Here's why the governments 'anti-obesity' campaign is a load of shit

 I think you know by now that the government has proposed an anti-obesity campaign.
This includes bans on ads for ‘junk foods’ and calories being printed on menus.

I don’t like it.

It further perpetuates that idea that some foods are good and some are bad - therefore encouraging unhealthy relationships with food.

Printing calories on menus is also really really damaging to those who are recovering from an eating disorder - with calorie counts being a trigger. I’d argue that these new rules create more harm than good.

It again encourages the diet-culture idea that thinness=health and it is 'bad' to be in a bigger body. 

The governments new advertising ban promises to not advertise ‘unhealthy’ foods before 9pm. The food that is classed as ‘unhealthy’ is food that’s high in fat, salt or sugar.
This would also include avocado (higher in fat and therefore calories) and marmite (high in salt) alongside things like donuts and cakes.
But the nutritional value of an avocado is ten fold compared to a donut - so it makes no sense.
That’s not to say donuts are bad, they’re just different foods, with different purposes.
Again, spreading the complete wrong message.

Why aren’t we encouraging a cultural shift?
A drive to teach people how to live a healthy lifestyle.
Investing more in giving people the knowledge and resources they need to be able to have a healthy lifestyle.
Demonising certain foods does nothing but fuel the problem.
The main cause of weight gain is from having an unhealthy relationship with food. And, this completely ignores other nutritional, physical, mental, medical, financial, class and environmental factors that come into play.

After the recent shit-show of a year, many people report gaining a few pounds; BEAT, an eating disorder charity, reported an 179% increasee in their contact services - people feel uncertain in their health. Now should be the time when we really turn our damaging views around. We need to start promoting health, over weight. We need to educate ourselves. We need to understand that Kev from the gym's nutri-shake is going to do nothing but make you miserable. 

Now is the time for change and I'm disappointed that the government's new plans just make things worse.

Kate Xx

 

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 I post regularly on here and Instagram with self-love, body positivity and recipe ideas so that you can bloom into your best self, with me.