Comments on: Rethinking Our Food System to Combat Obesity

By: “Eaters must become more political. We can’t just vote with our forks.” « oxypoliticselectionblog

Sat, 24 Nov 2012 21:20:54 +0000

[...] farms, terrible conditions for workers are commonplace in the food industry, and epidemics like obesity, diabetes, and heart disease can all be largely traced back to the food policies of this nation and [...]

By: Chris

Chris — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 06:47:25 +0000

I think you hit the nail on the head when you state that a huge cause of the obesity epidemic stems from the easy availability of processed food that cheaper than fresh food–and often, much more convenient. This is a huge problem and should be greater oversight of companies that sell cheap, unhealthy food in my opinion.

By: Grace Sevilly

Grace Sevilly — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 05:04:15 +0000

Yes, and also to add to the conversation, the laws are even trying to cut down those that provide valuable food to our tables. Take for example the raw milk farmers that are being hunted when they are only giving an alternative nutritious food source to our tables… sad but true

By: Renee

Renee — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 17:49:40 +0000

Hi Geoff, I think it’s often true that it takes time for policy and regulations to evolve so that enlightened ideas can be implemented. But as people continue to push for change, laws will change as well. For example, beekeeping was finally legalized in NYC in 2010.

By: Geoff

Geoff — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 02:03:17 +0000

Urban farming is a cool idea — but in many cities in the US it is easier said than done because of laws against it.

For instance in Rochester, NY I purchased an abandoned lot through the city auction and proposed to create an apple orchard. But the city turned me down, telling me (and I had lots of discussion about it trying to change the outcome) that an agricultural use in the city is illegal because the zoning is residential or commercial and won’t permit agriculture.

Many US cities and burbs have rules that require people to maintain lawns and cut grass regularly. Contrast this with China when the norm outside the biggest cities is to have no lawns and to grow crops right up to the edge of residential apartment houses.

By: Grace Sevilly

Grace Sevilly — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 19:08:30 +0000

Obesity is the effect of a nation / society’s culture. Mcdonald’s, fast food chains, burgers, fries.. in the end education is still the key to help the nation or society fight its way through obesity

By: Trishan Nagiah

Trishan Nagiah — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 23:55:15 +0000

hey Renee i completely agree with childhood obesity will be not be sustainable or effective on a broad scale if the larger food system is not addressed. Too much fast food going on in our daily diet and especially children love it.

By: Diana

Diana — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 16:44:40 +0000

I think that we are not a nation of obese, we are a nation of McDonald’s and Coca Cola. we urgently need to change national policy

By: Mike

Mike — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 04:00:35 +0000

I feel a big problem with society is the fact they we tend to eat out of convenience instead of eating what is healthy for us. It is easier to go to a drive through to get a meal instead of preparing one.

Obesity in America: The Growing Dilemma
http://exerciseandnutritiontips.com/obesity-in-america-the-growing-dilemma

By: Gerard Sirois

Gerard Sirois — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 21:44:54 +0000

Maybe you are a vegan or vegetarian promoting lots of vegetables in our diet. However many veg head are also obese. I was vegetarian for seventeen years and was always big.
Last March I decided to follow the recommendation found in Gary Taubes’ book
“Why We Get Fat” I lost 42 pounds and am in better health than the last twenty years I am now sixty four. Grains are the major cause in gaining weight.