The WHO says physical inactivity is costing us $27 billion a year

[onthedarkside]

 

(Bloomberg) -- A lack of physical activity is exacting a high price on the global economy, driving rising and costly rates of illness, according to the World Health Organization.

 

The UN agency puts the annual cost of physical inactivity at $27.4 billion, marked by 500 million new cases of preventable, noncommunicable diseases and mental illness projected through 2030. The direct costs will predominantly come from depression, dementia and hypertension, which collectively make up about 70% of the total.

...

Concerns about rising obesity, poor nutrition and lack of exercise are growing as 81% of adolescents and 27% of adults fail to meet recommended physical-activity levels and health-care spending skyrockets.

 

(more)

 

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/other/the-who-says-physical-inactivity-is-costing-us-27-billion-a-year/ar-AA137e1B

 

 

 

[onthedarkside]

A trolling post has been removed:

 

See the following:

Is obesity genetic? About 43% of people are predisposed, making it harder to lose weight

"There are over 400 genes that have been linked to obesity or being overweight. Having one or more of these genes means you are more predisposed to obesity than people without these genes, but it doesn't necessarily mean that you will become obese.

 

One of the most common genes is the obesity-associated gene (FTO), which is found in up to 43% of the general population. These genes were helpful to us back when humans were hunter-gatherers, as they are believed to have helped our ancestors store fat and survive times when food was scarce.

 

Studies show that people with the FTO gene are 67% more likely to be obese, compared with people who did not inherit the gene. However, people with the FTO gene can lower their risk of obesity by 27% if they exercise regularly.

 

(more)

 

https://www.insider.com/guides/health/diet-nutrition/is-obesity-genetic

 

 

[thaibeachlovers]

2 hours ago, onthedarkside said:

"There are over 400 genes that have been linked to obesity or being overweight. Having one or more of these genes means you are more predisposed to obesity than people without these genes, but it doesn't necessarily mean that you will become obese.

Indeed. When I was young an obese person was a rarity, and mocked as by the Billy Bunter books.

Now it's not PC to mock the fat people.

I blame the education system that doesn't actually "educate" people anymore ( if it ever did ) about how to live a healthy life.

Can't expect obese parents to educate their children about healthy eating. Up to me making children obese should be child abuse, but if they did make it so, the system would break down from too many victims.

[Chomper Higgot]

6 hours ago, thaibeachlovers said:

Indeed. When I was young an obese person was a rarity, and mocked as by the Billy Bunter books.

Now it's not PC to mock the fat people.

I blame the education system that doesn't actually "educate" people anymore ( if it ever did ) about how to live a healthy life.

Can't expect obese parents to educate their children about healthy eating. Up to me making children obese should be child abuse, but if they did make it so, the system would break down from too many victims.

You don’t think the introduction and marketing of fast foods, corn syrup and high energy low nutrition (but high profit) foods has anything to do with it?

 

 

 

[Bluespunk]

6 hours ago, thaibeachlovers said:

I blame the education system that doesn't actually "educate" people anymore ( if it ever did ) about how to live a healthy life.

As a teacher, I can tell you that statement is categorically incorrect.

[BritManToo]

10 hours ago, onthedarkside said:

A lack of physical activity is exacting a high price on the global economy, driving rising and costly rates of illness, according to the World Health Organization.

Didn't the WHO tell us to stay at home for the last two years and close all the gyms?

C'mon guys, make your mind up, do we go out an exercise, or do we stay locked up at home?

[BritManToo]

8 minutes ago, Bluespunk said:

As a teacher, I can tell you that statement is categorically incorrect.

Are you qualified to teach in your home country?

Foreigner with a TEFL working in a Thai school doesn't count for much IMHO.

Edited October 20, 2022 by BritManToo

[Bluespunk]

Just now, BritManToo said:

Didn't the WHO tell us to stay at home for the last two years and close all the gyms?

C'mon guys, make your mind up, do we go out an exercise, or do we stay locked up at home?

I exercised in the house while on lockdown, without any equipment or weights.

 

Getting back into my routine was simple enough when I returned to gym after lockdown lifted.

[Bluespunk]

1 minute ago, BritManToo said:

Are you qualified to teach in your home country?

Foreigner with a TEFL working in a Thai school doesn't count for much IMHO.

I am a UK qualified teacher with the degree/PGCE and 33 years experience of teaching in the UK and around the world to back it up.

[Chomper Higgot]

5 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

Didn't the WHO tell us to stay at home for the last two years and close all the gyms?

C'mon guys, make your mind up, do we go out an exercise, or do we stay locked up at home?

I think you’ll find outdoor exercise was recommended.

 

I never missed a single cycle training session throughout the lockdowns, like most cyclists I know I increased my time and kms on the bike.

 

The lock downs also saw a boom in the sale of indoor trainers, while  ‘Peloton’ and other applications brought online racing into the mainstream.

 

[ballpoint]

1 hour ago, Chomper Higgot said:

You don’t think the introduction and marketing of fast foods, corn syrup and high energy low nutrition (but high profit) foods has anything to do with it?

 

 

 

Along with the rise of mobile phone games and social media.  Kids are stuffing themselves with high energy food and beverages while fixated on their phones.  I imagine that the next evolutionary step for humans will be the loss of legs and the introduction of a large sucker on the posterior, allowing them to clamp themselves to the couch, limpet like.

[John Drake]

2 hours ago, Chomper Higgot said:

You don’t think the introduction and marketing of fast foods, corn syrup and high energy low nutrition (but high profit) foods has anything to do with it?

 

 

 

In the US, at least, it's also the portions on the plate served up at restaurants.

[Credo]

Many of us grew up in a vastly different world than kids today.  We were sent to out to play for hours on end, we explored, we rode bicycles, and we climbed trees.  Our duties at home, and sometimes for extra money, included shoveling snow and mowing lawns -- a few may have done that with a push mower.  Our meals probably weren't particularly healthy, but they were far from unhealthy.  Sugar was limited to a desert if we ate all our food, and the occasional candy bar and a bottle of soda.  Television was limited to a few channels and not a lot of choice of programs.  At school, we had recess instead of gym class.  Twice a day and at lunchtime we were outside running around.  

 

Many of our parents also were physically active, they farmed, they mined, they had outside jobs. 

 

That's not the case in the modern world.  Exercised isn't normal and has to be a paid for and planned activity, it's not safe for kids to just go out and runaround and it's infinitely easier to eat unhealthy food than healthy food. 

 

 

[thaibeachlovers]

18 hours ago, Bluespunk said:

As a teacher, I can tell you that statement is categorically incorrect.

As an ex student I can say categorically it is. I was taught nothing about actually living a life, though I did learn Latin, Shakespeare and the kings of England.

 

Forward to today, if healthy living is taught, it's obviously not taught well enough ( I refer only to schools in the country in which I reside ).

[thaibeachlovers]

9 hours ago, Credo said:

Many of us grew up in a vastly different world than kids today.  We were sent to out to play for hours on end, we explored, we rode bicycles, and we climbed trees.  Our duties at home, and sometimes for extra money, included shoveling snow and mowing lawns -- a few may have done that with a push mower.  Our meals probably weren't particularly healthy, but they were far from unhealthy.  Sugar was limited to a desert if we ate all our food, and the occasional candy bar and a bottle of soda.  Television was limited to a few channels and not a lot of choice of programs.  At school, we had recess instead of gym class.  Twice a day and at lunchtime we were outside running around.  

 

Many of our parents also were physically active, they farmed, they mined, they had outside jobs. 

 

That's not the case in the modern world.  Exercised isn't normal and has to be a paid for and planned activity, it's not safe for kids to just go out and runaround and it's infinitely easier to eat unhealthy food than healthy food. 

 

 

Agree 100%, but I had the extra benefit of there being no tv in my childhood. Instead we did family activities- board games etc, and listened to radio shows as a family.

If I were to attempt to define the beginning of the end for western society, it would be when tv became the norm in households.

[Bkk Brian]

58 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

As an ex student I can say categorically it is. I was taught nothing about actually living a life, though I did learn Latin, Shakespeare and the kings of England.

 

Forward to today, if healthy living is taught, it's obviously not taught well enough ( I refer only to schools in the country in which I reside ).

Promoting healthy lifestyles

We've developed resources in consultation with the Ministry of Health to assist schools and early childhood education services to promote healthy lifestyles.

https://www.education.govt.nz/school/health-safety-and-wellbeing/student-and-staff-health/why-promote-healthy-lifestyles/

[thaibeachlovers]

35 minutes ago, Bkk Brian said:

Promoting healthy lifestyles

We've developed resources in consultation with the Ministry of Health to assist schools and early childhood education services to promote healthy lifestyles.

https://www.education.govt.nz/school/health-safety-and-wellbeing/student-and-staff-health/why-promote-healthy-lifestyles/

Perhaps so in your country, but plenty of fat kids around here.

Also we have a truancy problem so some never get much education anyway.

[Bkk Brian]

Just now, thaibeachlovers said:

Perhaps so in your country, but plenty of fat kids around here.

Also we have a truancy problem so some never get much education anyway.

Plenty of overweight kids in all developed and developing countries, its not just about schools, that's just one part.

[Bluespunk]

1 hour ago, thaibeachlovers said:

As an ex student I can say categorically it is. I was taught nothing about actually living a life, though I did learn Latin, Shakespeare and the kings of England.

 

Forward to today, if healthy living is taught, it's obviously not taught well enough ( I refer only to schools in the country in which I reside ).

I have been teaching for 33 years and the well-being of the children and that of my colleagues in our care has always been a priority. That includes a healthy lifestyle, including diet, exercise, learning how to cope with adversity and challenges that can arise in life.
 

It is overly simplistic to claim that problems arise because there isn’t a subject labelled “healthy living” in the daily curriculum as the concepts contained within such a brushstroke term are interwoven in everything we do on a daily basis, both within learning and daily routines.  
 

It is a lazy, unthinking, inaccurate and often politically motivated habit to blame teachers for peoples lifestyle choices outside of our care, because we do everything we can to prepare children for the outside world.
 

Furthermore it is ludicrous to blame teaching because of the societal and cultural pressures that lead many to make choices are harmful to themselves and those around them. 
 

“Wellbeing is about the combination of our love for what we do each day, the quality of our relationships, the security of our finances, the vibrancy of our physical health, and the pride we take in what we have contributed to our communities. Most importantly, it’s about how these five elements interact.”

 

Tom Rath, 

 

Wellbeing: The Five Essential Elements

[Chomper Higgot]

The fast food and processed food  industries spend $ tens of billions on advertising directly targeting children and young families, in the US fast food industry alone spends $5billion.

 

And yet here we are blaming schools and young people.

 

https://consumer.healthday.com/b-6-17-fast-food-companies-spending-more-money-on-ads-aimed-at-youth-2653321351.html

 

https://www.fastfoodmarketing.org/fast_food_facts_in_brief.aspx

[thaibeachlovers]

On 10/21/2022 at 12:46 PM, Bkk Brian said:

Plenty of overweight kids in all developed and developing countries, its not just about schools, that's just one part.

When parents are obese they are probably not going to be feeding the kids a healthy diet, and when parents don't care about their kids doing sports etc, the kids ain't going to be getting much exercise, so other than schools, who is going to teach children about a healthy life style?

I blame the parents, but they were probably brought up badly themselves, so short of taking children off parents and putting them in institutions, what is the answer?

Up to me, it'd be so expensive to have children that the rotten adults wouldn't have any, but can't see that ever happening in a western country.

[Bkk Brian]

4 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

When parents are obese they are probably not going to be feeding the kids a healthy diet, and when parents don't care about their kids doing sports etc, the kids ain't going to be getting much exercise, so other than schools, who is going to teach children about a healthy life style?

I blame the parents, but they were probably brought up badly themselves, so short of taking children off parents and putting them in institutions, what is the answer?

Up to me, it'd be so expensive to have children that the rotten adults wouldn't have any, but can't see that ever happening in a western country.

I was responding to your claim that it was the schools fault and made it clear that is just a small part of it. However @Bluespunk explained it much better than me.

[Chomper Higgot]

12 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

When parents are obese they are probably not going to be feeding the kids a healthy diet, and when parents don't care about their kids doing sports etc, the kids ain't going to be getting much exercise, so other than schools, who is going to teach children about a healthy life style?

I blame the parents, but they were probably brought up badly themselves, so short of taking children off parents and putting them in institutions, what is the answer?

Up to me, it'd be so expensive to have children that the rotten adults wouldn't have any, but can't see that ever happening in a western country.

How do explain the sudden rise in obesity that first occurred in the US, then showed up in the UK and is now appearing in Thailand.

 

Is it a virus that is spreading that causes bad parenting or is it something else that is spreading causing changes to diet?

 

If a disease like obesity is society wide, look for a society wide cause.

 

If that disease spreads globally, look for a globally wide cause.

[thaibeachlovers]

On 10/21/2022 at 12:49 PM, Bluespunk said:

I have been teaching for 33 years and the well-being of the children and that of my colleagues in our care has always been a priority. That includes a healthy lifestyle, including diet, exercise, learning how to cope with adversity and challenges that can arise in life.
 

It is overly simplistic to claim that problems arise because there isn’t a subject labelled “healthy living” in the daily curriculum as the concepts contained within such a brushstroke term are interwoven in everything we do on a daily basis, both within learning and daily routines.  
 

It is a lazy, unthinking, inaccurate and often politically motivated habit to blame teachers for peoples lifestyle choices outside of our care, because we do everything we can to prepare children for the outside world.
 

Furthermore it is ludicrous to blame teaching because of the societal and cultural pressures that lead many to make choices are harmful to themselves and those around them. 
 

“Wellbeing is about the combination of our love for what we do each day, the quality of our relationships, the security of our finances, the vibrancy of our physical health, and the pride we take in what we have contributed to our communities. Most importantly, it’s about how these five elements interact.”

 

Tom Rath, 

 

Wellbeing: The Five Essential Elements

I never said that teachers are to blame, as I don't think that is their job. Far as I'm concerned teachers should teach maths, biology etc and specialists should be involved with kids that have been failed by their parents. No point making it a subject for all kids as many have parents that do care about them.

The obvious place for such remedial education is schools, but the cops have to be involved in truancy, as it's pointless have such programs if the kids that need it are playing hooky.

 

BTW, I am pleased to hear some teachers actually care, as the ones I had failed to educate, failed to produce well rounded students, some were incompetent, some were unkind, and some were overly fond of corporal punishment. In all my schooldays I only remember one teacher with fondness. Many I despise now for what they were, but back then I thought such was "normal".

Any education I had, I obtained after I left school.

[thaibeachlovers]

16 minutes ago, Bkk Brian said:

I was responding to your claim that it was the schools fault and made it clear that is just a small part of it. However @Bluespunk explained it much better than me.

I actually blame society and the government. The government for allowing such a situation to exist, and society for not caring enough to make the government do something about it.

Children are the future of any society, but if the only future for a substantial number of students is in the gangs, and jail, society is in deep doodoo.

 

NB. I repeat that I am referring only to the situation in the country in which I reside. I have no knowledge as to other countries education systems.

Edited October 22, 2022 by thaibeachlovers

[placeholder]

One partial fix for the problem is to forget about teaching phys ed in school and just make kids walk unattached to electronic devices. Well, except maybe a Fitbit.  Every day for say 45 minutes to an hour. More and more, research is revealing the crucial role that just walking plays in promoting health.

[thaibeachlovers]

3 minutes ago, placeholder said:

One partial fix for the problem is to forget about teaching phys ed in school and just make kids walk unattached to electronic devices. Well, except maybe a Fitbit.  Every day for say 45 minutes to an hour. More and more, research is revealing the crucial role that just walking plays in promoting health.

Given that apparently the games that we used to play during break have been banned because a child MIGHT get hurt ( no one was when i played them ), walking might be the only exercise that is acceptable.

I certainly agree that some sort of exercise is necessary when some kids might spend the rest of the day outside school watching tv or or on an electronic device of some sort.

 

I have to remind myself constantly when on threads like this that many children have good parents that do feed them well, take an interest in their education and take them to sporting activities.

The children that have been failed seem to take up most of the news coverage here, especially when out ramraiding shops in the early hours of the morning.

 

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/auckland-ram-raids-12-year-old-among-ram-raiders-arrested-after-targeting-a-liquor-store/CEKCJ4EPFO4JUJA3ZCTHLQDM6M/

A 12-year-old is among a group of youngsters who have been arrested after ram raiding an Auckland liquor store.

[Bkk Brian]

22 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

I actually blame society and the government. The government for allowing such a situation to exist, and society for not caring enough to make the government do something about it.

Children are the future of any society, but if the only future for a substantial number of students is in the gangs, and jail, society is in deep doodoo.

 

NB. I repeat that I am referring only to the situation in the country in which I reside. I have no knowledge as to other countries education systems.

Well I gave you a link to the school curriculum in your country that promotes healthy eating lifestyle but your respone was some kids play truant. If schools could fix this problem in a perfect world then we could also tell them to fix drug abuse, violence, anti social behaviour and release any responsibilty from parents, guardians, communities, society, goverments.

 

So you previous claim that it was the schools fault would then be correct.

 

In the real world schools form a part of this but so do many other people responsible for the welfare of society. We all have a part to play.

[thaibeachlovers]

1 minute ago, Bkk Brian said:

Well I gave you a link to the school curriculum in your country that promotes healthy eating lifestyle but your respone was some kids play truant. If schools could fix this problem in a perfect world then we could also tell them to fix drug abuse, violence, anti social behaviour and release any responsibilty from parents, guardians, communities, society, goverments.

 

So you previous claim that it was the schools fault would then be correct.

 

In the real world schools form a part of this but so do many other people responsible for the welfare of society. We all have a part to play.

I no longer put any stock in anything the present government does, as the rhetoric is so obviously at odds with the reality, and so it is with the healthy eating curriculum. The evidence on the streets is that it's failing a significant number of kids.

Trunacy is not just "some" kids, it's a serious problem not being dealt with.

If the children that need it are not in school to get it, it's rather pointless.

 

Am I right to assume that you are not currently in New Zealand?

[Bkk Brian]

6 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

I no longer put any stock in anything the present government does, as the rhetoric is so obviously at odds with the reality, and so it is with the healthy eating curriculum. The evidence on the streets is that it's failing a significant number of kids.

Trunacy is not just "some" kids, it's a serious problem not being dealt with.

If the children that need it are not in school to get it, it's rather pointless.

 

Am I right to assume that you are not currently in New Zealand?

Where I am is irrelevant. Apart from your own government initatives together with schools and the food industry, what do you suggest?