_dhj_ said:
I agree that it is a major problem. But at the same time advances in health and dietary sciences have been so significant that average life expectancy has increased dramatically over the past century. So whilst overweight people are more likely to suffer health problems, the increase in obesity rates is also partly due to the increase in our overall quality of life.
I don't understand your link between > quality of life and > obesity.
There isn't a link. This generation is looking at being the first generation to die
before their parents.
Advances in health haven't contributed to much by way of the obesity epidemic. Yes we know more about dietary sciences, but you can lead a horse to water - you can't make it drink. We can lead people to dietitians, we can't make them make changes in their diet.
Our morbidity rates for diseases like cancer are increasing, but this is due to advances in screening processes. The mortality rate for most cancers has either become stagnant or has decreased, despite the increased prevalence. These same advances don't necessarily translate into advances in the way we treat weight related diseases.
There is still very little that can be done by way of diabetes and CVD.
If you don't help yourself you cannot expect that science is going to do the work for you. And I think this is where we fail as a community. Too much emphasis is placed on 'oh well if x happens to be, there is y treatment'. It isnt that simplistic.
