ZAR - On a serious note...

Obesity has reached a new level. New figures are showing that it is now the leading cause of premature death in Australia........overtaking smoking for the first time. Modern lifestyle is killing people. Traditionally, excess was reserved for the elite. The majority of the population choice of sustenance was limited and which they burnt off purely living day to day. As recently as 50-60 years ago, families were still living with the breath of rationing on their necks with modern day technology a generation away.

Nowadays excess is within reach and considered to be the right of everyone. Cheap, convenient, processed food is developed around our natural appetite for sugar, fats and salt and is available everywhere. The affordability of this and all types of labour saving devices, including employment which makes most people move less has led to this appalling state of affairs.

Smoking is generally considered a disgusting habit, a certain killer; smokers are becoming more and more ostracised. No smoking in pubs and restaurants, sporting venues, transportation, more recently in some outdoor seating areas of cafe's. Amounts of smokers are being reduced, by a long term plan including hard-hitting ads and legislation.

This must be the plan of action for the government of the day now. A long term strategy for obesity. Education, legislation, controls. We need to get serious. The ramifications of our fattening society are enormous. The healthcare bill is the least of it. When you think about the possibility of parents outliving their kids because of lifestyle....

We are a culture in denial. People do not see themselves as overweight or see being overweight as a health issue. We all know that it gets harder to lose weight as we get older and by the time the type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer and osteoarthritis is a real, actual personal problem it will be too late. There has never been such a good example of acting now, asking questions later.

I see bigger people getting bigger everyday. Something has to be done. The message is simple - 30 minutes of exercise and moderate weight loss by changing the way we live and eat. We need this to be drummed in to us, for it to become as much a part of our lives as checking our inbox or downloading a podcast.