Ban Ronald McDonald?

[sandinista]

Ronja, you mentioned some laws in Europe that regulate advertising targeted specifically to children. Do they apply to Happy Meals in this case? Do they have happy meals at the McDonald's in Europe? All I could find on Google about Happy Meals in Europe was something about a partnership with a conservation program.

Yeah, we have Happy Meals

that's too bad

[Warren Dew]

I think I'd agree. I was overweight a few years ago, but I knew whose fault it was, which is why I lost 20% of my body weight and kept it off. Someone blaming another factor like McDonalds, glands (ffs), etc, will perhpas be happy to waddle through life blaming something else. My sister is a doctor and she sees this attitude all the time.
"But I do exercise, Doc, and I'm not losing weight!"
"Yes, but because you exercise you're not gaining weight anymore. To lose weight you need to eat less [essentially] and do more."

I wouldn't go so far as to say anyone can lose the extra weight through "exercise more, eat less". That worked for me when I started gaining weight in my late 20s, but it did not work when I again started gaining weight in my mid 40s. Then I went on a specific type of low carb diet for other reasons, and the 15 pounds of extra weight came off.

I'd describe it differently: the people who are overweight don't know how to lose the weight - whether it's not knowing how to summon up the willpower, or not knowing what kind of diet will work for them - so they tend to blame things beyond their control. And of course their blame is likely to be wrong, since if it was right, they wouldn't be overweight.

The opposite possibility is that McDonald's actually is at fault, in which case we'd expect the thin people to be the ones who realized what the problem was and they'd want to ban McDonald's since they knew avoiding it worked.

[Mahou]

Fast "food" is worse for you than marijuana or, say, cocaine, and as bad for you as cigarettes or alcohol.

Can you provide some statistics to support that?


Also, "Governments ban other things" is not a good argument. You need to draw the line somewhere. Regulation on buying firearms, for example, is fine. However, if they started requiring registration to buy Airsoft guns and the justification was "we ban other guns" I'd have a bit of a problem. It's even more insignificant an argument for me because I support the legalization of all drugs should someone want to buy them. Again, education and counter-advertising are more reasonable solutions since I believe they'd be more effective and they don't limit our personal freedoms.

[charlou]

I'd describe it differently: the people who are overweight don't know how to lose the weight - whether it's not knowing how to summon up the willpower, or not knowing what kind of diet will work for them - so they tend to blame things beyond their control. And of course their blame is likely to be wrong, since if it was right, they wouldn't be overweight.

There's also the possibility that many people who are considered overweight by society's standards are quite okay with their own body. Apart from society telling them their body is wrong, they're healthy and comfortable and enjoy life.

[Warren Dew]

There's also the possibility that many people who are considered overweight by society's standards are quite okay with their own body. Apart from society telling them their body is wrong, they're healthy and comfortable and enjoy life.

Also true. Presumably those people don't blame McDonald's or anyone else for it, since they're happy with their weight. They'd fit in with that other possibility that I mentioned, where it's the thin people calling for McDonald's to be banned.

[sandinista]

Fast "food" is worse for you than marijuana or, say, cocaine, and as bad for you as cigarettes or alcohol.

Can you provide some statistics to support that?

Perhaps, if I could get the stats that support this "the RELATIVE unhealthiness of McDonald's food is WAY overblown.Coito ergo sum " which is what I was responding to.

[Warren Dew]

Along with the poll, it'd be interesting to record the BMIs of the contributors to this thread.

I've created a poll here:

http://www.rationalia.com/forum/viewtop ... 22&t=19633

[Clinton Huxley]

McDonalds and KFC and the like now to be given control of UK anti-obesity policy. You couldn't make it up.

[Tigger]

Along with the poll, it'd be interesting to record the BMIs of the contributors to this thread.

I've created a poll here:

http://www.rationalia.com/forum/viewtop ... 22&t=19633

Nice one!

[Ronja]

McDonalds and KFC and the like now to be given control of UK anti-obesity policy. You couldn't make it up.

I really had some hopes that you might only be jesting, sir, but I have just been informed by an acquaintance over yonder in the county of Facebook, that indeed things stand as you have thus informed us. http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2010 ... lth-policy

My family and I are all naturally devastated by this news, though I suppose not half as much as you and your gentle lady, whose lives this evil plot touches so much more intimately than ours. Rest assured that you are in our thoughts constantly, and we will cheer you in any campaign that you choose to commence against this foul undertaking.

I remain cordially yours etc. etc.

[maiforpeace]

McDonalds and KFC and the like now to be given control of UK anti-obesity policy. You couldn't make it up.

That's crazy!

[Svartalf]

No, it's capitalism at its finest, lobbying a corrupt and weak government to let it write legislation favorable for itself, and have them pass it for its greatest benefits.

[Coito ergo sum]

I'd describe it differently: the people who are overweight don't know how to lose the weight - whether it's not knowing how to summon up the willpower, or not knowing what kind of diet will work for them - so they tend to blame things beyond their control. And of course their blame is likely to be wrong, since if it was right, they wouldn't be overweight.

There's also the possibility that many people who are considered overweight by society's standards are quite okay with their own body. Apart from society telling them their body is wrong, they're healthy and comfortable and enjoy life.

Whether someone is "happy" with their weight is one thing. Whether the amount of fat on their body is unhealthy is another. There are many health issues that are causally connected to higher body fat percentages, and particularly obesity.

[Coito ergo sum]

No, it's capitalism at its finest, lobbying a corrupt and weak government to let it write legislation favorable for itself, and have them pass it for its greatest benefits.

LOL - ...and the true motivation of the anti-McDonald's movement is illustrated...

[Coito ergo sum]

Ronja, you mentioned some laws in Europe that regulate advertising targeted specifically to children. Do they apply to Happy Meals in this case? Do they have happy meals at the McDonald's in Europe? All I could find on Google about Happy Meals in Europe was something about a partnership with a conservation program.

Yeah, we have Happy Meals

that's too bad

I've seen restaurants give kids crayons and a placemat that can be used like a coloring book. Those DEMONS! How dare they configure their product to provide an enjoyable time for children....

Get me my picket sign. Denny's! IHOP! You and your pancakes with whipped cream!!!!! How dare you market to children! (Just saw a Denny's commercial on t.v. during a time when children are likely to be watching t.v.).....

Egg mcmuffin at McDonald's is healthier than a pancakes with syrup on it, by the way. So, any parents that feed their kids pancakes -- lock 'em up!