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LISTEN TO THE AAAS

The BBC reports:

Obesity needs to be tackled in the same way as climate change, a top nutritional scientist has said.

Great idea! First we’ll get Al Gore to make a documentary about the problem of global fatness ... well, maybe not Gore. Maybe the DiCaprio boy instead; he’s still got a few years left before he bloats into something big enough to play the title role in Titanic II.

Professor Philip James said the challenge of obesity was so great that action was needed now, even without clear evidence of the best options.

He really is treating this the same way as climate change.

Professor James, of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, UK, was speaking in Boston at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS).

You tell ‘em, AAAS man.

He commented: “This is a community epidemic that is actually a response to all the wonderful apparent industrial and economic development changes that we’ve seen ...”

Another point of commonality with climate change - it’s all the fault of “apparent” advances. A blanket law opposing advancement is required.

(Via Rob Read)

Posted by Tim B. on 02/19/2008 at 10:49 AM
  1. I’m really scared.  If I don’t get murdered by global warming, the ‘fat’ epidemic is going to get me.  The only really good news is that islamofascism isn’t real.  The NYT told me so.

    Posted by blogagog on 2008 02 19 at 11:01 AM • permalink

  2. Does Professor James wear an AAAS hat?

    By Jove, though, this does sound serious. Perhaps Professor James, whose expertise seems to be tropical medicine, should consider some scheme for introducing various tropical diseases into the obese portion of the population: say, ascariasis or strongyloidiasis. That should generate some weight loss. Of course, the non-scientific mind would probably suggest something simplistic, like eating sensibly and adopting an exercise routine; but we know better, don’t we professor?

    Posted by paco on 2008 02 19 at 11:02 AM • permalink

  3. I am now selling fat offset credits.  Paypal is accepted.

    Posted by Mystery Meat on 2008 02 19 at 11:03 AM • permalink

  4. Yes, all those “apparent” benefits we’ve gotten from medicine and technology…

    Posted by Mr. Bingley on 2008 02 19 at 11:04 AM • permalink

  5. If only we could make it warmer so that people would sweat off that extra weight . . .

    Posted by Tai Chi Wawa on 2008 02 19 at 11:08 AM • permalink

  6. I think I’ll start telling people we need to tackle perceived problems in the same way as global warmingcooling.  Regardless of whether the problem exists or not.

    “I want hundreds of committees formed to remedy the unfortunate results of national championship games played by the Ohio State Buckeyes”.

    Posted by wronwright on 2008 02 19 at 11:55 AM • permalink

  7. Wait a minute!  Fat people are carbon sinks.  They save the planet.

    The more carbon we get into people, the less carbon is floating around in the atmosphere.

    If they shed pounds, where do think the pounds go?

    Posted by rhhardin on 2008 02 19 at 12:09 PM • permalink

  8. At least no one is suggesting solving two problems at once by feeding the fat people to the polar bears….

    Posted by Apostic on 2008 02 19 at 12:09 PM • permalink

  9. I, too, have started my own fat offset program. Send me twenty bucks and I’ll drink that second beer for you. Forty and I’ll order another hamburger.

    Posted by rick mcginnis on 2008 02 19 at 12:10 PM • permalink

  10. Good lord, I need help with a fat offset program. I’d lost 100 pounds, now I’ve put 30 of that back on. I blame stress—down to two developers on a project that kept five in overtime and the return of my ex-fiance.

    In reality, I just need to refocus on eating well and resist the temptation to eat crap.

    Posted by Rob Crawford on 2008 02 19 at 01:01 PM • permalink

  11. #10: I’m sorry, Rob, but if you’re going to take responsibility for your own health, we simply can’t help you.

    Posted by paco on 2008 02 19 at 01:09 PM • permalink

  12. It’s not an obesity epidemic.  It’s a collection of far-sighted individuals preparing for the coming ice-age.  Lord knows I’m doing my part.

    Posted by fclark on 2008 02 19 at 01:37 PM • permalink

  13. Well, once the global warmenatingists get through with us, we’ll all be living in caves eating grass and sticks, and the obesity epidemic will solve itself.  Win win.

    Posted by RebeccaH on 2008 02 19 at 01:55 PM • permalink

  14. Finally, the anorexics of the world have a purpose: fat offsets!

    Order me another burger while you’re at it, rick mcginnis. Keira Knightley’s covering for me.

    Posted by Tungsten Monk on 2008 02 19 at 02:37 PM • permalink

  15. How about just leaving people the fuck alone, and letting them get on with their lives.

    Even if they are too fat to get off the couch.  That’s their choice.

    Freedom of choice.
    That’s what I want

    Posted by mr creosote on 2008 02 19 at 03:34 PM • permalink

  16. How about just leaving people the fuck alone, and letting them get on with their lives.

    Not allowed. They may make choices Mrs. Grundy doesn’t like.

    Posted by Rob Crawford on 2008 02 19 at 03:42 PM • permalink

  17. We all know the way to go.  Before the industrial revolution and capitalism, only the very rich could afford to get fat, and they richly deserved the terrible consequences.

    Posted by Barrie on 2008 02 19 at 04:37 PM • permalink

  18. Yahooo! I’m no longer fat, I’m economically and industrially advanced. That sounds heaps better than just being a fatty boombah.

    Posted by Gibbo on 2008 02 19 at 04:51 PM • permalink

  19. I’m NOT fat!
    I just have big stomache bones.

    Posted by jaycee1953 on 2008 02 19 at 05:28 PM • permalink

  20. Doubtless Phil Adams will have AlGore on his program to discuss the planet’s latest affliction ... (has Aunty extended the greenroom, yet?)

    Posted by egg_ on 2008 02 19 at 05:44 PM • permalink

  21. Any obesity campaign is doomed to failure due to the Law of Conservation of Fat.  The Law states that the amount of fat in the universe is a constant.  Simply put, any time you lose weight by decreasing your amount of stored fat, somebody somewhere puts on an equal amount of weight by increasing their stored fat.  Resistance is useless!

    Posted by Ubique on 2008 02 19 at 06:12 PM • permalink

  22. #7

    If they shed pounds, where do think the pounds go?

    It’s a universal truth that weight is never really lost, it just redistributes itself around the universe.

    A bit like carbon.

    #8
    Feed the fat kids to the starving kids. Problem solved and a win/win.

    #12
    In the famine the skinny ones will be the first to die.

    That’s my excuse and I’m sticking to it.

    #21 Dang, Ubique. See my reference to #7 above.

    it’s truly true!!

    Posted by kae on 2008 02 19 at 06:24 PM • permalink

  23. I recommend this cure for fat kids. Leave ‘em in a well for seven weeks. 
    Worked for Milly. She lost half her body weight with zero carbon credits needed.

    Posted by Skeeter on 2008 02 19 at 06:56 PM • permalink

  24. Professor Philip James said the challenge of obesity was so great that action was needed now, even without clear evidence of the best options.

    I don’t suppose the complete privatisation of the health and insurance systems is in their top 10.

    Posted by hayesy on 2008 02 19 at 07:41 PM • permalink

  25. Why did the Commies, the Nazis and all the other totalitarians waste their time trying to grab power by politics and the gun? All they had to do was become technocrats and rule us with regulations that protect us from ourselves.

    Posted by Burbank on 2008 02 19 at 08:11 PM • permalink

  26. Tim could give some tips on rapid weight loss.

    Bugger of a way to lose weight, but how about that commitment.

    Posted by Razor on 2008 02 19 at 08:24 PM • permalink

  27. Australia is well positioned to show the world the way on the war on obesity.Our very own Chairman Rudd is in the unique position of being in close and intimate domestic contact with two little porkers.He must be encouraged to immediately institute a home based experimental dieting regime and if successful he can again strut the world stage,this time as a leader not just as Kyoto Kevvie-Come-Lately.As an additional benefit the money saved on overfeeding these two should more than pay for his new child minder.

    Posted by Lew on 2008 02 19 at 08:46 PM • permalink

  28. At least no one is suggesting solving two problems at once by feeding the fat people to the polar bears….

    Next…The Biggest Loser (Arctic Edition)

    Posted by John A on 2008 02 19 at 09:04 PM • permalink

  29. Tropical medicine. Does he mean all those fat Indonesians, Chinese, Japanese, Thais, Cambodians, New Guineans, Indians, Pakistanis, Sri Lankans. All those fat tropical people.

    Maybe he needs to walk out of his office in very fat tattooed England and open his eyes.

    Posted by mehaul on 2008 02 19 at 09:07 PM • permalink

  30. We should feed the fat people to the starving people.

    Posted by Wimpy Canadian on 2008 02 19 at 09:41 PM • permalink

  31. It appears to be the best way to lose weight is to be very, very poor (see Africa).

    I guess all Krudd economic policies are therefore tightly geared to the obesity issue.  If he can’t make us exercise more, he will make us too broke to eat.

    On another note, bloody leftie governments start by regulating what is allowed to come out of your mouth (as in restricting free speech), then they regulate what you can put into it.

    I guess that’s why talking out of your arse is the only safe option these days (as demonstrated by most of the ABC).

    Posted by mr creosote on 2008 02 19 at 09:47 PM • permalink

  32. Why not be environmentally friendly and issue everyone with one of these?

    (makes my skin crawl)

    Posted by thefrollickingmole on 2008 02 19 at 09:55 PM • permalink

  33. #27
    Sounds like a good segment for Sunrise - The National Diet with Kev & Tess ...

    ... saying sorry to the swollen generations ...

    Posted by egg_ on 2008 02 19 at 10:11 PM • permalink

  34. action was needed now, even without clear evidence of the best options.

    And there you have it—the battle cry of the left.

    Posted by Achillea on 2008 02 19 at 10:30 PM • permalink

  35. Fat people = The Swollen Generation

    Posted by Skid Marx on 2008 02 19 at 10:44 PM • permalink

  36. #29 he probably did his thesis in tonga

    Posted by KK on 2008 02 19 at 11:18 PM • permalink

  37. “Obesity needs to be tackled in the same way as climate change, a top nutritional scientist has said.”

    What, by lying about it?

    Posted by Michael Lonie on 2008 02 19 at 11:59 PM • permalink

  38. Distribute free Vegemite, professor. That’ll do it.

    Posted by Harry Eagar on 2008 02 20 at 12:12 AM • permalink

  39. I guess in order to fight Global Lardening, we’re going to start hearing about how we all have to reduce the size of our environmental fatprints now.

    Posted by Christopher Johnson on 2008 02 20 at 01:03 AM • permalink

  40. #36 Yes the fat Tongans. Tell that to their Rugby side. I went to your blog but just couldn’t log on after spinning some crap about Gillard.

    Posted by mehaul on 2008 02 20 at 01:04 AM • permalink

  41. No fat bastards came home from Changi or the Burma railway.  Must have had good genes and no thyroid problems in that lot.

    Posted by Razor on 2008 02 20 at 02:52 AM • permalink

  42. #33 I want to see Tess go first. I’ve seen elephants smaller.

    Posted by Ash_ on 2008 02 20 at 03:10 AM • permalink

  43. Aren’t epidemics usually contageous via some physical mechanism?

    Posted by aaron_ on 2008 02 20 at 09:23 AM • permalink

  44. Obesity needs to be tackled in the same way as climate change, a top nutritional scientist has said.

    You mean cripple the most productive economies on the planet and then place the others under centralized transnational control?

    Okay, I’m game.  Can’t hurt to try.

    Posted by Steve Skubinna on 2008 02 20 at 02:49 PM • permalink

  45. Maybe the DiCaprio boy instead; he’s still got a few years left before he bloats into something big enough to play the title role in Titanic II.

    There goes my keyboard.

    Thanks, Tim. Invoice is in the mail. :)

    Posted by Nilknarf Arbed on 2008 02 20 at 04:47 PM • permalink

  46. has anyone mentioned yet that this obesity “epidemic” is a load of b.s.? Michael Duffy wrote a good column on it a month or two ago.

    Posted by daddy dave on 2008 02 21 at 09:15 PM • permalink

  47. article on obesity epidemichere
    some other thoughts on this:
    over the past few centuries we’ve moved from more labor-intensive jobs to less labor-intensive jobs. You’d expect people to be on the whole, a little less muscular and have more flab. Anything else would be astounding.
    But maybe that’s the price for not having to hand-wash your own clothes and milk cows at 5 am every day.

    Posted by daddy dave on 2008 02 21 at 09:21 PM • permalink

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