Here's To Health! Group

by Noressa on May 24, 2012 at 9:46 am

 Motivation, for the most part, aside from a few people in the industry seems to be pretty much just money.  How can you spin this multi billion dollar industry into something that gives you something for it.  I've seen it with dieticians and nutritionists and it's sad.

by kayjay5 on May 24, 2012 at 2:20 pm

I would say the same is true for the majority of the weight loss gurus out there.  I've noticed that while they say they want people to be healthier, they follow it up with pics of themselves and others showing off 6 pack abs.  That doesn't prove health but it sure as heck sells.  Reality...not many can achieve and maintain that level of leanness and they often did some pretty unhealthy things to get there.  I get so frustrated that the emphasis is all about looks and that most of it is geared toward women AND we fall for it.  You would think we had gotten beyond that by now but seriously all that has happened is the clothes have gotten tinier and more revealing.  We traded pearls and a full skirt dress for daisy dukes and a cami.
 
Whew...minor rant over.

by deb1207 on May 25, 2012 at 3:39 am

Good minor rant, K.

Yes I was disheartened by that page about the Canadian government websites. I used to work for the Washington State Dept. of Health as a health writer, and we were very very strict, and would never have any ads, nothing.
And we were very strict about publishing news. Big Pharma etc. often sent us press releases that read like news but were salesy.
 
Seems like for every person trying to improve health and or lose weight, there are a range of choices. But I feel badly for the consumer, as they have to muddle through to figure out who is telling the truth, who is qualified to help or guide, and whether or not a particular website or program is right ofr them.


It upsets me too that the emphasis continues to be on looks and not on health, especially for women. Its a hard mindset to get people to break. I am working with a few acquaintances right now, and its really really tough. To get people to stop thinking that they are "on" the diet, then "off" and done.

No, lifelong health process! Plus, I think the media, the companies, not only do they make it about looks, but they twist it up, they  make it about sex and desireability. They do a mental trip on overweight peoples heads, they manipulate people to feel like failures because they are big.

 
I distinctly remember when I was in high school, one of our gym teachers was very muscular. One day I asked her about how to build muscles, and she said well, if you were not born with them, then its too late and as a girl there is very little you can do to develop them, that its not worth the trouble!
 
I think we need role models, really good role models especially for females. And re-education. I recently went to a one evening conference on obesity, which opened my eyes. We as a society, I think we have to change many parts: help parents to guide their children, teach them about health and exercise..And then, integrate a shift into the culture: a shift into thinking about what people can DO, not so much what they look like or how much they earn. Another rant, sorry!