The UK is a nation of -porkers- discuss

Oh we're quite happy to debate but it's difficult when others see discrimination and stigmatisation round every corner.

I'm off to cook tea/supper/dinner whatever the PC term is these days. Too much fragile feelings, angst and hyperbole for me.

PS I'd love a x-trainer jingl but I know that it would end up the same way as my exercise bike (great as an extra clothes dryer)

PPS and things have got much better for fat people too.

Have you actually read any past threads on GN regarding gay people? No-one on here would dream of discriminating against them.

Last post addressed to daisy of course.

Have a nice evening everyone.

And you daisy.

I'm so glad that children in the UK have no trouble expressing themselves. Gosh think of all the money that could have been saved not carrying out that research. In fact, clearly GN is THE source to come to when anyone wants to understand any issue in the UK, note to oneself: write to MP and suggest. What a lovely bunch of people.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-33984082

I shall rest easy in my bed tonight!

Crikey Wilmaknickersfit! I didn't know that about referring yourself for talking therapies. How come you knew that and I didn't? Sounds amazing.

Re link, I wonder if it could be that our children have more sophisticated expectations?

Perhaps children running around naked in the sun in Ethiopia are happy because that is their accepted way of life. Perhaps children in a sweatshop in Romania think they are happy because that is all they know.

How can they really compare such different countries?

I made the mental health link between seacliffe's posts because she mentioned low self esteem and someone else mentioned counselling. I'm not sure what people think mental health means. Are we back to saying a person only has to eat less to lose weight and that's all there is to it? Perhaps they only associate the term mental health with something like depression or schizophrenia.

Many people diagnosed with mental health problems might not have got to that stage if they had taken better care of their mental health earlier. Low self esteem is often part of depression and whilst I am absolutely not saying seacliffe is depressed, it certainly sounds to me like she is stuck in a low mood and that can definitely progress to depression. Don't get me wrong, I'm not talking about someone who is feeling a bit down. I'm talking about someone who finds they can't raise their game and many people like this turn to food, drink and drugs to the point where they are stuck in a cycle. One of the aims of using CBT through IAPT is to support people with low mood to stop it getting worse and the person needing more extensive help from the NHS in the future.

I used the word 'despair' because not because I resent anyone's good fortune in life, but because of how few people give back to society in this country. People live such busy lives, but most of the time it is only all about them and their families (unless of course it is fashionable to be seen doing something specific). Then many realise later in life they didn't get the work/home life balance right and find themselves reevaluating what is important - including their mental health.

There are thousands of food banks in this country now (I saw one in my bank branch today) and 10 years ago the basket sitting out in the supermarket was for cat or dog food. Yes, I despair about the migrant situation, but it's because so many people are looking for a better life and somewhere safe to be, not because they are looking for a free ride. And as for the comments on tabloid websites... the less said about that the better. Despite what people on here might think, I believe 'I'm alright Jack' is now prevalent in this country. Sometimes is takes our children to bring us up short.

jinglebellfrocks I know about IAPT and self referral because I had an excellent GP (sadly she's moved on now). The service was only in some parts of England, but it was proving successful so the government has now provided money for four years country wide. I live in the Midlands so maybe it isn't as good in rural areas, but I know four people who got help after I shared my experiences with them. Yes, I do have mental health issues in the form of depression and I am now on my third period of support from IAPT over four years. Each time I have ended up in a better place. If you met me, you would never know I have problems because I go to great lengths to hide it (one of my problems).

I believe this country is at the forefront when it comes to responding to appeals for disaster aid. So we can't be that "I'm alright Jack",

I swear by good old fluoxetine myself. But it's good to know the likes of CBT is readily available for those that prefer it.

I confess that I have lost the thread of this thread!

Best thread we've had for a long time.

Don't worry, janea, I didn't think any of that. I don't think I'd count a suggestion that a mental health issue might be part of the problem as a diagnosis any more than I count someone saying they had a bug was a diagnosis. Perhaps we need to stop distinguishing between mental health issues and other health issues. I wonder if that would erase some of the stigma that many people (apparently, so one hears) do still feel is attached to mental illnesses.

Me too, lucky, at least as regards some of the posts.

jinglebellfrocks as a nation we are brilliant at responding to charity requests, perhaps not so much at helping in other ways.

Anyway, to bring the thread back where it started, all I'm trying to say is if we are a nation of porkers, then I firmly believe it is not all about simply eating less. We wouldn't be facing an obesity crisis if it was that easy. And I still think porkers is not a helpful word (and I'm not talking about the rude definition.

It is about simply eating less. Self control is required.

I know I will be accused of being lacking in sympathy. That's ok. I am.

People over-eat simply because they enjoy food. Not because they are depressed. Or lonely.

jinglebellfrocks I don't think you are lacking in sympathy, empathy maybe.

I'm not so sure that it is about eating less, more about eating the right foods and not drinking all those fizzy drinks that people seem to consume on a daily basis.

However, I don't think that banning drinks with sugar in or at least persuading supermarkets not to stock them (I think the government proposes to do that) is the answer. I think a lot more research needs to be done on the effects of aspartame on the metabolic system and that the food giants and supermarkets need to take more responsibility when plugging the more unhealthy foods which are often an extra to the 3 meals a day which is the ideal.

Drinking alcohol may play a large part too; we never used to drink wine routinely years ago, but many young people do these days.

No; our relationship with food is a very complicated one and probably begins from the time of our very first feed.

Breastfed or bottle-fed. There are only those two options, really...