government obesity strategy - quotes and descriptions to inspire creative writing
Perhaps instead of a "government obesity strategy" we need a "strong strategy" so that we focus on the positive outcomes and the way to get there rather than things that bring stigma and shame. Plus, then for those who are under-weight are also encouraged in the right direction, to get strong and feel great about themselves. Once we de-stress and get in the cycle of positive self esteem we stand a much greater chance of achieving great personal health.
Only a strategy that takes ACEs (adverse childhood experiences) and how they relate to the stress response can have any lasting effect on obesity in the nation. Irrespective of income, though they are correlated to poverty for obvious reasons, they are the engine we need to "fix" alongside the other measures that deal with the "fuel intake" and "energy burnt." Otherwise we run the risk of acing the symptoms rather than unveiling the all-too-painful and often embarrassing cause. Without more love in our society, without less of the things that cause humans stress, obesity and the other ill-health factors that ACEs bring will continue to haunt us.
As part of the welfare system the government bought food in supermarkets in the poorest neighbourhoods. We had a new television show with the nation's favourite chefs, old and young, who would engage in friendly competition each week to produce the best dishes from that week's free healthy foods. The public voted on their favourites and shared their own "nailed it" versions on social media. It was fun and it brought as all together. It was an effective part of the government's obesity strategy, to start helping folks get used to different flavours and access the good nutrition their families needed.
The prime minister led a get-in-shape-a-thon, her daily exercises shared on YouTube so people could follow a long. To get in shape people need regular attention and encouragement, real advice and a feeling of being "in the trenches" with someone, and so the government's obesity strategy was off to a great start.
We saw a welding of the government obesity strategy with both the national health strategy and the anti-poverty strategy - the free healthy food was available from an app too, so that people could shop as normal in regular stores rather than having to go to the food bank. No-one around you could ever know if what was in your shopping trolley was free or not. The allowances were proportional to family size, and once your family was registered, you were good to go. People ate better, so stress was lower and health was better. It was a dignified way to ensure that all of our citizens were cared for, after all, what is a country but the people? What is patriotism but caring for every one of us? Plus it kept supply chains in tact, everyone between the farmer and the plate was paid as usual. Stability is good, especially in times of challenge.
"Well," said the minister, "to quote Dr Nadine Burke Harris in her book The Deepest Well, '...the pleasure centre (the VTA), chronic stress increases your cravings for high-sugar, high-fat foods, and elevated cortisol makes it harder for your body to metabolise sugars and easier for your body to store fat.' And so whichever way we slice the proverbial cake, stress in society matters very much and the thing that stresses almost any biological organism out is not having the resources they need for a healthy and happy life. In short, we have to start loving each other far more and competing far less. If my fellow citizen is any less than a part of my extended family we aren't going to make it, any of us, not in terms of building the sort of future we want for the generations to come. The obesity strategy thus is about more than getting your five-a-day and taking exercise and striving for real equality is our moral duty.