Thursday, July 15, 2010

"F as in Fat"

A new report called "F as in Fat" stated, over 38 states have more than 25% of its population considered overweight or having a BMI that is above 25.

The report’s most important recommendations all involve coordinating policies across government. Agricultural policy is a particular target.

Marion Nestle, Professor of Nutrition, Food Studies and Public Health at New York University “The Farm Bill leaps to mind as an excellent place to start. How about creating an agricultural policy that supports production of fruits and vegetables instead of one that spends $20 billion of taxpayers’ money on corn and soybeans grown mainly for animal feed?”

This annoys me. Currently, there is over 3,900 calories per day available for every man, woman, and child in the United States. WAY, WAY too many for most people's sedentary lifestyles. Additionally, how many acres in the midwest are suitable for fruit production and when did corn stop being a vegetable? Granted approximately 80% of all corn produced goes into animal feeds but I don't think that is taking away anything from the grocery store for human consumption. You can still go buy corn in almost any form (frozen, canned, and on the cob) in even our rural grocery store.

So how is taking away money from farmers going to change obesity in America? Its NOT! The only thing that is going to effect it in my humble opinion, is if people get off the couch, off the internet, and go outside! Grow your own garden! Believe me weeding will burn off some calories and make you sore.

1 comment:

  1. So it's the US farmer who is making us fat?????? What percentage of our food is the packaged, preprocessed, corn syrup and salt laden stuff? And I think those of us who care enough to grow some of our own and buy as much local as we can tend to be healthier than those who eat at McD every other day!

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