Ok, so if the underlying cause of obesity/weight gain is  "an imbalance
between intake and energy expenditure," and the solution is simply to engage
in "sufficient
 amounts of physical activity" why then, is the rate of obesity on the rise?
The solution is so easy!! there shouldn't be any "obese" people around, should
there? what are the conditions that lead to eating "improperly"? What might
cause a person to binge on nutritionally deficient foods versus making a nice
healthy organic salad?  what conditions are necessary for one to take an
aerobics class, hire a trainer, or join a gym? The last time I checked, these
activities were not free, nor are they subsidized.

 Ok, so maybe you don't need to join a gym to stay healthy. Running and
walking are free, right?  I have a friend who is a single parent of two and is
on social assistance. She receives approximately $1100/mo. Her apartment costs
approximately $1000/mo. So I guess ALL of the money she has left over could be
invested in a pair of running shoes right?? Yes that's it!! shame on her for
not eating fruits and veggies! So if she wants to go out for a run or a brisk
walk, I guess she could leave her small children with the babysitter, right?
Unfortunately, there aren't any free childcare facilities in her building. Why
is she eating a chocolate bar when she could be working out, or taking her
kids out to play hockey or go skiing! Do you think that stress plays a role in
her life?  Is it possible that she had a poor start in her early life? perhaps
she has been under stress virtually all her life? what are her coping
strategies? Can she just roll up her yoga mat, and head on down to a Hatha
yoga class ??  Are her basic needs being met on social assistance?  Should she
be counting calories or counting pennies??
She is "overweight," but I suppose this is her fault, because she CHOOSES to
be this way!!


Vini K. Dhillon



Quoting "Robeson, Paula" <[log in to unmask]>:

> I appreciate both these links to relevant health promotion literature.
>
> The causes of obesity/overweight are an imbalance between intake and energy
> expenditure. True socioeconomic status is a factor in the equation (through
> its impact on access to appropriate foods, stress etc). But whatever the SES
> if one eats too much of certain foods and does not engage in sufficient
> amounts of physical activity the result is overweight or obesity. Yes it is
> important to work to eliminate poverty and enhance food security. But it is
> also important to promote healthy eating and physical activity. I realize
> that access to physical activity, for example, is also impacted by SES,
> neighbourhood safety, and other associated factors, but nutrition or
> physical activity promotion is not limited to educational or awareness
> campaigns. It also involves healthy public policy development to eliminate
> barriers to access associated with SES (and disability, culture, gender
> etc). And there are those of us health promoters who are involved in social
> action aimed at eliminating poverty as well as working to reduce barriers to
> access for those currently living in poverty (and advocacy related to
> improving infrastructure to make communities people focused not car focused
> for example). But there are others doing equally important work who are not
> focused on eliminating poverty and other associated risks to health.
> Further, some involved in physical activity promotion see the value of
> involvement in recreation and other structured or unstructured programs
> (running groups, neighbourhood walking school buses, etc) as a means of
> promoting social connectedness. It is important that work be done via
> multiple strategies, at multiple levels, with multiple sectors to improve
> the health of Canadians. It is not an issue of either/or.
>
> Paula
>
>

Send one line: unsubscribe click4hp to: [log in to unmask] to unsubscribe
See: http://listserv.yorku.ca/archives/click4hp.html to alter your subscription