Boris johnson talking about losing weight is actually pretty cool

Fian · 28-07-2020 12:29AM #1

So, I'm not a massive fan of boris.

However, I see him being slagged off for his recent videos encouraging people to lose weight to combat covid, and tbh i think the negative reaction is just a knee jerk. He is playing to his strengths, for the public good. He was always relatable, he was a popular presenter on "have I got news for you" before anyone anticipated that he might end up as PM in the UK. He is leaning into that in encouraging people to lose weight and address their obesity and he is doing it himself. I am in my late 40s and am overweight bordering on obese myself btw.

He has done enormous damage to his own nation and to ours by allowing Dominic Cummings to persuade him to support Brexit, but it is courageous of him to bring out this video and is genuinely an act of public service that should be applauded. Not many PMs would flag up their own obesity in order to encourage others to address theirs.

I just don't understand why people are reacting to it like the trump video about the cognitive test he "aced."

28-07-2020 12:39AM

Yeah, I agree. 1 in 3 British schoolchildren are overeeight or obese by the time they begin secondary education, according to a news report tonight. If Johnson can play a role in tackling that as a serious public health issue, then that would be a major breakthrough.

Nevertheless, after decades of state-led derision of "The Nanny State", they'll face an uphill battle. British communities are far more alienated from government than a lot of other European societies, including Ireland. They are not a cohesive society. They have arguably never been more divided, and many poorer, urban communities are completely dysfunctional.

Change like this requires a major buy-in within homes and communities. Is Boris Johnson's diet really enough to inspire that?

s1ippy · 28-07-2020 12:39AM

Completely tone deaf.

Many people who recover from coronavirus won't be able to run or jog for a long time.

It looks like he has acres of private grounds there to run in.

He has nutritionists, trainers and health specialists to support him.

To just claim he goes for a jog in the morning and it's the worst thing to happen all day when there are still an average of 100 people (weekly avg) dying in the country he's supposed to be in charge of.

Instead of being aloof and idiotic like he used to be, he's now assumed the "fun but concerned dad" persona. It's all PR, he's suddenly no longer "incompetent and useless", he has it all under control. Who better placed to lead than someone who used to be a messer?

"Fucking literally anyone but him" is my suggestion.

JMNolan · 28-07-2020 09:01AM

s1ippy wrote: »

It looks like he has acres of private grounds there to run in.

You don't need many acres to eat less.

Church on Tuesday · 28-07-2020 10:24AM

He's a clown.

28-07-2020 10:32AM

he was a popular presenter on "have I got news for you"

Yeah but thats because Ian Hislop and Paul Merton constantly took the pi$$ out of him. As viewers we were laughing at him not with him.

I used to wonder how someone who cycles so much could be so out of shape, but the adage "you can't out-train a bad diet" rings true. He now gets all his meals cooked by a professional chef, he could ask for healthy options. The rest of the nation don't have that luxury. If he needs health advice, who does he ring? The Minister for Health. If he wanted to do a bootcamp style fitness regime he could be instructed by the SAS.

His philosophy of "If I can do it, anyone can, is completely mis-placed.

biko · 28-07-2020 10:36AM

Only fatties don't like Boris.

silverharp · 28-07-2020 10:43AM

the truth is more in the realms of you lose weight so you can exercise

jam_mac_jam · 28-07-2020 10:46AM

Anything that raises awareness of the issue is a good thing. Obesity is a huge problem in the UK and badly needs to be tacked. Ireland also.

He might not be the best person to do it but overall it's a positive move.

meeeeh · 28-07-2020 10:54AM

Brits are one of the fattest nations in Europe so implementing policies to tackle obesity is good. Going on a slimming campaign in order to blame high Corona death rate on obesity and not on abysmal government response is less good.

Something good might come out of what is clearly a pr strategy to shift the debate away from government performance.

Strumms · 28-07-2020 11:12AM

It’s a while since I saw anybody as out of their depth in a job as Boris to be fair.

El_Duderino 09 · 28-07-2020 11:30AM

s1ippy wrote: »

Completely tone deaf.

Many people who recover from coronavirus won't be able to run or jog for a long time.
...

Right but the point is to be healthier and better able to fight off COVID when we get it and particularly during the likely deco d wave during the winter.

I think Johnson is a complete coward a terrible leader. Never made a courageous decision in his life and a compete conman. Had absolutely no principles that he wouldn't drop in a heartbeat to suit himself. Real contender for worst PM along with May (though for different reasons).

But, I think this might be the first thing that he is doing because he thinks it's the right thing to do as a leader. It took him personally getting COVID and personally being affected badly and personally having negative effects of being overweight to have an impact on him and give him a guiding principle and empathy on this one issue.

Genuinely terrible human. Delighted he's doing this one good thing.

Muahahaha · 28-07-2020 12:08PM

meeeeh wrote: »

Brits are one of the fattest nations in Europe so implementing policies to tackle obesity is good. Going on a slimming campaign in order to blame high Corona death rate on obesity and not on abysmal government response is less good.

Something good might come out of what is clearly a pr strategy to shift the debate away from government performance.

I dont think we are doing too well ourselves, some surveys say we are right behind the US and UK in terms of obesity problems

28-07-2020 12:47PM

kfallon wrote: »

Boris Johnson is nothing but a fat Tory scumbag cúnt

People are capable of change. I think there has been some evidence that the Covid had an impact on him. He seems to be taking a genuine personal interest in this.

Cynicism is the biggest crisis in politics right now. It's absolutely toxic. I'd rather have low level corruption.

meeeeh · 28-07-2020 12:47PM

Muahahaha wrote: »

I dont think we are doing too well ourselves, some surveys say we are right behind the US and UK in terms of obesity problems

I didn't say we are doing better.

work · 28-07-2020 12:56PM

kfallon wrote: »

Boris Johnson is nothing but a fat Tory scumbag cúnt

You should write plays or be a speech writer, an amazing way with language!

work · 28-07-2020 01:00PM

He says...jog in the morning and it's the worst thing to happen all day. This is not a sales pitch to lose weight, you need to use the feeling of happiness it gives you not lot everyone know you a trooper...over the trenches boys....good idea very poor communication.

Tommybojangles · 28-07-2020 01:03PM

Wouldnt be a fan of Boris but I respect this. Other ways of getting this message out have been tried and failed.
The huge amount of "I dont like Boris so I immediately think this is stupid " responces shows why politics is so fcuked these days

jimmycrackcorm · 28-07-2020 01:05PM

He's made so many turns in the past about things that is be willing to bet this won't last and we'll never see a slimmed down Boris.

If he could do that then he might be able to have a positive effect on some people.

But not going to happen.

28-07-2020 01:08PM

He's a likeable bumbling fool.

Doesn't mean that I'd want him running the nuclear power station.

He'll be remembered as a complete incompetent.

This token gesture won't do anything change that and precisely because of his flaws of wanting to be liked and having no real convictions of his own he has surrounded himself with yes men and types like Cummings who know exactly what they want to try to achieve, which has made things all the worse.

El_Duderino 09 · 28-07-2020 01:16PM

glasso wrote: »

He's a likeable bumbling fool.

Doesn't mean that I'd want him running the nuclear power station.

He'll be remembered as a complete incompetent.

This token gesture won't do anything change that and precisely because of his flaws of wanting to be liked and having no real convictions of his own he has surrounded himself with yes men and types like Cummings who know exactly what they want to try to achieve, which has made things all the worse.

I fear he'll be remembered as a likeable bumbling fool. I don't find him likable at all. If he were an eccentric running a corner shop, he'd be amusing and maybe likable. But as a person in power it's absolutely terrifying that people find his upper class bumbling to be likeable.

Imagine for a second, a bumbling working class person in charge of the nation's COVID response. It wouldn't happen but if it did there would be uproar

myfreespirit · 28-07-2020 01:20PM

glasso wrote: »

He's a likeable bumbling fool.

Doesn't mean that I'd want him running the nuclear power station.

He'll be remembered as a complete incompetent.

“Boris is a gold medal egomaniac… His chaotic public persona is not an act – he is, indeed, manically disorganised about everything except his own image management. He is also a far more ruthless, and frankly nastier, figure than the public appreciates… I would not take Boris’s word about whether it is Monday or Tuesday… He is not a man to believe in, to trust or respect, save as a superlative exhibitionist. He is bereft of judgment, loyalty and discretion. Only in the star-crazed, friviolous Britain of the 21st century could such a man have risen so high, and he is utterly unfit to go higher still.”

Boris Johnson is a nasty piece of work, the above quote is from his former boss at the Telegraph newspaper.

28-07-2020 01:20PM

El_Duderino 09 wrote: »

Imagine for a second, a bumbling working class person in charge of the nation's COVID response. It wouldn't happen but if it did there would be uproar

that's commonly known as a gobshtye

you have to be a toff to be "eccentric"

Muahahaha · 28-07-2020 03:15PM

meeeeh wrote: »

I didn't say we are doing better.

oh yeah sorry I wasnt having a dig at you. Was just making the point that when it come to obesity Ireland, the UK and US are right up there at the top of the charts, its really worrying on a soceital level and what it means for the health of the nation and the impact on our health services.

Was in a supermarket last week and in front of me in the queue was an obese mother and her son about 12 years of age. He went straight to the cashier to get one of those giant sharing packs of bacon fries scanned so he could start munching straight away. These packs are 125g so basically the same as five normal packs of bacon fries in one pack and it was clear he was going to eat the whole lot in one go. For a child of that age that is more or less their entire calorie intake in one giant bag of crisps and then everything else they eat for the rest of the day results in them putting on weight.

You see the same in the chippers even on a random Monday or Tuesday evening around 6pm. Mothers and fathers coming in with kids and dropping 30 euro on junk for the whole family. And the kids with big bellies on them, its sad to see because they're being brought up into a life time of bad health. Likely bullying too as obese kids are always a target in schoolyards.

Whats worse is that we have more knowledge about diet and nutrition now than we ever had yet instead of the nation getting healthier its actually the opposite.

Marty Xavier · 28-07-2020 03:27PM

I think you can exercise moderately all you like (!) but really weight loss is all about diet. Walking for 30 minutes a day while good for you to get the blood flowing and the mental health benefits isn't going to do much on the scales without a reduction in the amount and an increase in the quality of food.

Muahahaha · 28-07-2020 03:42PM

Yeah without a doubt, you cant exercise away a bad diet in the medium or long term. All you are doing is running around the place so that you can eat those ice creams and chocolate. As soon as you stop exercising the weight piles on.

28-07-2020 04:00PM

Muahahaha wrote: »

You see the same in the chippers even on a random Monday or Tuesday evening around 6pm. Mothers and fathers coming in with kids and dropping 30 euro on junk for the whole family. And the kids with big bellies on them, its sad to see because they're being brought up into a life time of bad health. Likely bullying too as obese kids are always a target in schoolyards.

Whats worse is that we have more knowledge about diet and nutrition now than we ever had yet instead of the nation getting healthier its actually the opposite.

Wrt to first paragraph, yeah that's too common a sight. But we've all over eaten and I think for anyone who isn't overweight, it's often down to luck (or rather genetics) and environment. I could easily eat an entire tube of pringles watching TV. Easily. I haven't been a member of a gym in ages and the only exercise is at a slow pace, walking dogs and children. I should be a balloon. Those of us who aren't overweight should be careful of judging those who are (I dont think you are your observation just reminded me of this point).

"Fat shaming" is a type of bullying. Much of the way we used to speak about being overweight is now more of a stigma. That's good because "fat shaming" never worked and only made people feel bad. That's the worst possible outcome.

If we can get around to treating nutrition like eyesight, that'd be great. Like most of us who wear contacts or glasses, mine are because of bad habits that were worsened by bad genes. If someone tried to stigmatised that, it would be so daft as to be funny.

Maybe a good place to start is by emphasising that people are attracted to people all along the weight spectrum and appearance should never be promoted as a factor in weight loss. That's one big bugbear of mine when it comes to things like Operation Transformation. People are always going on about how losing weight would affect their appearance, which probably isn't helpful.

jam_mac_jam · 28-07-2020 04:27PM

A Tyrant Named Miltiades! wrote: »

Wrt to first paragraph, yeah that's too common a sight. But we've all over eaten and I think for anyone who isn't overweight, it's often down to luck (or rather genetics) and environment. I could easily eat an entire tube of pringles watching TV. Easily. I haven't been a member of a gym in ages and the only exercise is at a slow pace, walking dogs and children. I should be a balloon. Those of us who aren't overweight should be careful of judging those who are (I dont think you are your observation just reminded me of this point).

"Fat shaming" is a type of bullying. Much of the way we used to speak about being overweight is now more of a stigma. That's good because "fat shaming" never worked and only made people feel bad. That's the worst possible outcome.

If we can get around to treating nutrition like eyesight, that'd be great. Like most of us who wear contacts or glasses, mine are because of bad habits that were worsened by bad genes. If someone tried to stigmatised that, it would be so daft as to be funny.

Maybe a good place to start is by emphasising that people are attracted to people all along the weight spectrum and appearance should never be promoted as a factor in weight loss. That's one big bugbear of mine when it comes to things like Operation Transformation. People are always going on about how losing weight would affect their appearance, which probably isn't helpful.

It's hard to get a balance between not making people feel worse about themselves if they are overweight. Which doesn't help.

Junk food is fairly addictive and easy and it is a lot easier to put on weight in the environment we are in then in the past.

I am constantly watching my weight. My whole life. I always watch what I eat and I am small so I can only imagine what it's like to loose weight when I have to struggle to stay at my weight.

We badly need to change our eating habits though. Everything is served with chips. Eating out or in a small shop it can be hard to get anything that isn't high calorie, breaded. Sweets crisps left around all the time in work.

4068ac1elhodqr · 28-07-2020 04:37PM

Boris only did this after his own personal experience of being unfit and overweight, when banging on the pearly gates via COVID.

Many say he should now live in some dire Northern Eng town where ethnic street battles are common, or beside a Ldn block-party zone, shop only from a foodbank, and have a go at tenting it on a roundabout for a few weeks, driving HGV's from Calais, joining a NHS wait list, sweatshopping it in Leicester for 3.50phr etc. all to better understand wider housing and civil matters.

Can't see any of this, or similar happening for the Eton boyo.

El_Duderino 09 · 28-07-2020 04:48PM

Jaxen Uneven Gazebo wrote: »

Boris only did this after his own personal experience of being unfit and overweight, when banging on the pearly gates via COVID.

Many say he should now live in some dire Northern Eng town where ethnic street battles are common, or beside a Ldn block-party zone, shop only from a foodbank, and have a go at tenting it on a roundabout for a few weeks, driving HGV's from Calais, joining a NHS wait list, sweatshopping it in Leicester for 3.50phr etc. all to better understand wider housing and civil matters.

Can't see any of this, or similar happening for the Eton boyo.

Of course those things wont happen to him. It was sheer dumb luck that he had COVID like a normal person and if he wasn't PM, he wouldn't have been in an NHS hospital like a normal person. This unlikely chain of events has led to him having empathy in this one area. It's unlikely to happen in any other area. He'll never be poor, (or homeless or food insecure), he'll never be on benefits and he'll never live in a depressed part of the country or live life without influential friends and access to even more influential people. He'll never even consider life as any of those people.

Doff · 28-07-2020 04:59PM

I love the sheer anger in people because someone they don't like is doing something that they agree with. The man is actively taking action to tackle obesity in his country and all people can do is reply with "Yeah but he xyz" to try maintain this evil strawman they believe him to be. No one is asking you to like him but you can at least appreciate his outlook on this particular topic.

Boris johnson talking about losing weight is actually pretty cool

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