Globesity(obesity worldwide) is a serious problem. A few months ago in Australia an Obesity Summit was held in Sydney which stated that obesity is now the biggest public health hurdle of the century. At the same time Coca-Cola hosted a breakfast in Sydney where scientists from around the world spoke about the role of sugar in a balanced diet. Dr.Foreyt, chaperoned by Coca-Cola company representatives, says soft drinks have copped too much criticism in the war on fat, saying that the soft drinks have been demonized. The escalating consumption of high-sugar, high-energy soft drinks have been a hot topic in the world of obesity research and particularly regarding the spread of weight gain amongst teenagers. Dr Foreyt said that it is not one thing that has caused the problem, it is a multitude of factors contributing to obesity.
I agree with Dr. Foreyt but I feel that soft drinks are part of the problem and should be used in moderation, once every now and then not once every hour of the day. I also find it frustrating to see Coca Cola as part of the sponsorship behind the Obesity Summit, be it obscure or not. There are more than 1.5 billion adults and 10 percent of the children in the world who are now overweight or obese. They are now calling this phenomenon "Globesity". Obesity is the driving force behind diabetes type 2, in the last 20 years diabetes has increased 300% in this country alone. It is the fourth biggest killer in Australia.
The Obesity Summit conclusions were not what I expected. Food was not the focus but rather the developing urban social problems. New developments, lack proper attention to sidewalks, bike paths and public transport. They concluded that local, state and federal governments should commit to optimizing opportunities for exercise in a safe environment that we need a politically driven coordinated approach in health, finance, education, sports and agriculture, reversing the underlying causes of the obesity epidemic.
So where do I stand on this topic? Exactly where I've always stood. It's not up to anyone else but the individual to become informed. To be informed about the fat you eat, the sugar you eat, the additives you eat. Know that trans fats are the worst fat you can eat and it is disguised in foods as follows; margarine, hydrogenated vegetable oil, partially hydrogenated vegetable oil, vegetable oil. Read your food labels and keep this food out of your diet as much as possible. The additive MSG number 621 is an addictive substance that gives the statement "bet you can't stop at one" new meaning. Many foods on the grocery shelves have this number and you won't be able to stop at one. Sugar - go to the best you can eat, rapadura sugar is the best on the market. Go back and read Changing Habits Changing Lives ( http://www.changinghabits.com.au) and start getting back to being informed about food and make healthier choices. Just like global warming, the things you do now will decide whether we still have a planet to live on, and just like your health, the things you do now will decide whether or not you have a body to live in. Make a stand and don't be cajoled by powerful food companies that are not about truth but more about profit.
