Comments on: Why doesn’t Nanny care about fat people? http://www.crikey.com.au/2008/08/05/why-doesnt-nanny-care-about-fat-people/ now with extra source Sun, 12 Feb 2012 00:58:05 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Bernard Keane http://www.crikey.com.au/2008/08/05/why-doesnt-nanny-care-about-fat-people/#comment-11107 Bernard Keane Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000 #comment-11107 Lucy's point is a good one. The mere use of tobacco is dangerous to users and anyone else nearby. The mere use of junk food isn't. The Colagiuris and the rest of the "if it movies, ban it" school of health would far rather regulate than the simpler approach of requiring people to pay a greater proportion of their actual healthcare costs. Lucy’s point is a good one. The mere use of tobacco is dangerous to users and anyone else nearby. The mere use of junk food isn’t. The Colagiuris and the rest of the “if it movies, ban it” school of health would far rather regulate than the simpler approach of requiring people to pay a greater proportion of their actual healthcare costs.

]]> By: Barry Brannan http://www.crikey.com.au/2008/08/05/why-doesnt-nanny-care-about-fat-people/#comment-11108 Barry Brannan Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000 #comment-11108 Actually Lucy, you are affecting people. The side affects of obesity results in a drain on hospital and other medical resources. If you were in are for diabetes treatment, I may have to wait longer for something else I'm in hospital for. Or much more money must be spent on hospitals that could instead be spent on education. Actually Lucy, you are affecting people. The side affects of obesity results in a drain on hospital and other medical resources. If you were in are for diabetes treatment, I may have to wait longer for something else I’m in hospital for. Or much more money must be spent on hospitals that could instead be spent on education.

]]> By: Julie http://www.crikey.com.au/2008/08/05/why-doesnt-nanny-care-about-fat-people/#comment-11109 Julie Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000 #comment-11109 Associate Professor Ruth Colaguiri calls for 'the long-awaited uniform national food labelling system". She may be interested to note that the wait ended awhile ago - we have had national food labelling laws in place for many years, with a comprehensive review (of all food legislation including labelling laws) undertaken, culminating in a revised Food Standards Code being promulgated 20 December 2000. The Food Standards Code has been amended regularly since then, including updates to labelling laws. Associate Professor Ruth Colaguiri calls for ‘the long-awaited uniform national food labelling system”. She may be interested to note that the wait ended awhile ago - we have had national food labelling laws in place for many years, with a comprehensive review (of all food legislation including labelling laws) undertaken, culminating in a revised Food Standards Code being promulgated 20 December 2000. The Food Standards Code has been amended regularly since then, including updates to labelling laws.

]]> By: Fordie http://www.crikey.com.au/2008/08/05/why-doesnt-nanny-care-about-fat-people/#comment-11110 Fordie Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000 #comment-11110 I feel to compare smoking and obesity causing fast foods is plain fallacy. Sure, if the costs imposed on the health system by smokers is the only reason they're use is now regulated, then maybe Ms Colagiuri has a point. But really the issue is more complex, and as Lucy mentioned, as an associate professor at USyd, one would think that Ms Colagiuri could see that when one eats fatty foods, no one else but that person needs to expend that energy. But when one smokes in an environment where others are forced to inhale their smoke too (day in day out for many workers) this compounds the costs on the economy as a whole in more sick days taken, hospital visits etc. When one eats fatty foods, one has a chance to burn them off. But when one smokes it does immediate damage to one's body and continual use has very serious permanent repercussions. <br />As head of The Diabetes Unit at the University of Sydney’s Australian Health Policy Institute, one can understand that she feels strongly against unhealthy foods as they are the number 1 enemy of diabetes, but calling for regulation of the distribution of fast food is just silly, and a case where the arguments of many pro-smoking campaigners actually hold ground. It would be an attack on personal freedom of choice. We adults have the intelligence to make our own decisions regarding on our personal well-being. Some people need extra help, and that should be made more available to them.<br /><br />Maybe what is needed is more funding for healthy food advertising at school canteens coupled with an improved selection of healthy foods sourced from local suppliers. Or maybe she should be bagging out the use of cars in favour of modes of transport which at least get you to walk 100m. Or since she's really into regulation, I bet if "Nanny" were to ban all pylon signs for fast food chains it would have a massive effect on patronage easily susceptible to impulse purchases (btw drive thru purchases are the unhealthiest part of these stores) and would likely have a negative effect the viability of such stores without the inflated prices caused by her 'zoning laws', but I don't necessarily agree with this direction.<br /><br />Anyway, good luck with the obesity problems people... Eat healthier, exercise more! If you cant do that by yourself, get help, there's no shame in it whatsoever. I feel to compare smoking and obesity causing fast foods is plain fallacy. Sure, if the costs imposed on the health system by smokers is the only reason they’re use is now regulated, then maybe Ms Colagiuri has a point. But really the issue is more complex, and as Lucy mentioned, as an associate professor at USyd, one would think that Ms Colagiuri could see that when one eats fatty foods, no one else but that person needs to expend that energy. But when one smokes in an environment where others are forced to inhale their smoke too (day in day out for many workers) this compounds the costs on the economy as a whole in more sick days taken, hospital visits etc. When one eats fatty foods, one has a chance to burn them off. But when one smokes it does immediate damage to one’s body and continual use has very serious permanent repercussions.
As head of The Diabetes Unit at the University of Sydney’s Australian Health Policy Institute, one can understand that she feels strongly against unhealthy foods as they are the number 1 enemy of diabetes, but calling for regulation of the distribution of fast food is just silly, and a case where the arguments of many pro-smoking campaigners actually hold ground. It would be an attack on personal freedom of choice. We adults have the intelligence to make our own decisions regarding on our personal well-being. Some people need extra help, and that should be made more available to them.

Maybe what is needed is more funding for healthy food advertising at school canteens coupled with an improved selection of healthy foods sourced from local suppliers. Or maybe she should be bagging out the use of cars in favour of modes of transport which at least get you to walk 100m. Or since she’s really into regulation, I bet if “Nanny” were to ban all pylon signs for fast food chains it would have a massive effect on patronage easily susceptible to impulse purchases (btw drive thru purchases are the unhealthiest part of these stores) and would likely have a negative effect the viability of such stores without the inflated prices caused by her ‘zoning laws’, but I don’t necessarily agree with this direction.

Anyway, good luck with the obesity problems people… Eat healthier, exercise more! If you cant do that by yourself, get help, there’s no shame in it whatsoever.

]]> By: David http://www.crikey.com.au/2008/08/05/why-doesnt-nanny-care-about-fat-people/#comment-11111 David Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000 #comment-11111 ... is Disney making a film on obesity and related morbidity by sending out millions of free Big Mac vouchers? … is Disney making a film on obesity and related morbidity by sending out millions of free Big Mac vouchers?

]]> By: Lucy http://www.crikey.com.au/2008/08/05/why-doesnt-nanny-care-about-fat-people/#comment-11112 Lucy Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000 #comment-11112 If I chain-smoke at my office desk, I am inflicting my lifestyle choice, and its health implications, on my colleagues and on anyone who comes into my office. If I eat one of those deep pan pizzas with double topping all the way to the crust at my desk, I might stink out the office and look unprofessional, but I am affecting nobody's health but my own. There is a double standard, but for associate professors to pretend they don't understand that there is a philosophical basis for it... well, I think it's a bit rich. If I chain-smoke at my office desk, I am inflicting my lifestyle choice, and its health implications, on my colleagues and on anyone who comes into my office. If I eat one of those deep pan pizzas with double topping all the way to the crust at my desk, I might stink out the office and look unprofessional, but I am affecting nobody’s health but my own. There is a double standard, but for associate professors to pretend they don’t understand that there is a philosophical basis for it… well, I think it’s a bit rich.

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