Again, I come back to what was said on the "bacon" thread, or probably half a dozen others: moderation.

If you like a coke with lunch, or a cupcake for a snack every now and again, not much harm.

If you down 10 cokes and six twinkies every day, that's not good. 

Two points:

1. Adults are deemed to be responsible, not so children.  It would be nice to think that parents could keep on top of everything their kids eat and drink, but that's not practical.  I think the idea of restricting sales for kids under 17 is absurd.  But limiting the availability of this stuff in schools would certainly make sense.

2. While it is true that adults ought to be responsible for their own actions, it is also true that obesity-related and diabetes-related health care costs impact everyone, to the extent they drive up health insurance premiums.  So (as with tobacco) it is not true that the effects are limited to the consumers of these products. So, reasonable measures to deal with this might be appropriate:  higher premiums for obese people (my insurance charges more for smokers) - though this is problematic since not all obesity might be related to this- or perhaps a surtax on these products, as with tobacco.  It is questionable whether  these would impact people's behavior, but they would provide funds to offset some of the cost of their health problems.

Feb 1, 2012 -- 6:19PM, solfeggio wrote:

A team of researchers at the University of California-San Francisco are recommending that sugar, like alcohol and tobacco, should be a controlled product. 

www.vancouversun.com/health/Sugar+should...


The researchers say that sugar consumption is responsible for the global obesity pandemic, and it contributes to 35 million deaths worldwide annually from non-communicable diseases and major killers such as diabetes, heart disease, and cancer.   

Sugar, the researchers argue, is not just empty calories, but is a substance that changes a person's metabolism, raises blood pressure, and causes damage to the liver.  It's basically a toxic substance.

The researchers recommend finding ways to make sugar consumption less convenient, and giving people more food choices that are not so heavily laden with sugar.  

Their report will be published in the February 2 issue of Nature.   

Caffiene, mixed with sugar, is my drug of choice.
I would be grateful if you would not meddle.

Feb 2, 2012 -- 12:13PM, TemplarS wrote:

Again, I come back to what was said on the "bacon" thread, or probably half a dozen others: moderation.

If you like a coke with lunch, or a cupcake for a snack every now and again, not much harm.

If you down 10 cokes and six twinkies every day, that's not good.

A few years ago, comedian Denis Leary released a book entitled "Why We Suck". Half the book was autobiography, while the other half was him comparing his life experiences to what was going on when the book was written.

As part of it, he mentions the "popcorn lung" situation. Apparently, the workers at a company that made microwave popcorn started developing the same type of lung cancer due to the fumes from one of the chemicals used in the flavoring. This led to a class-action lawsuit and the artificial butter flavoring being changed up.

Thing is, someone who wasn't a worker sought to join the lawsuit on the basis that he, too, had "popcorn lung".

How'd he get it?

According to his own testimony, he so desired microwave popcorn that he'd heat up at least two bags a day, and as soon as he got them out of the microwave he'd open them up and breathe the smell in as deeply as possible.

Guess who Denis didn't have sympathy for.

Farragut wrote:

> This is the kind of fanatic hyperbole that destroys dialogue.

You're assuming that they are interested in dialogue.  From observation, I'd have to say that isn't the case.  It appears they are far more interested in browbeating, jeremiads, and expressing moral superiority.

Feb 2, 2012 -- 4:52PM, farragut wrote:

"Those who get frantic  about  having  their mindless eating habits  questioned"

This is the kind of fanatic hyperbole that destroys dialogue.

 Fanatic hyperbole my foot.   Most people's eating habits are mindless and based on  habits.  Simple fact.  Those who get upset about hearing it are the ones who need to hear it the most.

Very few people have actually looked at and experimented with what they eat and do it consciously because they have found it to be  best for them.