST by SunkenCiv (In the long run, there is only the short run.)
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To: wardaddy

Got that beat by a mile...go to the Tillman's Corner Walmart in Mobile, Alabama....stretch pants and cellulite abound!!!!! I wonder what these hogs see when they look in the mirror? It's disgusting to see an 8 year old kid with a huge pot belly....it really makes me ashamed to be from this area....PLEASE, If you stop off there on I-10, don't judge all of Mobile or Alabama by the parade off human swill you will see in that place....i have not been back in about 4 years...blood pressure just can't take looking at at these slovenly dressed, obese, mullet wearing, tattoed, greasy skinned, unshaven (men and women ;)) lard buckets.

Also, before anyone attacks me for being a snob, i am proud to be from the south(most of the time)but Wardaddy is right, America( especially where i live) needs to push back from the dinner table, exercise and eat a bit healthier.


i feel better now...

rant off.................


57 posted on 01/30/2006 2:54:13 PM PST by chasio649
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To: chasio649

I know what you mean....it's worse seeing incredibly sloppy unkempt obese folks waddling with kids that are obese too

no excuse for that


58 posted on 01/30/2006 6:37:14 PM PST by wardaddy (Southern American)
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To: Angus MacGregor

59 posted on 01/31/2006 12:12:27 PM PST by Caleb1411 ("These are the days when the Christian is expected to praise every creed except his own." G. K. C)
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