GainesvilleMoms.com

I saw a study reported on the news this morning that predicted, according to recent trends and data, ALL Americans will be at least mildly obese by the year 2048. That's 100%!!! I know that won't happen because school's and the government are already starting to become aware and promote change (and there's always the supermodels we can count on to not eat) but that is an alarming stat!

Mr. Conspiracy here, just wanting to point out that this study is coming right at a time when laws are being passed to prevent certain foods or cooking oils from being sold or used. Are we looking down the barrel of government officials telling us what we can and cant eat?

What you're looking at is employers refusing to hire fat people. Insurers refusing to cover them. It's already happening with people who smoke. Some employers won't hire smokers. Here's the difference between those addicted to nicotine and those addicted to food: NICOTINE IS NOT NECESSARY FOR SURVIVAL. Not to mention that it's ok to make fun of obese people. The last group of people to be discriminated against.

As far as the governmental control....hey snack food companies have enough money to pay off politicians just like big tobcco has. Don't worry, as long as you can smoke your Marlboros, you'll still get to eat your Doritos.....

That's a scary statistic -- although who knows if it will come true or not.

Fast-food is way too easy to come by. I know for me, if I get off late, I'm much more likely to go through a drive-thru than to go home and cook a healthy dinner.

Absolutely. I think a lot of people are battling obesity because of a lack of time. I know I simply just don't have the time to spend an hour or more making a healthy dinner every single night. It's so sad.

I am an adult with a brain. I surely don't want government (who is made of other adults who hopefully have brains) regulating EVERYTHING.

There is enough info out there already that MODERATION is the key and things that taste delicious are usually filled with fat and calories. It's up to EACH ADULT to decide what to eat and what to feed our children. If we rely on politicians to tell us what is allowed and not allowed, we are surely in BIG trouble!

If a food-maker doesn't put calorie/fat info on a product, don't buy it. Everyone knows that a Big Mac and a box of chocolates and a ice-cream a day are bad for one's health. To have laws stopping us from partaking of what we wish is foolish. I don't want "Big Brother" running my life. God gave me a brain and if I choose not to use it from time-to-time, so be it.

How on earth did WE (those of us in our 40's and older) survive without all this government legislation???! Personal responsiblity is the key, NOT more laws.

When I taught full-time and my husband did as well, we always made time for a home-cooked, sit-down dinner. It was what was best for our kids. We vowed NOT to fill the kids with unhealthy, fattening fast foods. So many of us (including me) spend plenty of time on stupid things (computers, telephone, eating out, sports games, movies, etc) that we can surely FIND the time to cook for our families. Hubby and I took turns, which made it nice. And we kept it simple...a salad, a microwavable "baked" potato, a vegetable in the microwave and baked meat (or a crock pot meal) that took little time. We tossed it in the oven and then showered our daughter or helped her with homework while it cooked.

I believe life is about choices. Some choices we make because they are quick and easier, but they are often not the better choices. Again, it boils down to indivudial priorities and responsibility.

That does sound scary, but I am not sure I believe that it will be 100% I do my best to not have alot of junk foods in the house, have easy fast meals in the house for dinner, snacks, lunches, etc. I like those frozen skillet dinners that have veggies already cut with the sauce and sometimes pasta. You just dump in the skillet and warm up. Sometimes I add a chicken breast or other meat.
My kids are not big meat eaters, they prefer fruits and veggies, although my daughter does eat more meat than her brother.
I am not perfect at it, but I do my best to use moderation on just about everything. My kids get junk food in small amounts. They like it, like most kids, and I know if I deny it to them they will go over board when I am not there to monitor it. (Now if I can kick my butt in gear for exercise!)

you have to udnerstand what they mean by obese. my dr. said that 30 pounds over weight is obese, 100 pounds is morbidly obese. after using the word obese while transcribing my appointment notes, i told her i personally took offense to the word!!! if he is going to talk about me like that he should just say i'm fat! obese sounds like we need to widen the doors at home, i can deal with fat, just can't handle obese!

I am writing as I prepare to head to the gym for a 6:00am aerobics class. I agree we should all be able to make our own food/exercise choices wisely-seems we are doing a pretty bad job of it though. When I travel for work, it is so hard to get anything that is fast that is also healthy! At times like that, I sure wish there were more regulations requiring places have healthy food. Not to mention that food is a drug, if we put drugs in front of addicts, who will be weak and choose the drug. We need to do something as our county is suffering.

I will have to agree most Americans are over weight.
I am about 60 pounds over weight and I try to eat right and the older you get the harder it is to loss weight.
I use to be a size 4 and it really feels good (healthy) to weigh less.

I can tell you the main reason why most Americans are overweight is that
The cost to eat healthy low fat fresh foods is so high you can'T!

I cannot afford to feed my family a healthy meal every meal. I have to use the old stand bys, hamburger helper, tuna helper and hot dogs Mac& Cheese.....

If the cost of food was better we would all eat better.

A pint of ice cream costs twice as much as fresh strawberries. Fresh/organic Brown rice and beans cost less than packaged convenience foods. I think the issue is that people do not know what the good, inexpensive and healthy options are. There are so many healthy foods that cost very little-usually less than the unhealthy stuff. It is a matter of making good choices and adjusting ones taste. A dinner of a baked chicken breast, brown rice and steamed veggies is very inexpensive, tasty and healthy .