The fatting of America.

[tgibson3770]

Everywhere you look, obesity is there. I am not advocating to be a food policeman, but we need to start making a voice in our land. People do not like being overweight. But certain foods are addictive and the public needs to be educated on proper unbiased nutrition. Meat and dairy products and foods that are fried are absolutely in no way beneficial to the human body. The human physiological system is completely adaptable to a total vegetarian diet. But with the refined sugars and fatty foods that poison our body and cloud our minds, addiction sets in deep and becomes 'nearly' impossible to break the bonds.

I am challenging every nurse to take up the baton on this one. If we, health care professionals cannot make the first stand on the nutrition value of America, then the general population have little to no hope.

How about it? Educate, rejuvinate, permeate.

[Rapheal]

You know when I first read this thread it reminded me of the thread "Do nurses practice what they preach?" Did you author that thread?

Anyways..........Good nutrition is important, and the food pyramid gives good examples and guidelines for people to follow. Happy Holidays to you.

[Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN]

(Yes he's the OP of the preach thread. Which is locked)

No one will agree to disagree where this topic is concerned, nd some resort to personal attacks (and consequently the use of the ignore button due to PM namecalling). Maybe this one will get locked early before it gets ugly. Again.

[purplemania, BSN, RN]

You are so right, obesity is a problem. Childhood diabetes is increasing. We are digging our graves with our forks. But people equate nutrition messages with self-esteem messages and resent being told they are not eating properly. Will have to find another medium besides this one to get approach the public.

[NICU_Nurse, BSN, RN]

You know, I've given this a tremendous amount of thought and have come to the conclusion that you make some very valid points.

Our society struggles with food addiction and surely, if we continue along as we all have been, we are inevitably going to eat each other for lack of hot wings and ho-ho's (we're BOUND to run out, you know...). If you look at it like I have begun to, the world is a snack-cracker and we are but its hapless caviar garnish, ready to be consumed by our zombie-eyed, greasy-faced brethren after the mini-gherkins and crock-pot meatballs are devoured in our non-stop feeding frenzy.

Well, enough, I say! I say, ENOUGH. Put down your cheez-its! Fling that half-gnawed turkey leg to the floor right now! We must rally together to stop this demonic inhalation of extra calories and come together to do something more productive. I hear there's a clothing-optional group "activity" down by the pool- anyone with me?

Oh, and for those of you whose gorging has left you too winded to frolic scantily clad, we're serving cheesecake in the Cascades room.

[BRANDY LPN]

While i disagree with your statement about being a vegetarian, i feel that its too dramatic a step for most people to take for one thing, and i feel that ANY diet that eliminates an entire food group is a BAD thing, I DO agree that we as nurses should addresses this severe health problem.

I believe that teaching moderation, encouraging counseling for addictive behavior, and encouraging physical activities is a great way to start.

Just my opinion.

[LisaRN2B]

Originally posted by NICU_Nurse

You know, I've given this a tremendous amount of thought and have come to the conclusion that you make some very valid points.

Our society struggles with food addiction and surely, if we continue along as we all have been, we are inevitably going to eat each other for lack of hot wings and ho-ho's (we're BOUND to run out, you know...). If you look at it like I have begun to, the world is a snack-cracker and we are but its hapless caviar garnish, ready to be consumed by our zombie-eyed, greasy-faced brethren after the mini-gherkins and crock-pot meatballs are devoured in our non-stop feeding frenzy.

Well, enough, I say! I say, ENOUGH. Put down your cheez-its! Fling that half-gnawed turkey leg to the floor right now! We must rally together to stop this demonic inhalation of extra calories and come together to do something more productive. I hear there's a clothing-optional group "activity" down by the pool- anyone with me?

Oh, and for those of you whose gorging has left you too winded to frolic scantily clad, we're serving cheesecake in the Cascades room.

:roll

I'm there!

[Spidey's mom, ADN, BSN, RN]

NICU Nurse . . . . you speak for me!!:chuckle

There is no one way to address this issue. Legislating people's food choices is silly. Telling us to all eat one way won't work. And using the word "addiction" to describe overeating is a cop-out.

Thanks for the laugh. . . . now back to the crockpot meatballs. I'll pass on the clothing optional thing.

:kiss steph

[CCU NRS]

To push proper nutrition when as a nurse and a parent I end up eating more fast food than I should and I still love my Porterhouse Rare and am basically what we refer to in the mid/south/west as CORN FED.

I do see tooo many nurses with a weight problem, I am certainly one! obesity often leads to back/spine/knee/hip/joint problems and the overload can cause strain on Cardiac and lungs and cause any number of problems. I have always been a very large person "big boneded" but stay at least able to perform the necesasary functions of my profession.

I have considered the aesthetics and the opinions of those I adminisster care too. I also remember that when I began nursing school my hair was shoulder length and I had a few guys in my class with ponytails (no offense) and it occurred to me that I probably wouldn't want a male nurse with a ponytail and this brought the thought of my father who was unhappy with the length of my hair and I thought about most of the people would be closer to his age than mine when I began taking care of Pts, I cut my hair!

So I know that some people will look at me and see a fat guy, but I can only be the best me I can be.

[iliel]

Originally posted by BRANDY LPN

While i disagree with your statement about being a vegetarian, i feel that its too dramatic a step for most people

I agree

actually, many ppl GAIN weight when they become Vegetarian because they have no idea how to eat right. I was raised Vegetarian and am now Semi, I eat some fish. It's so hard to eat right, to make sure your getting everything you need, I have a feeling this would be a hard thing for ppl to just start doing. there needs to be an easing into a vegetarian lifestyle.

[prmenrs, RN]

What with everyone down @ the volleyball court, clothing optional, of course, and no meatballs in the crockpot, I had to resort to Reese's puffs cereal while reading this thread.

Oh, well, @ least I used skim milk, a good source of Calcium, too.

[TennRoadracer]

While America certainly does have a weight problem, the culprit is not any one single food group. The culprit is our collective lack of self control and discipline to not overeat and to get plenty of exercise.