Fat Stigma…

Fat Stigma Is Fast Spreading Around the Globe, reads one of the headlines on today's NY Times.

Researchers, according to this article, are concerned that by global health officials' treatment of obesity as 'worrisome public health threat',  the 'troubling' side effect will be a growing stigma against people who are fat.

What's the answer?

How about some education about what people should really eat, and what they shouldn't?  As in- how about teaching people to eat food and not to eat fillers and processed junk?

How can we expect people to be healthy, fit and lean (as they would be if they were PALEO! Sorry for the soapbox, but come on, this is a PALEO blog) if the FDA is teaching the US to eat 6 – 11 servings of grain each day, 3 servings of dairy, and, sure, a little bit of veggies for garnish.

Don't get me wrong- this is not a naive attempt to say that in one fell swoop, the world should nix grains and go paleo overnight, BUT if any of us who are in a position remotely to teach about healthy eating- nutritional counselors, such as myself or teachers, parents, you get the idea…use yourself and your own good, healthy eating habits to educate those around you.

The more people that we can get eating FOOD, and moving, the more we can start addressing the obesity epidemic.

As far as a fat stigma, no, of course it's inappropriate to draw conclusions that the article mentions, such as the idea that fat = lazy.  At the same time, it needs to be addressed, confronted and dealt with head on, and not coddled.  

Again- EDUCATE!!! LEARN and get healthy!