So just HOW should 'the government' tackle obesity etc...??

Thanks for the link mamie

I posted this on another thread, but it may be of interest here.
www.theguardian.com/books/2017/jan/02/the-case-against-sugar-gary-taubes-review-compelling-attack-diet-myths
I think the point that interests me most is that the "calories in calories out" and "eat less move more" messages have clearly not been working.

Link to public health england's new app
www.campaignlive.co.uk/article/change4life-launches-food-tracker-app-63m-campaign/1419545

The government's chief nutritionist (sic) has just been on the Today programme talking to Nick Robinson, starting around 8.45.
Apparently children on average consume 3 times the recommended level of sugar.
Public Health England have launched an app that, if I understood correctly, allows you to hold the barcode on your packet of cereal to your ipad or iphone and it will then tell you what the sugar, salt and saturated fat content of the product is.
Presumably that's only for people who have smartphones and who for some reason can't locate the panel on the packet that gives them this information anyway.......<sigh>
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006qj9z/episodes/player
The nutritionist did say that the sugar levy on soft drinks has been introduced and manufacturers have lowered the sugar content of drinks as a result. She didn't say what they have put in the drinks instead of sugar.

It is clear from all the posts that us older people have a good grasp of what food / behaviour is going to make you fat!
I eat some ready meals but a quick check of the back of the packet informs me if its very high in the `unhealthy` things then I can make a choice about whether to buy it or not .

Good information / education in school has got to be the starting point and from speaking to my GC this does seem to be happening . Following it up at home with high fat/ sugar foods only being given occasionally is surely only sensible? Saying all this - I am fatter than I used to be so I think `moving` plays a big part in maintaining a healthy weight , I move a lot less due to ill health and the weight gain has happened since becoming unwell . I have read that in some areas prescriptions for exercise in a gym are given out to people with weight and chronic pain issues ? not sure if this has been scrapped but it does seem like a good idea .

Oh get lost prernasain and take your stupid advertising with you.

Reported.

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my lunch break is 30 mins, by the time you've either microwaves something or gone and bought it there's just enough time to guzzle it down before going back to the part of the building I work in, I sometimes run up the stairs but other than that there wouldn't be time for even 10 jumping jacks not that they are my exercise of choice post children LOL

Good ideas indeed notanan

There's a trend developing where we live for people to go for a walk during their lunch hour. Two work sites where you regularly see groups of people (2s, 3s and 4s usually) in work suits and trainers striding out around lunch time. Firms can actively encourage this by ensuring workers don't habitually sit glued to their computer during lunch breaks.

It's a start.

Should we start a political party? This sounds too sensible to be true.

have had

Good ideas, notanan. Would that we have some sincerely politicians pushing such ideas!

Another factor maybe a big overhaul of missmanagement of chronic pain

A lot of people with chronic pain are over weight, they're also on a lot of ineffective pain relief with unhealthy side effects, because they type of pain relief they've been on for years has been proven to only be effective in the short term.

Again though, that's wellbeing . And more time to exercise/socialise/have hobbies in the first place could have prevented some long term pain conditions

That sounds good, notanan. More concern about well-being (a 'feel good factor') would also increase self-esteem and possibly lead to less comfort eating.

It's known that certain groups are more likely to be overweight or obese, so there's definitely a psychological element to over-eating.

Shorter school days and no homework so that children aren't shattered from sitting and concentrating until the sun goes down (in winter) and have time for play and hobbies

Family friendly work contracts, a crack down on zero hour contracts where people have to take what they're given, so that people can have a work-life balance and have hobbies.

More allotments, A LOT more allotments. Ideally one for every family who doesn't have a garden.

Safer roads for cyclists.

Better prosecution rates for sexual assault. Women need to feel safe out and about in public, a lot of car journeys are because women don't feel safe walking alone.

"healthy work places" - hour long lunches and on site gyms in larger organisations.

@starbird

Do you weigh the pasta and know how many calories are in it? I love pasta sauces and find them hard to resist, but have to be super strict with the amount of pasta I eat - a little goes a long way. I tried spiralised veg, but it just isn't the same. I know what you mean about the M & S pasta dishes - very tempting and easy to cook. I just have to walk past them, which isn't easy because they're opposite the entrance in my local M & S Express.

That's good to hear, janeainsworth. I agree with you about awareness in the UK. I think awareness is the key. It annoys me when people talk about 'good' and 'bad' food, because there is no such thing. All food contain calories, which is energy. Energy is good, but needs to be balanced over time.

I also don't think there's a simple solution such as only eating freshly cooked food or only eating when sitting at a table. It depends what the food is. It doesn't matter whether it's freshly cooked or not and it doesn't really matter where it's eaten - it's still food. I'm sceptical about whether a sugar tax will help, when items such as fruit juice escape the tax.

I've explained how understanding more about food requirements worked for me, although I realise others would find it tedious. If people aren't overweight or need a special diet, there's no need to worry, but if they are, they maybe need to think about doing things differently. One of my relatives has been obese all her adult life and I've lost count of the excuses she makes. I love her dearly, but I find myself biting my tongue when she complains about her bad back and painful limbs, etc.

daphne Americans are now very aware of the effects of high-fructose corn syrup and in American supermarkets a lot of confectionery and baking products are labelled 'no HFCS'.
I think there is actually less awareness in this country, where shop-bought biscuits etc usually contain 'glucose syrup' or 'invert sugar'. These are essentially the same as HFCS.

Don't take my posts personally, azie. I've still only read your last post so I've no idea what you've already said. When I referred to food police I had no-one in mind, only some general attitudes about food that are prevalent nowadays. Don't assume that posting a list of eats is boasting. It is telling, not boasting. I genuinely am interested in what people eat. If it bores you, that's okay. Happy New Year.

I've had porridge for breakfast made with half almond milk and half water, topped with cinnamon and linseed, (this is my daily breakfast)
Lunch - two fried eggs on toast
Dinner - a huge portion of wholewheat spaghetti topped with tinned tuna and onion mixed and heated with chopped tomatos flavoured with garlic, chiili and basil, to which I added some dill and black pepper, served with grated cheese, and iceberg lettuce on the side, followed by stewed apples and blueberries with some 'Elmlea' single cream poured over it (which I had left over from Christmas when I used it on mince pies)
Thoughout the day I have also eated four tunnocks wafers! (Because I went into Poundland this week). I drink black coffee or green mint tea.
I would describe my diet as basically healthy with added treats, I am at the top end of a healthy BMI and my waist is slightly more than the recommended 80cm (I am 5'8"),
so I will be trying to cut down starting Monday. I have lost 2 stone in the last two years which I accumulated when I was working and stopped by M&S foodstore at the local garage for a microwave meal, on the way home - there was usually a special offer if you bought 2 or 3 so I had them for three consecutive days, they were mostly pasta based and a whopping 500+ calories each, without the inevitable creamy desert I bought to follow!

Oh dear. I didn't say ready meals were all bad nor am I a member of something called food police. I was trying to add something constructive to a discussion begun by the OP who asked what could be done by the government about obesity. Why bother posting if you just want to boast about what you ate? Waste of time.

We had Tournados Rossini for our NYE supper. Very posh!

Can't afford slivers of truffle so I smeared the steaks with some truffle oil that my brother brought back from Croatia. I then left them to warm up to room temp.

About an hour later DH was convinced he could smell candlewax and made me check all over the place for a smouldering candle. I told him over and over again that the last time I lit a candle was Christmas Eve but he wouldn't have it.

We then found the culprit in the kitchen. Boy, that Croatian truffle oil is mighty strong!!

The steaks were delicious though

No fireworks here yet.

I might have forgotten a handful of Skittles with my second mug of coffee.

Big one just went off here.