Time for part two of my interview series with some of the most respected experts in the health and fitness industry. Now that I had their attention I thought I’d asked them a question regarding the high numbers of obesity and the level of education being offered on nutrition to prevent it.
So the question I put to our respected experts was “Nutrition is important for our well-being do you believe that enough is being done to educate people to help prevent obesity.”
Simon Lovell Health & fitness expert to Marie Claire, Women’s Fitness, The
BBC – author of The Lunch Box Diet www.lunchboxdiet.co.uk
I think enough is being done, but it’s not being outweighed by pulling out the marketing aimed at making people fatter. Food labelling is just completely wrong and people think they’re making healthier choices when they’re not. Unfortunately it’s all driven by money. It’s up to an individual to sit up and invest in themselves to learn about how to really become truly healthy.
Heather Frey Owner, Founder and President of SmashFit; Certified Personal Trainer; National Figure Competitor; Graphic Designer; and Artist. Also the fitness expert on a new show called “Miami Mom’s” on NBC Miami Nonstop Station. www.smashfit.com
No, but I do think there is much more discussion and focus on health and nutrition then there ever has been. I have young children so we love the Disney channel and and I’m encouraged by Disney’s campaign towards health with the “Healthy Living” campaign with Michelle Obama.The power of educating children uses our child-power to motivate us (the parents). I also see doctor and expert shows talking more about nutrition and the impact of food not just our body but our life. I found the Paula Deen controversy a rather cool and unexpected way to get real conversation going on all over the country about the health of what we make and prepare for ourselves and our families. There can always be more done, which is why we’re here, but I’m encouraged by some of the initiatives and campaigns I see.
Justin Lord Celebrity personal trainer, ITV This Morning’s fitness and nutrition guru and Channel 5’s Live with Gabby. www.justinlord.co.uk
I’d love to say yes, but there’s no money in fit, healthy people! Enough said.
Faith Toogood An experienced and fully qualified dietitian, registered with the Health Professions Council. She has appeared on The Biggest Loser UK 2011-2012 and Daybreak’s ‘Downsize in Dubai’. www.faithtoogood.com
There is a vast amount of information out there for those who know where to look and / or have the resources to find it. However, the big question is whether or not those who really need educating about nutrition are really being reached by this information. My feeling is probably not. More needs to be done to educate a wider sphere of people and this information needs to be simple, realistic and most importantly needs to empower people to make positive changes within their lives and within their resources. Living well need not be expensive nor time consuming or complicated. Simple, cheap and effective tips can make a huge difference to peoples lives and sense of wellbeing.
Jim Katsoulis Master hypnotist & weight loss expert. Certified hypnotist & NLP trainer, certified yoga instructor. Founder of ProgramYourselfThin.com & TheEliteBody.com
It’s estimated we see over 3,000 ads a day and many of those are engineered to get you to eat more food, using the most powerful advertising techniques known to man. I can’t even name a source of nutritional knowledge that a majority of people would recognize. So, I’d say judging by that and the constant increase in obesity numbers over the past 50 years that there is not enough being done to teach people how to be healthier and not become obese. However, if you get curious, you can find out everything you need to transform your body and health.
Natalie Jill Licensed Sports Nutritionist and Certified Personal Trainer who specializes in weight loss consulting and counseling people with food allergies and intolerance’s. www.nataliejillfitness.com
I think there is PLENTY of information out there and PLENTY of individuals “educating” others on preventing obesity. The real issue lies with lies with the lack of accountability many feel have! The information is out there.
Shari Fitness is an ISSA Certified Fitness Professional, Certified Specialist in Fitness Nutrition, Natural Health Advocate, Winner of the 2009 Chozen Award for Health Practitioner of the Year, Host of FitTalk with ShariFitness, blogger about Natural Health and Fitness and soon to be author. www.fittalknews.com
It’s not so much that there isn’t enough being done to educate people to help prevent obesity. I think most people are aware that a steady diet of fast food, sweets, junk and soda pop will cause obesity and obesity related illness.
You’ve been brain washed
You’re probably unaware of this, but your subconscious mind has been brainwashed, programmed, hypnotized by the food industry through messages and advertisements that you are hit with day in day out into believing that “healthy” foods are bland, boring, expensive, time consuming etc.
Think about it. You’re constantly being told that junk food – fast food is quick, cheap, easy, convenient, tastes good. These are positive messages your subconscious mind is receiving about convenience foods which also tells your subconscious mind the opposite about healthy food.
On the surface, you know that eating junk food and processed foods is not good for you and works against your desire to shed unwanted body fat. When you do find yourself at the drive through, or eating something which doesn’t contribute to your goal, subconsciously your mind is telling you that this one time isn’t going to make an impact and after this you’ll be good. You forget that with every time you make a poor nutrition decision, over time, the inevitable outcome of that action pushes you further and further away from your goal.
Eating Healthy Is Expensive
One of the biggest stumbling blocks people have with making better food choices is that they believe that a healthy diet is difficult, time consuming, expensive, you don’t have as many food choices, etc. This is what the food industry has led you to believe.
Also, most people draw a blank when it comes to knowing how to or what to put together as a healthy meal or snack. Honestly, it’s not as difficult as most people make it out to be and there really is no reason to overcomplicate this.
Eating healthy is not more expensive than eating fast food. The average fast food “meal” including tax is roughly $7.00. The average fast food breakfast costs roughly $2.50 – $5.00. Most people don’t eat breakfast at home and will end up grabbing some sort of calorie laden “latte” , donut and coffee, or breakfast sandwich and coffee. Most people don’t brown bag their lunch and eat lunch out several days a week. And let’s not forgot those nights you’re tired, hungry or in a hurry and grab dinner on the go.
Let’s not forget the sugar soft drinks and snacks you get from a vending machine a few days a week. The average sugary beverage or snack from a vending machine will cost anywhere from $1.50 – $4.50. On average, you may end up throwing $5.00 into that vending machine for a sugary beverage/snack combo. Do that more than once a week and you’re spending $10.00 – $15.00 a week on junk that only contributes to your expanding waist line and declining health.
If you add it all up by the end of the week, you’ve easily spent somewhere in the neighborhood of $30-$60.00 per week on empty calories that have no nutritional value.
For less than $10.00 you can buy a rotisserie chicken, salad in a bag and a gallon jug of water which will feed 4 people or can get a single person through 4 meals.
For $3.00 you can have a container of Greek Yogurt, 1 organic apple and ¼ cup of almonds as a mid-day snack which is 50 cents less than the can of soda you get from the vending machine every day.
For $5.00, you can have a chicken breast sandwich you made at home with a piece of fruit for lunch.
For less than $1.00 you can have a bowl of old fashioned oats for breakfast.
For roughly $10.00 if you cook dinner at home, you can have fish, chicken or lean beef, green veggies and a sweet potato with a glass of wine.
At the end of the day, eating healthy is not necessarily more expensive than grabbing food on the go. The food industry wants you to think otherwise.
Have Your Say
Now you’ve heard the experts view. What do you think? Is there enough being done to prevent obesity? Share your opinions below, and don’t forget to sign up for updates from Lose Weight Look Fab.