FDA: Restaurants on front lines in obesity fight

CNN Dot Com ^ | 6/2/2006 | Associated Press

[xrp]

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Those heaping portions at restaurants -- and doggie bags for the leftovers -- may be a thing of the past, if health officials get their way.

The government is trying to enlist the help of the nation's eateries in fighting obesity. One of the first things on their list: cutting portion sizes.

[xrp]

said Holston, an accountant. "A lot of times, presented with information, you will make a better choice."

I pretty much steer clear of restaurants that DON'T offer nutritional information, because I am kind of a health food freak. I like knowing how many grams of fat/carbs/etc and how many calories are in what I could be ordering for lunch/dinner.

The 2 restaurants that I frequent that I have noticed that do this well are Chili's and Applebee's.

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

Why don't the FDA take a flying leap into the Potomac. Pretty soon restaurant menus will consist of tofu and parsley sprigs.

[beaversmom]

Are they going to cut us off at the buffett bars too? Government official making sure we don't go back for seconds. How about this restaurants cutting the portions--are they going to cut the price too?

[areafiftyone]

Now they are going to regulate how much people eat??? If a person is overweight and doesn't mind being that way what business is that of the FDA???

[beaversmom]

How about this--oops should be How about these

[FlingWingFlyer]

We're from the nanny state government and we're here to help you. Obviously, you are to ------- stupid to do things correctly yourself.

[doggieboy]

Reading this has made me hungry. I gotta and get something to eat.

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

What's going to happen is that more people will consume the smaller portions. It's already happenend at McDonald's. Busybodies forced them to eliminate the "Super Size" portions, so consumers just bought more small and medium portions.

The FDA should be abolished and replaced with an independent, non-profit agency.

[I still care]

And how about people like my parents, who buy one meal and share? The diners they go to allow the elderly to do this.

[msjhall]

I think this issue is in the hands of the consumer. If Red Robin cuts one calorie from my cheeseburger they will lose $400 a year.

[prairiebreeze]

I love Rush's parody related to this about the MicroSize Meal and the Thimble Drink. And when the customer declines the MicroSize Meal the fast food employee says "then pull around to the window.....FATSO!!"

LOL

Sigh.....whatever happened to personal responsibility? Is it completely being eliminated from our cultures? Sure seems so....

[B Knotts]

Where in the Constitution is this listed as a function of the federal government?

It's time conservatives started asking these types of questions.

Remember what Ronald Reagan said:

"Government is not the solution to the problem; government is the problem."

[beaversmom]

I just love it when government gets involved in mirco managing our lives. Now instead of buying one cheeseburger, we will have to buy two. The same thing with low flow toilets--instead of one big super flush you have to flush two, three, four times and then go get a super big bucket of water when it still doesn't go down. Maybe if we are all eating smaller meals though, that will help with the toilet situation (sorry to the sensitive out there who might be offended).

[Pete]

Now they are going to regulate how much people eat??? If a person is overweight and doesn't mind being that way what business is that of the FDA???

The socialist who was just on Cavuto said it was the governents business because obesity costs 93 billion a year in health costs. My father, who was actuary, warned of this 25 years ago. He always used to say that if the government gets involved in paying for health care, eventually they will tell us what we have to eat.

[prairiebreeze]

He always used to say that if the government gets involved in paying for health care, eventually they will tell us what we have to eat.

He was right. In the meantime I have an idea about what the government can eat.

[prairiebreeze]

FGS ping

[TheSpottedOwl]

All I want is food that tastes good. I'm sick of checking labels for sodium, fat, and cholesterol. What I'm curious is if the portions get smaller, does the price also get smaller?

Okay everyone, quit laughing! Also, why can't I order a half portion, or off the senior, or kiddie menu? I have a small stomach, and by the time I eat the leftovers(over a couple of days), it's stale.

Oh well, nanny knows best, but that's okay because we can't afford to eat out.

[nckerr]

I agree with the Government trying to get the help of private industries to curb the huge fat problem we have especially with our children. The responsibility ultimately lies with the parents.

So if you look down and your child has a big belly, round face, or looks outright fat to you- shame shame shame. Recent studies show that for every 20 lbs a female is overweight, they double their chance of breast cancer plus increase in diabetes, colon cancer, and many psychological issues. In 1980, 1 and 20 women got breast cancer, now it is 1 in 8!

And I am not talking BMI- I am just saying by looks. Less than 1 percent can attribute it to heredity or thyroid. It is called laziness by kids not playing and parents allowing it and parents allowing junk into the house all the time instead of special occasions. Pop is horrible for kids!

One last note on a recent study- The generation growing up is the first generation NOT expected to out live their parents age.

[Live and let live conservative]

I'm so sick and tired of these morons who insist that smoking, overeating, etc. causes excessive health cost for the Fed's and thus should be controlled. The only cause of excessive costs for the Fed is their involvement with health care in the first place. Even some posters on this site have used those types of tired, old lines. Is there a country where a man can simply live his life on his own terms and face the consequences of his decisions? There used to be, but no longer.

In thirty years this country is going to be filled with the type of people the world saw in New Orleans who just ignored the reality that a major hurricane was coming and waited for someone to do something.

Treating adults like children only results in child-like adults who are incapable of doing anything but assigning blame on everything but themselves when things go bad.

"McDonald's made me fat..." Try hitting a treadmill and quit going to McDonalds and when you show up for free health care you should do it on your knees thankful to those who really paid for it.

[nckerr]

Now they are going to regulate how much people eat??? If a person is overweight and doesn't mind being that way what business is that of the FDA???

I dont mind so long as Medicaid does not have to pay with my tax dollars any illness directly related to obesity including joint problems, breast cancer, psychological issues etc. Also goes for smokers, public money should not have to medical bills of overeaters, drug users, and smokers.