I don't believe that fat automatically equals unhealthy. I think that poor eating habits and lack of exercise are what is both causing "the obesity epidemic" and the rise of diabetes and other such diseases in this country. Studies have showns that larger people who have pre-diabetes can elminate this or substantally lower their risks by just exercising and eating a healthy diet. Without losing any wieght at all. I know I am in better shape than most of my friends who are much slimmer than I am. My BMI puts me at "mobidly obese"...I think it's 41.7 or something. But I don't feel morbidly obese at all.
I also like what you said about schools modeling good behavior. I would agree. I think school lunches should be healthier and that candy and soda should not be sold at schools because I think it sends the wrong message, and we should also do what we can to have healthy kids. When I was young, soda was a treat, saved for birthday parties, fourth of july picnics and dinners out with family (also rare). Now kids drink it for breakfast. And as much as we tell our kids to drink the milk and get the turkey sandwich, if you give them $2 and they are left to their own devices they will probably get a coke and a bag of chips.
I also don't think we should be making deals with the devil (aka corporate america) to fund our schools........but that's a whole other issue.
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Date: 2006-05-04 07:33 pm (UTC)I don't believe that fat automatically equals unhealthy. I think that poor eating habits and lack of exercise are what is both causing "the obesity epidemic" and the rise of diabetes and other such diseases in this country. Studies have showns that larger people who have pre-diabetes can elminate this or substantally lower their risks by just exercising and eating a healthy diet. Without losing any wieght at all. I know I am in better shape than most of my friends who are much slimmer than I am. My BMI puts me at "mobidly obese"...I think it's 41.7 or something. But I don't feel morbidly obese at all.
I also like what you said about schools modeling good behavior. I would agree. I think school lunches should be healthier and that candy and soda should not be sold at schools because I think it sends the wrong message, and we should also do what we can to have healthy kids. When I was young, soda was a treat, saved for birthday parties, fourth of july picnics and dinners out with family (also rare). Now kids drink it for breakfast. And as much as we tell our kids to drink the milk and get the turkey sandwich, if you give them $2 and they are left to their own devices they will probably get a coke and a bag of chips.
I also don't think we should be making deals with the devil (aka corporate america) to fund our schools........but that's a whole other issue.