What next???

[pomtzu]

The mayor of New York City is trying to get legislation passed that would ban the sale of super-sized (over 16oz) sugary drinks in restaurants and vending machines within the city. This is his part on the war against obesity. IMO this is one of the stupidest things I've heard in quite some time. If it does come to be (tho highly doubtful), then what's to stop someone from just getting 2 of the 16oz drinks?? How much more nonsense are these governments going to try to slap us with? Let's just live in a dictatorship and be done with it! Sure - ban smoking in public buildings, limit the number of alcoholic drinks you can be served at a bar - but Coke or Pepsi??? Come on now Mr Mayor - get real!

Is there anyone out there that agrees with this proposal?

[mrspunkysmom]

I understand where he is coming from, but you can't legislate good habits any more that you can do so for morality.

This will take a concentrated effort and re-focus of our whole society, including the medical branch. Education is the key. Changing our philosophy will produce results, not laws.

Our need for everything instant has fueled this expansion of the boxed food companies.

Okay. Off the soap box.

[redbird]

I totally agree with you and I think Blumberg is getting senile. There is no way you can stop people from paying and getting what they want. He is taking things a bit far.

[Miss Z]

If it does come to be (tho highly doubtful), then what's to stop someone from just getting 2 of the 16oz drinks?? How much more nonsense are these governments going to try to slap us with?

Perhaps the logic is that most people will only go for the supersized option purely because it's on offer, and that's a large factor in the increased obesity in the population? Just speculating, of course, but I know that I'm always tempted to get a larger size coffee, even when the regular would be just fine. Also, the price of two half-size drinks would be more expensive than one super-sized, so perhaps price would put people off too.

There certainly are better ways to tackle obesity than this, but I can't say I'd be too hurt if such a law were to be imposed over here if it proved successful.

[cassiesmom]

I can't imagine how this would pass. I'm picturing the 7-11 Big Gulp here. I'm guilty of buying a larger than 16-ounce diet Coke. It comes in a 20-ounce bottle and the little mini mart in the building where I work sells them. I drink half of it mid-morning and the other half with l unch. I think Mayor Bloomberg is wide of the mark on this one.

[Freedom]

I think it is a move in the right direction~!

As a medical doc said on TV this morning, "most folks are too lazy to be able to carry two smaller ones." She also commented that sodas have absolutely NO nutritional benefit at all.

Personally, I think a tax should be added on any and all foods that are high in fat and carbs.

We stopped drinking soda at all in this house almost 10 years ago, now. There is just no reason to be taking in that sort of poison.

[pomtzu]

I know what his intentions are, but I really don't think it has a chance of a snowball in h&ll of ever being put into law. You can talk and educate till you're blue in the face, and people will consume the amount of food and drink that they want to. I drink Pepsi, but not that much - I buy an 8-pack of 12oz bottles once each month, and that lasts me the whole month, and no one else in the household drinks that much anymore either. We all drink the Crystal Light mixes in place of the sodas.

And if that NYC law on super size drinks passes, then can the burgers and fries be far behind??? Sorry folks - no more large orders of fries or double cheeseburgers - small and singles only!!! Afterall - those are much worse for you than that big drink anyway.

So where (and how), could they possibly draw the line. The way I see it, there is NO WAY!

[Catty1]

I know I would buy just one "large" drink, and if it is smaller by law, it makes no difference to me. To my brain, a "large" is a "large". I would never buy two small ones - for me, that is not how an impulse purchase works!

[K9soul]

Personally, I think a tax should be added on any and all foods that are high in fat and carbs.

Aside from the softdrink issue, I have to disagree with this sentiment. "Fatty" foods have been vilified way too much and more and more evidence is coming out that some whole fatty foods have a lot of nutritional value. In my opinion, you could never base a "punishment" type tax on foods based on fat or carbohydrate levels alone. Rice is a high carbohydrate food. Many of the Japanese eat rice as a staple (along with fatty fish) and yet they have one of the lowest obesity rates as a country.

The demons as I see it are too much processed foods, unneeded sugar, and portion sizes.

I personally think raising awareness is the best step that can be taken to help people make better lifestyle choices. I think there is something like 10 teaspoons of sugar in a can of cola. I wonder if many people even realize how much sugar they are taking in and how deadly that can be to a person's health.

I do think huge portion sizes at restaurants can make people feel they may as well clean their plate, etc. and can end up producing cravings for larger portions, but I don't know if legislating such a thing would make a dent or not.

[mrspunkysmom]

Aside from the softdrink issue, I have to disagree with this sentiment. "Fatty" foods have been vilified way too much and more and more evidence is coming out that some whole fatty foods have a lot of nutritional value. In my opinion, you could never base a "punishment" type tax on foods based on fat or carbohydrate levels alone. Rice is a high carbohydrate food. Many of the Japanese eat rice as a staple (along with fatty fish) and yet they have one of the lowest obesity rates as a country.

The demons as I see it are too much processed foods, unneeded sugar, and portion sizes.

I personally think raising awareness is the best step that can be taken to help people make better lifestyle choices. I think there is something like 10 teaspoons of sugar in a can of cola. I wonder if many people even realize how much sugar they are taking in and how deadly that can be to a person's health.

I do think huge portion sizes at restaurants can make people feel they may as well clean their plate, etc. and can end up producing cravings for larger portions, but I don't know if legislating such a thing would make a dent or not.

I agree with the portion sizes. Since being on a gluten free diet, I've also been reducing portion sizes. Gluten free has made that easier. I feel better. I've not really lost a lot of weight but have lost fat. I seem to be trimming some.

I still think education is the key to solving our obesity problem. We need to change our philosophy towards food as a country. That will take some time.