Oh no, too much information!!

[darthmoll]

she was just under tall for her weight

[Helen F H]

Having taught kids with attention disorders, i can say with my hand on my heart, these kids are ILL. Ritalin, bloody wonderful stuff. Turns wee monsters into angels. Yes it has side effects, the kids do well at school, stop throwing tantrums etc etc.

And no, these things dont occur in the third world - they are too busy killing eachother.

People will always look to blame something, but in some cases it is too easy. Instantly every naughty child has Attention deficit problems. No, but some did. You cannot make blanket statements like that.

For a long time people thought ME didnt exist.

Im sure there was something about there is a gene that makes you more likley to be addicted to things, be it drugs, alcohol, eating, gambling.

[Bantam]

I want to share something that's only recently dawned on me how to do in the last couple of years, so apologies for me coming over all philosophical. Also, this isn't meant to offend anyone - just my POV for what it's worth. Your (as in people who read this) views may be different, and that's your opinion, and I respect that. Also, I apologise if what I write may seem a little patronising. It's not meant to be at all - I just can't write it any other way...

We all spend fair chunks of our time thinking our point of view or way to go is the best and arguing the point till we're blue in the face. But how can we all be right? In our minds we are, but only with the information we have at the time.

Just because we have the attitude to get up and go, keep fit or whatever, doesn't mean that the other person sees things through the same set of values and filters that we do. I used to have a rough time at school because I was a 'geek' and didn't fit in. I personally would get very introverted but having learned how to read other people's helped me because I can step back and look at the bigger impact on what I'm doing or what other people are doing. Learning to stop being selfish is quite a step in life, and I still feel like I'm only 1% along the road.

On the other point -

Comparing our lifestyle in the UK for example with Third world countries is like comparing a ferrari with a mini. Sure they're both a car, use petrol and have tyres, but they're entirely different when you get under the skin.

In the third world, the food is generally unprocessed. That is they don't go to sa supermarket and buy it in a packet. They generally have to travel far to a market, or the lucky ones grow it or catch it themselves.

One of the reasons I think why our little luvvies get ADD is mainly because of the additives in the food. If you pick up pretty much anything apart from Organic food (and even some organic food) you'll see plenty of preservatives, emulsifiers, etc.. etc.. which manifest themselves as E numbers mainly. Also, if someone is particularly sensitive to cows milk, it may make them ADD and so-on and so-forth.

My brother, for example, would get hyper if you fed him Skittles. And I mean tremendously hyper. It would take days for him to get back to normal.

Other issues could be that both parents are working long hours to try to support kids, but end up with them getting ADD because they're not getting enough family support (more and more have both parents working and at nursery all day - my little one being an example of this) and boy do I feel guilty, but if we didn't both work we wouldn't be able to support her.

Mark.

[Bunny]

Rant warning:

When are people in our society going to start accepting responsibility for their own behaviour?

The vast majority of people do not have a medical condition that makes them fat. Only 3% of those deemed clinically obese have medical conditions affecting their metabolism.

Comfort Eating/ Compulsive Eating are solveable conditions if the intention is there. But it is MUCH easier to wallow, feel sorry for yourself and eat some more. I know the concept of self-discipline has become alien in our society, but I refuse to feel sorry for someone who sits in front of a triple portion of McD's, or their fourth packet of crisps of the day and whinges about being overweight. It is possible to stop eating compulsively - just like it's possible to quit smoking.

Yes some people suffer from clinical depression and mental disorders, but again, the numbers are tiny compared to the number of overweight to clinically obese people living in this country. All it takes is one trip to the supermarket to look at the cr*p most fat people shove into their trollies to see why they are obese. Lack of education has heaps to do with it, and I wish they would make Home Ec compulsory in schools again, so that children today get at least the slightest clue as to what constitutes "normal" portion size, and a balance diet, since clearly a large number of their parents have no clue.

None of this is to be compared with hyperactivity and attention disorders in children who have been forcefed additives by their parents, and hence suffer from chemical imbalances in the brain. Clearly, this is a very real and physical problem. However, again this does NOT serve as a blanket excuse for anyone and everyone who has a spoilt, undisciplined bratt at home which they've only ever shoved in front of the telly or computer game in order to keep them quiet instead of doing something to stimulate them mentally. No wonder the kids can't concentrate.

As for being addicted to food - what utter twaddle! We are all addicted to food as we can't live without it... if we didn't eat, we'd die! (Not that this is news to anyone).

Red ball away... but this nonsense really winds me up.

[Mr T.]

Originally Posted by Porg

And no, these things don't occur in the third world - they are too busy killing each other.

Originally Posted by Porg

You cannot make blanket statements like that.

You were saying?

[Fathoms Down]

Originally Posted by Bantam

In the third world, the food is generally unprocessed. That is they don't go to sa supermarket and buy it in a packet. They generally have to travel far to a market, or the lucky ones grow it or catch it themselves.

You've hit a major point here. The biggest problem with food in the first world if that, as out lives have become more sedentary, the calorie density (the amount of calories per volume of food) has risen dramitically due to processed and junk foods. The other problem is that our foods contain much more simply carbohydrate and sugar which gives us sugar hights and sugar lows. For example, if you have something sugary on your way home from work, you'll feel fine for a while but the sugar low will hit once you get in meaning that you aren't in the mood to cook yourself a decent meal.... bit of a vicious cycle there.

So whats the secret? Learn about food and use it in a sensible way. Eat less processed and refined food, do more activities, stop eating when you feel full and, dare I say it, stop seeing food as a luxury or "special" in some way.

Remember, you eat to live, not live to eat.

[Bantam]

Originally Posted by bunny

Rant warning:

When are people in our society going to start accepting responsibility for their own behaviour?

I agree with what you say - however as a population, aren't we going towards the 'We Can't Be Bothered' scenario? Isn't that what's happening here?

For example - Frustration beggars belief when driving along the A1 - how many people sit in the right hand lane all the way along the road even though there's no-one in the left hand lane at all?

[Bunny]

Originally Posted by Bantam

I agree with what you say - however as a population, aren't we going towards the 'We Can't Be Bothered' scenario? Isn't that what's happening here?

Well no, coz actually, they ARE bothered. That's where the "ohhh we're fat, and it's making us unhappy, but it wasn't our fault that we shoved all that food down our gullet, so please feel sorry for our struggle" comes in.

If they said, fine I eat too much, I'm fat, I have to live with the consequences, don't really care - ok fair enough (well not fair enough, actually, as it is my tax pounds that pays for treating all those obesity related heart conditions). But don't expect sympathy, or look all hurt when I'm not best pleased that I only get to use half my seat on the train (and let's not mention excess luggage allowance on divetrips ;-) )

[Helen F H]

Originally Posted by Bren Tierney

You were saying?

Glad to see you can spot tongue in cheek bren.

[Bantam]

Originally Posted by bunny

That's where the "ohhh we're fat, and it's making us unhappy, but it wasn't our fault that we shoved all that food down our gullet, so please feel sorry for our struggle" comes in.
If they said, fine I eat too much, I'm fat, I have to live with the consequences, don't really care - ok fair enough (well not fair enough, actually, as it is my tax pounds that pays for treating all those obesity related heart conditions). But don't expect sympathy, or look all hurt when I'm not best pleased that I only get to use half my seat on the train (and let's not mention excess luggage allowance on divetrips ;-) )

hehe. What I think we need, however, is someone (or something) that diverts the energy from them feeling sorry for themselves into making them feel better about themselves, or giving them back some self-esteem, and making them eat more healthily and keep fit.

I more anger about my tax pounds being spent fighting legal battles against Pikeys or keeping them in cheap booze while they diddle old ladies out of thousands to tarmac their drives.