NJ starting agency to battle obesity

The Associated Press ^ | May 28, 2007 | LINDA A. JOHNSON

[Eric Blair 2084]

TRENTON, N.J. - New Jersey's health department is escalating the battle against the bulge by starting a new Office of Nutrition and Fitness to better coordinate programs aimed at preventing obesity. The agency is particularly needed in New Jersey — possibly the first state to create such a government body.

The Garden State has the highest percentage of overweight and obese children under age 5, at 17.7 percent, according to a 2004 survey by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. New Jersey also has many black and Latino youth, who are more likely to be overweight than white kids.

Dr. Fred M. Jacobs, commissioner of the state Department of Health and Senior Services, said young people are a crucial target for the new agency because it's easier to instill good diet and exercise habits to prevent obesity in young people than it is to reverse weight problems in adults; adults almost always gain back any weight they lose — and then some.

Jacobs says he wants to tackle the obesity problem through education, support groups and encouraging physical activity, rather than by banning particular foods. One goal is to "de-normalize" the massive portions served in restaurants.

"I want to do that without creating a further stigma on individual people," Jacobs said. "It's bad enough when you're fat that people think less of you. I don't want the government piling on."

[EQAndyBuzz]

“Get this — New Jersey is going to try to require health insurers to cover “obesity surgery.””

I would start this program for all employees working either for the state or for any union that deals with the state.

Every year they get weighed and if they are not at their required weight, they have to pay for their own health insurance.

If it works in a year, knock on my door. Until then STFU you bunch of stupid socialists.

[Dumpster Baby]

Dr. Fred M. Jacobs - porker sez "Do as I say, not as I do".

At far left:

[Cobra64]

Well fed liberals hardest hit.

[zeugma]

Agree. I was nearly punched by a morbidly obese man while smoking outside once.

A good response to their obnoxious behavior might be to ask, "what's the matter, are you afraid a little smoke might curb your appetite? 

[hunter112]

New Jersey's health department is escalating the battle against the bulge by starting a new Office of Nutrition and Fitness to better coordinate programs aimed at preventing obesity.

Ah, so that was the problem, the programs weren't coordinated properly. How could they have been so blind?

Actually, maybe if the pizza on this coast didn't taste so damned good...

[CIDKauf]

give ‘em cake and ice cream!

[ellery]

When the efforts to nag people to drop the Chalupa doesn't work, and we all know it won't, what's the next step?

Possibilities abound -- the only thing we can be sure of is that the next step will involve a lucrative new revenue stream for the State.

[wintertime]

The Garden State has the highest percentage of overweight and obese children under age 5, at 17.7 percent, according to a 2004 survey by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. New Jersey also has many black and Latino youth, who are more likely to be overweight than white kids.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

I have never met a fat homeschooler who has been homeschooled from the beginning. I can’t even remember meeting a chubby one.

[wintertime]

Possibilities abound — the only thing we can be sure of is that the next step will involve a lucrative new revenue stream for the State.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

This is a government jobs program for liberal/Marxists with liberal arts degrees that would be worthless in the free market.

This is just another layer added to the education-social welfare-industrial complex.

[mysterio]

I was honestly too stunned to say anything, and I was near my place of work, so I was afraid to take too much of a stand against him.

He came up to me and told me to put out the %@^&**% cigarette. I informed him that I was outdoors. He then told me that he would put it out for me if I didn't comply and looked ready to lunge. While it would have made for a great lawsuit, I decided to skip my smoke break that day. But it gave me a profound dislike of anti-tobacco zealots, which I will carry with me even after I quit in two weeks.

[dighton]

Fuhgeddaboudit.

[keepitreal]

When the efforts to nag people to drop the Chalupa doesn't work, and we all know it won't, what's the next step?

No knock refrigerator raids, of course.

[darkangel82]

Maybe you should have put the cigarette out on his %@^&**%.

[HoosierHawk]

If the Food Nazis have their way, I'm not sure you'll even have a first helping of potatos.

[Bogtrotter52]

“If I had a dollar for every 300 pound woman who waved their sausage like fingers......”

LOL! Love that line. I am always amazed by how many HUGE people I see here who park in handicap spaces then push carts through Walmart piling them full of chips, soda, and other junk. I do not have a ounce of sympathy for the obese. You will never see a case where it is not self induced.

[SteamShovel]

If a fat person applies for a job with the agency, will they be discriminated against??

I'd love to see that lawsuit, especially since it is now a sport to bring down private employers for their preferences in hiring.

[GSWarrior]

The Garden State has the highest percentage of overweight and obese children under age 5, at 17.7 percent,

Of course, these are just round figures...

[VeritatisSplendor]

I’d say it’s a much smaller number in our town - maybe 3-4 % of five year olds. Which means it probably is cultural and could be changed - which doesn’t mean that a State Office for the Prevention of Obesity is going to do the trick.

Mrs VS

[383rr]

How long have we been saying this would happen?

You and I both know a “BIG FOOD” MSA is the next logical step.

[NaughtiusMaximus]

If I had a dollar for every 300 pound woman who waved their sausage like fingers in front of their face and gave me a dirty look while I was smoking in the bar next to them, and then diving face first back into their plate of nachos and refried beans...I would be a billionaire.

This happens to you too? I thought I was the Lone Ranger. Well, we warned them, and now it's their turn to be the goats.