Obesity : what governments should do about it

It's not the government's issue if people are fat, and my tax money should not have to go to politicians debating the issue - or to cover health expenses due to obesity. There is no excuse to be fat, although some people are perfectly happy that way - each to their own. The reason people a hundred years ago didn't get fat off a bread/potatoes/butter/meat diet is because they didn't think walking from the end of the parking lot into the mall was a hassle. Not to mention driving around for 10 minutes because you need to find that parking spot within a two second walk to the door rather than walking for three minutes. Lack of exersice is not the only problem, it's the complete lack of moment that should be a part of everyone's day. I see little old ladies walking along the road in spite of their walker, because they refuse to give up and because they are used to it - while a fat little teenager whines because they have to take a gym class. It's really sad, and I'm glad that it's not happening everywhere in the world. America will kill itself from within with gluttony. And so many here are Christians - gluttony is a sin, people! (I don't know about the other religions, but I'm sure it figures in those too)

because in america exersise is done less and less its not just the food it is the inactivity years ago folks walked more and worked harder so even though they may have eaten more fattening stuff they worked it off !

The government shouldn't have to do anything about it. The problem stems from all of the processed food that is made from lots of chemicals and sugars. All the "fat free" crap that started back in the 80's has just replaced fat with sugars. Sugar is far worse than fat in a diet. I think education is the key, and it should start with the doctors and food manufacturers learning some stuff.

I think there are enough laws already and government is not responsible for what we choose to put in our mouths. You are right about the recipes of our grandparents though --they cooked with "lard"! Governments do have the obligation to put materials in front of us that have scientific basis for a healthy body, but our choices are our own. It's all in education.

Ya, government can't do much about it. UNLESS U'RE ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER!!! What a guy, abolishing junk food vending machines from schools in Cali! Hahaha, not as if they couldn't go to the variety store haha. However it was an excellent call! Children have a tendency to spend their "allowance" on whatever satisfies them, and if you can get a Mars bar right beside your locker, AMEN! In my opinion, who cares what you eat! as long as you're active!

todays americans i think are reaping the fruits of efforts taken by their previous generations! people from all over the world are getting paid for laborious jobs which were done by americans. all the fat people are sitting in their couches watching tv and savouring potato chips! it is only those obese americans that are losing their health due to laziness! it is a big loss to have unfit citizens for any nation!

It's not up to the government. Why can't people take control over themselves? The government should not be telling people how to eat or what to buy. They shouldn't be telling companies what to sell. The PEOPLE need to make their own choices, decide to stop eating at fast food restaurants, stop buying convenience food, start cooking their own meals. When people start doing that, the companies who sell bad-for-us foods will either stop selling or change their products. The market needs to decide to be healthy, not the government. I thought people wanted less government anyway...

I feel that the government is part of the problem. They allow food manufactures to put chemicals in our foods that do not have to be posted on the label because it does not meet the minimum requirement to be posted. We have companies like Kraft(R) who are also owned by a major tabacco company. They are putting out organic foods now come on. What we need to do as American's is demand a total disclosure of what the manufactures chemists are creating to get us to eat more.