A Burger A Day

I’m sure we’re all aware of the obesity issues in the UK, with good old Jamie on the rampage to save the chubby kiddies and “Doctor” Gillian McKeith still determined to convince us that her looking at our poo is purely in order to help the UK lose weight…(?) And we’ve all heard the over weight kids ringing Radio 1’s anti-bullying Surgery complaining that the other kids keep trying to shove an apple in their mouth and spit-roast them over an open fire. (Obviously I mean, “spit-roast,” in the literal sense, not the dirty one. That’s disgusting. Stop it.)

So, we’re in agreement that obesity is an issue here, yes? Which is why I would like to know why exactly the British media decided to broadcast it all over the news that, in fact, we’re all allowed an extra 400 calories a day?

Yes, it’s true! The national GDA for calories is rising by 400, which means women are now ‘allowed’ 2400 calories – almost as much as an adult male’s previous intake – and men can have 2900 – almost as much as an average ELEPHANT’S intake.

Now, apparently we’ve all been exercising more, burning more calories and, thus, can eat more. WHICH SECTION OF THE BRITISH PUBLIC HAVE THEY BEEN TESTING?! Certainly none of the Scarborian cider guzzlers or Jamie Oliver’s chunky children, that’s for sure.

So, here are some of the issues I have with the publicising of this information:

Firstly, these extra 400 calories have only ever been publicly equivalised to a Mac Donald’s cheeseburger and a muffin. Helpful. Not only are they telling people that they can eat an extra 20% of their daily intake, guilt-free, but they’re also basically telling us all to get down to Maccy D’s and scoff a cheeseburger every day. Could they not have said, “That’s an extra 8 apples a day,” or, “133 grapes,” or even, “4 grapefruits”? ‘Cause, while they’re acknowledging the calorie count, they’re ignoring the fact they just advised you to up your daily intake of saturated fat by 27%, salt by 30% and carbs and sugar by 10%; never mind the preservatives, and hormones pumped into the cows that make those burgers which can cause aggression, infertility, hyperactivity, breast cancer, growth stunts and mood swings. Why not just encourage us all to eat a hunk of lard everyday? I’ve no doubt it’d probably be better for you.

Another issue is that they haven’t taken into account the millions of different body types that they’re applying this blanket rule to. The fact that some exercise more than others aside, some people simply have a much faster or slower metabolism than the national average. So telling some one who struggles with their weight under the 2000 calories a day rule that they won’t gain any weight if they consume an extra 400 is ridiculous. They will. And they’re not being supplied with all the information that can help them make an informed decision. It’s unfair and irresponsible.

Now, I’m not saying that scientists should ignore the results of their research just because some people may not like what they say, but be conscientious about it. Publish your results in a dietary journal with all the facts, or pass the info on to dieticians who can use the figures to help people professionally, but don’t hand them on to journalists and news stations who then inform an obese country that it’s actually been on a diet since the ‘80s and now it’s time to binge! And the media: grow up and realise that you are accountable for a nation’s health and well being here.

I know that some of you will feel that the public deserve to know the facts and are responsible enough to look after their own bodies, and that selective advertisement/news broadcasting is the first step to dictatorship, but please allow me to tell you why you are wrong on this occasion: If you are responsible and well-informed enough to handle this information, then it won’t affect you one iota. You don’t need it. You will know that calorie counting doesn’t make you healthy and you will be aware of which foods and what amounts make your body feel good.

This information (and it’s poorly represented advertisement) only affects the dietary irresponsible portion of the public: those who aren’t aware of what they put in their body or really struggle to figure out how many calories they’ve had in a day; those who eat more than they should already and don’t understand why they gain weight doing it; those who would give anything to be told they’re allowed to eat MacDonald’s every day and not feel guilty for it.

The only people this information could help are under-eaters and anorexics, who are either gaining that help from dieticians with this (fully-informed) data, or will ignore this public announcement because their life is about control and routine, not those extra 400 calories, which won’t be going anywhere near their bodies.

So, congratulations to the British media for encouraging a country in which the number of fatalities due to obesity almost exceed those caused by smoking to eat more shit and then complains when the NHS is forced to pay out for diseases caused by obesity. And when you tell us the stories of the 40% of British children who are tortured by bullies for being fat, please feel free to include your contribution to their misery in your reports.

“Around one in every 11 deaths in the UK is now linked to carrying excess fat.”
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-171497/Britains-obesity-death-rate.html#ixzz0YGudOAKC