There is a weight-busting move afoot in the US to introduce calorie-counting menus in chain restaurants. Would such a move be useful and welcomed in Australia? Health experts weigh-in.
Obesity 
Fruit juice: a nutritious way to get extremely fat
A glass of apple juice is no better for you than a glass of Coke — the average soft drink is 10% sugar and so is the average juice. Drinking fruit juice is just a nutritious way to get extremely fat.
How many calories would you like with that order?
Croakey’s North American correspondent, Dr Lesley Russell, investigates the effectiveness of “calorie-counting” menus, while a local obesity policy expert, Jane Martin, looks at whether such an option might be useful in Australia.
Too big for Japan
Are you too fat for Japan? Concerned about the prospect of an aging nation afflicted with cardiovascular disease and diabetes, Japanese lawmakers have set a maximum waistline size for anyone age 40 and older.
Fruit juice: it’s not as healthy as you’d think
In fact, it’s not healthy at all, say experts: it’s full of sugar and calories, offers relatively little nutritional value, and is likely contributing to the obesity epidemic. Yep, even the 100% stuff.
Like good health, it’s all about balance
Last week, David Gillespie criticised the use of Nestle’s Optifast weight loss shake. But the obesity epidemic of the past 30 years is not due to a single cause, writes Neil Holt.
Reform the food industry — for the sake of the planet
The food industry’s solution of more choice increases profits, but does nothing for obesity. The more on offer, the more we buy, the more we waist and the more we waste, writes Dr Rosemary Stanton.
Australia’s real body image problem: pretending we’re not fat
42% of all Australian women over 18 are overweight or obese; 4% are underweight. Before worrying about Photoshopped images of super-skinny models, there is — literally — a much bigger problem to tackle, says Virginia Haussegger.
The handy guide to dealing with consumer concern about sugar
A letter from US Big Sugar to its Australian counterpart on how to get around those pesky health warnings. The letter may or may not be fictional but witty satire.
The ultimate weight-loss reality show
We’ve had The Biggest Loser, Dance Your Ass Off and now the ultimate weight-loss reality program, brought to you by the home of fatness, the US of A: six people try to lose 50% of their body weight.
Why overweight kids are victims of child abuse
Being fat is one thing, says India Knight: feed your face as much as you want. But if you feed your kids so much, and so poorly, that they develop weight issues, expect them to be taken away from you.
The soft drink wars heat up
Discussion about the soft drink industry’s recent forays into public health is heating up, with PepsiCo, the Cancer Council, obesity experts and a host of others weighing-in.
Drinking with the enemy: the soft drink marketing wars
Soft drink giants Coca-Cola and PepsiCo are locked in a neck-and-neck battle to become new best friends of public health. It’s what you do when your industry is facing flak as an enemy of public health, writes Melissa Sweet.
Growing profit on the fat of the unfortunate
A new trial intending to fit 30 overweight indigenous Australians with lap-bands to lose weight is nothing more than a disingenuous attempt to open up a brand new government-funded gold mine for the surgery’s creator, Allergan.
Selling our kids to McDonald’s
McDonald’s has pulled off a huge marketing coups by signing up more than 230,000 NSW students to its maths tutoring program. Dr Rosemary Stanton, Jane Martin and Professor Elizabeth Waters weigh-in on whether the whole scheme undermines the government’s rhetoric on tackling childhood obesity.
Still sweet for sugar in fat, slumbering Australia
Big Sugar in the United States is spending vast streams of cash to defend sugary drinks in the debate around soft drink and obesity — but at least they’re having a debate.
It’s time to let the government into our pantries
The obesity epidemic is costing Australia $8.3 billion a year, and the death toll continues to rise. Self-regulation has failed, says Michael Smith: it’s time to embrace the nanny state.
Debunking the myth that fast food is cheaper
Much of the obesity epidemic is blamed on fast food being cheaper than home-made, but cook Sally Sampson blows this myth wide open, whipping up her own pizzas, Whoppers and Egg McMuffins for a fraction of the price — not to mention the calories.
Bill Maher: Fat people can’t complain about health care reform
Comedian Bill Maher proposes a new rule: you can’t complain about health care reform if you’re not willing to reform your own health. Teabaggers, he’s looking at you.
All this nagging, Nicola, isn’t making us thin
Health Minister Nicola Roxon thinks we’re too fat, smoke too much and drink too much. But don’t worry, she’s got a solution: she’s going to nag us to death instead. Even if research suggests it won’t work.
Riled by Kyle: fatties fight back
So Kyle Sandilands is overweight people and concentration camps. And Susie O’Brien is bagging larger models as bad role models. Folks, we’ve heard it all before, says fatty Bri King.
NYC goes hard on soft drinks
New York City’s health department has launched a new ad campaign warning New Yorkers from “pouring on the pounds” with sugary beverages, in an effort to tackle rising obesity rates. Predictably, the American Beverage Association is not a fan.
Health Taskforce wishes you all a long, dull life with nanny
People get fat because they eat too much and don’t exercise enough. Yesterday’s National Preventative Health Taskforce’s report was full of surprises, writes Tim Wilson.
Fat chance of diet regulation, but we’ll weight and see
Will the weight loss industry just standing there and take the imposition of professional standards, set by the Preventative Health Taskforcem without a fight? Not likely, writes David Gillespie.
