Heavy Questions (obesity)

NY Times Magazine ^ | January 2, 2005 | ELIZABETH WEIL

[DainBramage]

I think brick laying, roofing and landscaping must all be fattening.

[FITZ]

is the result of the high rate of women in the workplace.

I don't think that's the case in this article --- which isn't about working women --- the women in these regions (Starr Co, Rio Grande) are welfare mothers. It's about obesity in the poverty class --- too many food stamps, too many meals at Head Start centers and cultural differences regarding food.

[FITZ]

In addition to free meals for their children in school, many adults in Starr County receive food stamps, health care and utility and housing subsidies.

The best thing would be to cut off many or all of the welfare programs, get them off their behinds and out working for a living. Taxpayers get hit twice --- we have to pay for their food and living expenses so they can lay around filling their faces --- then after their obesity has caused them health problems we have to provide free health care too.

[Woodworker]

Proclaim the GOOD NEWS! The biggest problem for poor people in America is obesity! Only 70 years ago, (1935) some people were going hungry.

[RedBloodedAmerican]

[elli1]

I believe real the "root" cause of increasing childhood obesity, as well as much of adult obesity, is the result of the high rate of women in the workplace.

Phooey. More like it's the result of sedentary lifestyles--computers, television, video games.

[Texan5]

Amen to that-yank their snouts out of the trough and they get off their butts. We moved to this rural community from SA about 1 1/2 ago, and the only fat kids we see any more are the ones we see on our way to work in the city. There aren't many fat adults out here, either, but the welfare queens can't afford to live here-there are no "projects", no section 8 housing and even a trashy trailer or an old converted feed barn on a ranch carries an outrageous pricetag, because no one wants the widespread crime, drugs and prostitution associated with those people. Kids out here are involved in sports, FFA, etc and families still sit down to a home cooked meal at night.

[Coldwater Creek]

My question is, why does an educated school teacher no know how to take care of her children?

Seems to me that she should know how to monitor the little girls food intake without the help of the government.

But then what do I know?

[ijcr]

Wrong,Yes! However, they are surprisingly effective with their message.Time after time.

Just examine the posts of our fellow freepers, notice the concentration on obesity,health,costs,distribution,welfare,self examination,etc.etc.

Who can blame them, after all the majority are products of an education system that wallows in emotionalism and critical thinking is restricted to being critical of the US,Christianity and the GOP.

Many of the Progressive Liberal issues are often lost in the rush for opinionated self righteousness. A concept in which the majority of Americans not only tragically revel in,they embrace them willingly.


Hidden in the article is a not too subtle attack on individual liberty and an appeal for government intervention.

As H.L. Mencken wrote "I believe that no discovery of fact, however trivial, can be wholly useless to the race, and that no trumpeting of falsehood, however virtuous in intent, can be anything but vicious."

[Shooter 2.5]

I'm five to eight pounds underweight due to a demanding physical job and some stress in my life. I keep hearing how terrible I look from my son's mother-in-law. She looks like a bowling ball with legs.

[Nataku X]

OK, but pancakes and gravy?

[mewzilla]

The skinny, which I'm not BTW, will inherit the earth :)

[Nataku X]

Isn't shrimp very low in calories? Scampi isn't fried, either. And isn't it expensive for a town supposedly suffering from dire poverty?

[Coldwater Creek]

One could only hope that the family eating habits will come full circle, and we will get back to the Ozzie and Harriets days. Don't tell me that it cannot be done. It is called prior planning.

[tom paine 2]

Inquiring minds would like to know why a 6 year old needs shrimp scampi?

[CajunConservative]

Depending on how close to the Gulf they are shrimp could be fairly inexpensive there. Asking for shrimp scampi is healthier than asking for the typical junk food kids ask for.

I think a lot of the problem with the obesity factor in general is High Fructose Corn Syrup and partially hydrogenated fats that is in everything processed, even foods that shouldn't have HFCS have it. Kids diets today are nothing but highly refined shots of sugar all day long which keeps the pancreas pumping out insulin to handle the loads.

[keats5]

My sister brags about never cooking. She's worked most of her adult life, while raising two children.

Both of the kids are over 100 pounds overweight. No one else in our family is grossly overweight. When they come to my house, they eat normal meals, and they do not seem to overeat. I made some run-of-the-mill pot roast for my niece last month, and it was all she could talk about this Christmas.

I think kids just like to sit around and talk to their families over supper in the evening. If they don't get this attention, I think they try to "fill up" in other ways.

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

If my 6 year old had a relentless request for shrimp scampi, it would be met by peals of laughter, an effort to contain myself, then a hand on his shoulder and a "Great! Are you buying?",

A bag of salad shrimp ($2.99), a little butter, garlic and parsley. Bingo. Serve it on a bed of greens and you have a nice healthy cheap meal for an adult and a kid.

Cheaper then fast food and ready in about the same amount of time.

[KoRn]

lol That guy won't be seeing 55!

[krunkygirl]

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