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The Perfect Storm

(32 Posts)
Anya Tue 14-Jul-15 07:44:48

Did anyone see this Panorama Special on the NHS last night?

Anya Tue 14-Jul-15 13:13:51

I think it means there are a lot of people with cars and access to a huge range of healthy options from supermarkets who CBA to look for healthy options and fill their trolley withf crisps, pizzas, ice cream, spaghetti hoops and biscuits, with the odd carrot or apple thrown in as part of their 0.5 a day

#itstrueiveseenem

So I don't know what the answer is.

Anya Tue 14-Jul-15 13:14:39

That was to anyone who cares to read it.

crun Tue 14-Jul-15 14:17:50

You can divide the population into three groups. First there's a minority who eat well and exercise, they're not a burden on the NHS because they're a minority, and they are the healthiest.

Secondly, there are a minority who can't exercise, they're still not a much of a burden because they're a minority even though their needs may be complex.

Lastly, there's the majority who eat poorly and do no exercise from choice (or at least it was a choice before they made themselves ill). It is these who are the burden, both because of their numbers and because they are less healthy.

There are plenty of healthy options in most supermarkets, but the quantities they stock reflect the quantities they sell. The reason that there are many aisles of junk food is because that's where most of the trade lies, when people change what they buy the shops will change what they stock. You can't expect them to have junk food aisles that are all sold out and piles of unsold fruit and veg rotting. Supermarkets adjust their stock to match sales, not the other way around (a common reason for discounts is when they misjudge demand, and have a surplus to shift before it goes off).

loopylou Tue 14-Jul-15 14:28:04

I haven't seen the programme yet, but regarding obesity we were away for the weekend at a Welsh coastal town and simply couldn't believe our eyes at the numbers of very obese children and adults wandering around.

Now I know there are obese individuals everywhere but the numbers were shocking, and virtually all of them were eating takeaways, ice creams or sweets.

I don't know what the answer is beyond education and when you see little toddlers already so overweight that their legs are bowing, it makes me angry.

DH says he still can't believe what we saw..... sad

Anya Tue 14-Jul-15 14:46:11

crun the areas I was talking about are in these (often) post war estates where there is usually just a small parade of shops. Typically there's an Off Licence, a Bookie's, a sweet shop cum paper shop cum tobacconist, a Takeaway and a small general purpose grocery store.

In my minds eye I can picture several variations one this, but in general that's all there is in offer. If you're stuck at home with young children, not much money there's little on offer.

Anya Tue 14-Jul-15 14:57:08

'Cuse mistakes was rushing to answer door.