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Look at the historical rate of obesity in Europe. Following the same trajectory as the US, as far as I can tell. Does deregulating advertising of sugary cerea

Look at the historical rate of obesity in Europe. Following the same trajectory as the US, as far as I can tell. Does deregulating advertising of sugary cereals also explain that?

cassepipe 2y ago
Advertising probably not but the simple availability of ever sweeter cheap products and with time their integration in people's diet is a strong candidate. Especially since sugar is way less good than say fat at provoking the feeling of satiation (I can think only of evolutionary explanations for that, available sweet food in the wild, think fruits, are not very nutritive, especially ones not selected by humans over time)
oezi 2y ago
> surgary cereals What else are kids eating these days for breakfast?
- jajko 2y ago
  Whatever you teach them to eat. But parents are often lazy, its supremely easier to buy addictive paper boxes and be done rather than wake up 10 minutes earlier (or 2) and cook or prepare something quick and healthy. Depends also where you live, US its exactly as we discuss, ie France or Switzerland its a completely different world, and its immediately obvious on people too. This approach also permeates many aspects of society. Kids also imitate what they see in parents, both good and bad. No point preaching healthy lifestyle if one is obese and spends hours daily in front of TV eating junkfood. Also, back in 80s I had maybe 4 years and I knew very well sweet stuff is bad for one's health, it was always as obvious as ie that cigarettes were very harmful and highly addictive. I love how many folks desperately try to throw blame on literally anybody, anything for their failures in life, rather than taking a cold hard look at the mirror and accepting one's own failures, as a parent but also generally as human in this case. Sure, it makes life with oneself a bit easier, instead of huge instant dose of misery and self-disappointment its slowly dripping through the cracks of illusions for the rest of their lives and people love feeling like a victim, but it very effectively prevents actually fixing anything. So sure, lets blame sugar industry (which is doing exactly what all other businesses do - sell to as many people as possible), lets blame tobacco industry or wine producers for people's failures. Lets wait till politicians will sweep away all obstacles and traps from our lives, of course that's a reasonable expectation. Anything but throwing away that 3rd cupcake or starbucks latte.
  - oezi 2y ago
    It was a serious question. Who is cooking in the morning? And what? Eggs and bacon (isn't that just replacing the sugar with fat/salt)? Porridge? Bread/toast also isn't particularly healthy (too high in salt, spikes your insulin too much). Fruit is also just very similar than sweets with a bit more fiber, isn't it? So, a plate of some veggies? And don't get me started on spreads which are available: you can choose between fat (butter/margerine/cheese/most other spreads), high salt (meat/salami) and sweet (jam, honey, nutella)
    - TylerE 2y ago
      Ironically, as a diabetic (or even a non-diabetic) fat is a pretty innocuous thing. Certainly compared to carbs...
    - rootusrootus 2y ago
      Fat is probably a better choice than sugar in nearly all instances. High calorie but it’ll keep you full quite a while. Veggies definitely aren’t any good for that. My strategy these days is to try and eliminate simple sugars and highly refined carbs whenever possible; everything else is fair game. When I see something advertised as “low fat” I instantly conclude it will probably make you fat and it’s best to skip it.
  - rootusrootus 2y ago
    > I love how many folks desperately try to throw blame on literally anybody When I read opinions like this, I immediately have two thoughts. 1) What makes people think it's their right to shame anyone else? The 'look in the mirror' advice is pretty universal. 2) Is there even anyone qualified to make comments like this? Am I to assume that the folks who imply their superiority do not in fact have their own failings? Glass house and all that. I think perhaps it's more complicated, and declaring it a moral failing is not going to improve anyone's life.
    - jajko 2y ago
      Fails I own are the fails I try to tackle. If its outside force, then the only action can be altering that force (good luck changing nation's mindsets and values) or cutting off from it. I chose the owning approach, it works very nicely for my entire life so far, since its work between me and me so whatever is happening outside has no impact. Doesn't make it an easier life, in contrary, but much much better overall. A plus is building stronger 'character' in challenges for lack of better words.

Look at the historical rate of obesity in Europe. Following the same trajectory as the US, as far as I can tell. Does deregulating advertising of sugary cereals also explain that?

cassepipe 2y ago

Advertising probably not but the simple availability of ever sweeter cheap products and with time their integration in people's diet is a strong candidate. Especially since sugar is way less good than say fat at provoking the feeling of satiation (I can think only of evolutionary explanations for that, available sweet food in the wild, think fruits, are not very nutritive, especially ones not selected by humans over time)

oezi 2y ago

> surgary cereals What else are kids eating these days for breakfast?

jajko 2y ago
Whatever you teach them to eat. But parents are often lazy, its supremely easier to buy addictive paper boxes and be done rather than wake up 10 minutes earlier (or 2) and cook or prepare something quick and healthy. Depends also where you live, US its exactly as we discuss, ie France or Switzerland its a completely different world, and its immediately obvious on people too. This approach also permeates many aspects of society. Kids also imitate what they see in parents, both good and bad. No point preaching healthy lifestyle if one is obese and spends hours daily in front of TV eating junkfood. Also, back in 80s I had maybe 4 years and I knew very well sweet stuff is bad for one's health, it was always as obvious as ie that cigarettes were very harmful and highly addictive. I love how many folks desperately try to throw blame on literally anybody, anything for their failures in life, rather than taking a cold hard look at the mirror and accepting one's own failures, as a parent but also generally as human in this case. Sure, it makes life with oneself a bit easier, instead of huge instant dose of misery and self-disappointment its slowly dripping through the cracks of illusions for the rest of their lives and people love feeling like a victim, but it very effectively prevents actually fixing anything. So sure, lets blame sugar industry (which is doing exactly what all other businesses do - sell to as many people as possible), lets blame tobacco industry or wine producers for people's failures. Lets wait till politicians will sweep away all obstacles and traps from our lives, of course that's a reasonable expectation. Anything but throwing away that 3rd cupcake or starbucks latte.
- oezi 2y ago
  It was a serious question. Who is cooking in the morning? And what? Eggs and bacon (isn't that just replacing the sugar with fat/salt)? Porridge? Bread/toast also isn't particularly healthy (too high in salt, spikes your insulin too much). Fruit is also just very similar than sweets with a bit more fiber, isn't it? So, a plate of some veggies? And don't get me started on spreads which are available: you can choose between fat (butter/margerine/cheese/most other spreads), high salt (meat/salami) and sweet (jam, honey, nutella)
  - TylerE 2y ago
    Ironically, as a diabetic (or even a non-diabetic) fat is a pretty innocuous thing. Certainly compared to carbs...
  - rootusrootus 2y ago
    Fat is probably a better choice than sugar in nearly all instances. High calorie but it’ll keep you full quite a while. Veggies definitely aren’t any good for that. My strategy these days is to try and eliminate simple sugars and highly refined carbs whenever possible; everything else is fair game. When I see something advertised as “low fat” I instantly conclude it will probably make you fat and it’s best to skip it.
- rootusrootus 2y ago
  > I love how many folks desperately try to throw blame on literally anybody When I read opinions like this, I immediately have two thoughts. 1) What makes people think it's their right to shame anyone else? The 'look in the mirror' advice is pretty universal. 2) Is there even anyone qualified to make comments like this? Am I to assume that the folks who imply their superiority do not in fact have their own failings? Glass house and all that. I think perhaps it's more complicated, and declaring it a moral failing is not going to improve anyone's life.
  - jajko 2y ago
    Fails I own are the fails I try to tackle. If its outside force, then the only action can be altering that force (good luck changing nation's mindsets and values) or cutting off from it. I chose the owning approach, it works very nicely for my entire life so far, since its work between me and me so whatever is happening outside has no impact. Doesn't make it an easier life, in contrary, but much much better overall. A plus is building stronger 'character' in challenges for lack of better words.