Futureshock- Fat Nation

Luckycharm

Anyone else watch this show. I have to say he really annoyed me These scare mongering programmes (we are going to die!!) really piss me off like the Property shock one they did a while back as well!!

It was Ironic how the presenter was a bit tubby and was one Kilo off being considered obese. She asks some random lad in a shopping centre "how do I look" - well there is a loaded question if you were ever asked one. Guy goes of course you look fine - what the hell is he going to say "you look like you a big fat whale" Then she starts her rant. Yes some kids are getting fatter but it is nowhere near what she was claiming. My Daughter goes to the biggest National school in Ireland there are 168 senior infants and I can honestly say there is not an obese one amongst and have not noticed any at the school. They are not allowed bring crap to school and are only allowed one treat on a friday which is great.
My missus works in a big creche with only women and I do have to say there are a few chubby girls working there so it does seem to more prevalent in younger women from in most of lower economic status that eat alot more crap.
Then they were giving their ground breaking discoveries that guess what if you eat less and excercise more you will keep a healthy weight!!
This scare mongering really annoys me- yes there are some people who are getting fatter but it no where the levels I have seen in States, OZ or the UK for that matter. Forbes did a study of worlds Fattest countries and we came 103rd in the world so obviously it is not as bad as they are making out
http://www.forbes.com/2007/02/07/worlds-fattest-countries-fo[/url] rbeslife-cx_ls_0208worldfat_4.html

Akrasia

Luckycharm wrote: »

Anyone else watch this show. I have to say he really annoyed me These scare mongering programmes (we are going to die!!) really piss me off like the Property shock one they did a while back as well!!

The property shock program has proven to be correct since it was aired (mark my words, we haven't seen anywhere near the worst of it yet)

hot fuss

You should check out the article that Katherine Holmquist, the presenter, wrote in the Irish Times on Saturday. She researched the problem before accepting the role as presenter because she initially thought it was scare mongering too.

She was convinced through her research that there is an actual problem.. I didn't see the show so can't comment on it, but her article was interesting.

Jack Sheehan

I once met Holmquist in a Dublin Libraries-thing and found her to be the most smug, condescending person I have ever met. Anyhting shes in I just turn off.

The Sparrow

The problem with this show was that even if the premise is correct they didn't prove it with any compelling statistics and the statistics that they did use were never put in any sort of global context. Really the programme makers set themselves up for the allegation of scaremongering because they failed to provide much evidence to support their claims.

Kate Holmquist may indeed believe that there is an obesity epidemic but she never told the viewer why.

dodgyme

Look so far we have had the cocaine scaremongering housing scaremongering crime scaremongering binge drinking scaremongering fatties scaremongering. Basically we can use one problem to solve another e.g use all the cocaine and give it to the children so they do some exercise and dont become fat.

Luckycharm

hot fuss wrote: »

You should check out the article that Katherine Holmquist, the presenter, wrote in the Irish Times on Saturday. She researched the problem before accepting the role as presenter because she initially thought it was scare mongering too.

She was convinced through her research that there is an actual problem.. I didn't see the show so can't comment on it, but her article was interesting.

I did read her article in the Irish Times so that is why I watched the programme. She did not really back it up with Stats in her programme as another poster mentioned. She was ridiculing Kids gyms (which were not threadmill and weights) but basically play areas and games for kids. I think they are a great idea given our rubbish weather - I would love to bring my little uns to the park more but given the summer we just had the option was not available. Hence things like indoor play areas are great so stop being so Patronizing!! :mad:

bill_ashmount

Watched about 15-20 minutes and turned it off.
The presenter, whoever she was, looked obese to me.

They make these programs because people like bad news, misery, problems etc......probably makes people feel better about their own lives.

Anyway, another rubbish program from RTE.

BaZmO*

Akrasia wrote: »

The property shock program has proven to be correct since it was aired (mark my words, we haven't seen anywhere near the worst of it yet)

Self-fulling Prophecy.

You keep telling people there'll be a property crash and people get scared and stop buying or selling houses.

Zamboni

I agree that it was not a great programme and not a very endearing presenter but the point is valid.


Scaremongering?

Please read;

Sports Participation And Health Among Adults In Ireland 2004 - ESRI

And Chapter 1, 2 & 3 of

The report of the National Taskforce on Obesity 2005.

dodgyme

bill_ashmount wrote: »

Anyway, another rubbish program from RTE.

Thats a bit unfair. The programme didnt tell me alot I didnt really know but highlighting stuff like the traffic light reading for food is a good idea and may help these initaitive gain more support here. Also the schools with better canteens and food programmes may be able to inspire other schools etc to do the same. To call the programme rubbish is a little hard on it, just my opinion!

Toto Wolfcastle

I didn't watch the programme but I heard that the presenter was something like 1 kilo away from being obese or something according to her BMI. My Dad was on a diet because his BMI suggested he was overweight. At one point he looked way too thin, yet his BMI still suggested he was overweight. Why can't we just look at someone and check to see if they're healthy instead of dividing a number by a number and saying that someone is obese.

I work in a school and there are very very few overweight children. I suppose that's why the programme was called Futureshock, because it's in our future!

mike65

I did'nt watch as I was viewing Channel 4s latest attempt to turn everyone free-range (Hughs Chicken Run), the point about school children is important, most seem to live on the contents on the nearest chipper/hot food counter. Its not huge issue for most children as they tend to burn it off but a child which is brought up thinking "fries is food" will proberbly have disease friendly adult lifestyle.

Mike.

Luckycharm

How do they work BMI - it just seems too simple. As we all know people are of different frames, body shape etc. I have quite broad shoulders I am 6ft and 14st - pretty fit play sport 2/3 times a week prob could lose 5/6lbs but would I be considered overweight?
Cousin 6ft 2inch 16 and half stone mainly muscle plays rugby at a high level would be considered overweight.

Then I have a friend 5ft11" Slight build about 12 and half stone and I reckon he is overweight given his build but he would probally be considered healthy by BMI?

Also back in the 80's etc we didn't really have the option of Low fat milk/butter etc that we do now and people I think in general are more aware of the calorie content of what they eat whether they choose to ignore it or not

One of the kids parents works in a gym and was talking about Ireland major obessity issue and one of the fattest coutries in Europe etc. I was then looking around at the kids in the school and asked them to point out one Obese kid in the schoolyard. I then went and did my own brief research where I found the other survey on where we were in the world and another WHO one as well which pretty much said the same.

Yes some kids are getting Fatter but I think the level of it was totally blown out of propotion by that programme last night.

The Sparrow

Zamboni wrote: »

I agree that it was not a great programme and not a very endearing presenter but the point is valid.


Scaremongering?

Please read;

Sports Participation And Health Among Adults In Ireland 2004 - ESRI

And Chapter 1, 2 & 3 of

The report of the National Taskforce on Obesity 2005.

Well the problem was that very few of this was referenced in the show. So as I mentioned above they left themselves open to the accusation of scaremongering. To me the definition of scaremongering is making broad statements about how screwed that we are without any statistics or context to back it up.

Toto Wolfcastle

Luckycharm wrote: »

How do they work BMI - it just seems too simple. As we all know people are of different frames, body shape etc. I have quite broad shoulders I am 6ft and 14st - pretty fit play sport 2/3 times a week prob could lose 5/6lbs but would I be considered overweight?
Cousin 6ft 2inch 16 and half stone mainly muscle plays rugby at a high level would be considered overweight.

Then I have a friend 5ft11" Slight build about 12 and half stone and I reckon he is overweight given his build but he would probally be considered healthy by BMI?

I think that the muscle thing is where the system falls down. Someone could be considered overweight according to their BMI but a lot of their weight could be muscle.

Mark Hamill

janeybabe wrote: »

My Dad was on a diet because his BMI suggested he was overweight. At one point he looked way too thin, yet his BMI still suggested he was overweight. Why can't we just look at someone and check to see if they're healthy instead of dividing a number by a number and saying that someone is obese.

BMI is supposed to be a rough guide to whether you're too fat. Obviously someone who plays rugby a lot is going to be big and so have a higher BMI, but that doesn't mean he'd be dangerously overweight. You are supposed to look at things like cholestral and blood sugar aswell if you want a good indication of whether or not you're healthy.
If your interested here's a BMI calculator .
Did your dad go on a diet because a doctor told him he needed lower his BMI? Or does your dad use a low BMI as a target for a diet he went on by himself? Either way, if he's interested in how healthy he is, he should get his cholesterol, blood sugar, etc tested too.l

Luckycharm

Well according to that even at probally my ideal weight for my build I would be overweight!!

Mark Hamill

Luckycharm wrote: »

Well according to that even at probally my ideal weight for my build I would be overweight!!

Yeah, its only supposed to be a rough indicator, and it even says on the "limitations of the BMI",

It may overestimate body fat in athletes and others who have a muscular build.

So any rugby players, weight lifters etc are going to be told they're overweight. The main problem with BMI is that its only a rough guide, but scaremongering TV shows and fitness hacks put it forward as a definitive way of telling if you're at a healthy weight or not. To be sure you need blood tests (for cholesterol/blood sugar levels/blood pressure) and stamina and exercise tests (eg the bleep test ). Stuff like this will tell you whether or not your body is actually healthy.

daveirl

This post has been deleted.

BaZmO*

daveirl wrote: »

This post has been deleted.

Exactly.

How Strange

I thought the show was light and fluffy - it appealed to the general masses who would switch off it real statistics and data were introduced to substantiate the claims. It didn't have any real teeth as a serious documentary.

However, it did raise an important issue and one that has pretty much dropped of the goverment's agenda since ... guess what.... we got a clinically obese Minister for Health a few years back.

I'd say every minister and back bencher, in fact everyone in the Dail, was warned when Harney came in as Minister for Health not to mention the F word under any circumstances.

She has never made any reference to obesity or a possible epidemic and the implied costs for the health service.

Irish people are getting fatter and that is a fact. Walk down any street in the country and you will see flab and fat. Kids are getting bigger because they don't exercise as much and eat terrible food. None of that was news to us really but it does help to bring it back out into the public domain again.

BaZmO*

How Strange wrote: »

I'd say every minister and back bencher, in fact everyone in the Dail, was warned when Harney came in as Minister for Health not to mention the F word under any circumstances.

Failure?

Toto Wolfcastle

Mark Hamill wrote: »

BMI is supposed to be a rough guide to whether you're too fat. Obviously someone who plays rugby a lot is going to be big and so have a higher BMI, but that doesn't mean he'd be dangerously overweight. You are supposed to look at things like cholestral and blood sugar aswell if you want a good indication of whether or not you're healthy.
If your interested here's a BMI calculator .
Did your dad go on a diet because a doctor told him he needed lower his BMI? Or does your dad use a low BMI as a target for a diet he went on by himself? Either way, if he's interested in how healthy he is, he should get his cholesterol, blood sugar, etc tested too.l

No, my Dad couldn't care less about his BMI. As I said, if he stuck by it he'd look anorexic. He's extremely healthy(gets check ups regularly) and active, cycles nearly everywhere, loves hillwalking and canoeing. He's got a lot of muscle as a result. That's my point, people need to realise that your BMI might suggest you're overweight, but it might be muscle.

Anyway, this is not about the show so I'll stop now!

phasers

my school was featured in that and it is completely false

our canteen is just sandwiches and milk, they acted like it was stopping the obesity epidemic itself!

the principal hand chose students to speak
and the stinger is we couldn't do PE that day because they were filming

that's not very healthy now is it?

iguana

BaZmO* wrote: »

Self-fulling Prophecy.

You keep telling people there'll be a property crash and people get scared and stop buying or selling houses.

Absolutely, it's amazing how many people fail to recognise how much impact Richard Curran's predictions have on the value of the US dollar and the price of oil.:rolleyes:

Wertz

phasers wrote: »

our canteen is just sandwiches and milk, they acted like it was stopping the obesity epidemic itself!

lol

http://www.milksucks.com/fat.asp

Far be it from me to pimp anything to do with PETA but numerous independant studies have shown that milk consumption contributes to obesity, heart disease, cancer, childhood illnesses and allergies and possibly even to osteoporosis.