Keep On Running

I have different views on the obesity problem to the people behind Ministry of Food.

I believe that lack of exercise is the reason people in the UK are getting bigger. I agree with the assessment of the Department for Works and Pensions

 

“Reduction in activity levels is considered to be the most important factor in the rapid rise in obesity levels. With reduced physical activity there is a rise in sedentary behaviour. For example, there is a reduction in school pupils participating in school sport and in pupils walking to school but a larger number watching TV and playing computer games”.

 

This is in tune with my own experience. I eat pretty well. I also exercise. I find that the level of exercise I do has a massive effect on my physical well being. Of the people I know- those who do regular exercise tend to be healthier than those who don’t.

 

It seems obvious to me that more exercise is the key to a healthy nation.

 

There are quite a few people I know who are enthusiastic cooks. They are proper foodies and insist on fresh produce. They are also fat. The ability to cook in no way guarantees a healthy lifestyle.

 

Most (make that all) people know that regular exercise is good for them. Lots of people (I won’t invent a percentage) do absolutely none.

 

What do you think would happen if we started a Pass it On campaign for exercise?
Do you think it would be a success?

 

Me neither.

 

If I went round inviting people out for a run- I would not expect many takers. If I told them they had to promise to take another two people out for a run at a later date- my expectations of building a chain would not be high.

 

Basically:

Everyone knows exercise would improve their health.
Everyone knows how to exercise for free.

Loads of people choose not to because it does not fit in with their lifestyle choice.

Even those with the best intentions often pack it in because it’s just not for them. You should see the number of people down the gym every January. They like the idea- but not the reality.

 

With healthy eating:

Most people know how to cook if they want to. If they don’t, there are a host of free resources available for them to consult.
In my experience- most people do cook a bit of fresh stuff at home.

 

The amount of home cooking they do is based on their lifestyle choice. They like the idea- but the reality doesn’t fit in with their situation. They don’t need to have it “passed on”. Rather- they pass because they prefer not to cook.

 

Nobody would make a Ministry of Food style show about exercise- because it wouldn’t sell to the ABC1 women Channel 4 target in that time slot.

 

You would have to say that the school run, excessive car use and not taking part in sport make you a poor role model. A bad parent. You could even follow some “ordinary mums” round. Follow them after they drop their kids off. Watch in horror as they go to a café, slurp coffee and talk about what was on TV last night.
The bastards: how can they live like this at the expense of their kids well being? Sure they’ll come out with excuses- but they’re just lazy aren’t they.

 

Put that proposition to the great British public and they would dash for the remote control. Uncomfortable viewing.

 

Far better to point the camera at carefully cast grotesques who we can sneer at. I might be carrying a few pounds, but I don’t eat 10 packets of crisps and a Galaxy every night. I don’t sit on the floor feeding my kids cheesy chips and kebabs every night. Bad mothers- take their kids off ‘em. Cut off their hands so they can’t smoke.

 

Much more comfortable isn’t it. The bastards. If only they were a bit more like you- they would be so much better off.

 

Much more relaxing. You can be on the goodies’ side without getting off your arse. You can cook a bit- so they don’t mean you. You can get the book-  I hope it’s got that lovely recipe for mega chocolate fudge cake that was on the website.
Apparently- 60% of the nation can’t cook at all- so you are even more special than you thought.

 

If this absurd celeb driven reality show skews the debate away from the real issues- who cares. It’s only a laugh isn’t it.

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Quickly:

 

Kudos to Kebabish Pizza Balti of Donny Road, East Dene.

I their delivery menu through the door the other day. It is headlined:

TOO TIRED TO COOK?

The first firm to cash in on the anti Oliver backlash.