Yesterday, I bought some food at the grocery store. I know... amazing. But yes, I did. While I have very little concern about the Corona virus, the reactions that some people are having does concern me, with pictures from Australia coming through of empty shelves. I do not think that it will happen here, but just in case, I did buy some things for my daughter.
As she has a very limited food range due to allergies, I wanted to make sure that we have at least some kind of supply put away just in case. The problem is, she can't eat most canned or dry food due to the additives, so fresh food has to be prepared and frozen. This meant that we couldn't buy much as we are already limited on freezer space, but at least it is something. It is quite incredible that in this day and age, one has to still think about food supply even though half the world is dying from overeating.
I had a discussion about the obesity epidemic with a client who is a pediatric surgeon the other day and was wondering at what point the environmental concerns come into play. The reason is that a lot of people will bring up the environmental implications of eating certain kinds of foods, but what about the amounts of food, as this is a significant component of the impact of consumption.
A few years ago there were cases and claims of discrimination in things like flight tickets where people were directed to buy an extra seat to accommodate their frame. Is it unreasonable?
The problem that has now arisen of course is that while the argument can be made that no one is forced to over eat and it is an opt-in process to be obese, no one chooses their parents either. Parental behaviors obviously have a significant impact on the outcomes of children, and early diet is likely very good indicator of how heavy that influence can be. Not only that, there are indications that obesity during conception can influence the DNA of the offspring.
My client was saying that as a parent himself, he is quite upset at the condition of many of the children he sees in his practice and like me, thinks it is predictive of their future. I wonder, while it has been outlawed in many places to smack children, at what point does the diet one feeds become parental neglect and abuse. Technically, it already is, if you don't feed children - but shouldn't that go the other way also?
I have never been comfortable with the idea of the idea of, "love yourself the way you are" as it gets misconstrued and turned into a passive approach and an excuse to not improve. What happened to the "health is wealth" standard? Yet, whenever these kinds of discussions take place, it always gets turned into some kind of discrimination conversation, rather than the topic at hand.
Once the environmental impact issues come into play however, are calls of discrimination a justifiable defense? There are taxes on vehicles that pollute more and limitations in some places on who can buy what kind of pollutants. What would happen if the same kinds of rules came into play at the grocery store, where some people could buy candy, others could not - in the same way it is for cigarettes and alcohol?
While I do not think that we are near that point, it is just an interesting thought exercise and is going to be increasingly brought into the conversation as the costs of the impact of poor health keep climbing. The problem with healthcare often is that the costs of treatment are much higher than the costs of preventative measures, but there seems to be very little organized incentive to actually prevent poor outcomes - if there were, would +30% of many populations be considered obese?
It is an interesting phenomena that we have access to so much information in this world, yet we don't seem to do a very good personal job of using it to improve our own condition. Perhaps this is another symptom of reliance on authority, as we expect someone else to look after us when we have failed to look after ourselves.
Taraz
[ a Steem original ]
As someone who lives in a country with 6000 patients and growing all I can say is coronavirus is blown way out of proportion here. It is using a medical issue to make a political issue. Actually my theory was proven today when the government went crazy because of Japan irrational banned travel. 90+ other countries did similarly including some places in China and Australia today, but um it's a medical concern.
Anyway, stay safe, do buy some extra essentials in case you end up in quarantine and avoid crowded indoor places. I'm sure I don't need to remind you to wash behind the ears ;)
Actually, to my friend who is panicing, I made a joke. It's like the zombie apocalypse here except instead of the virus making them want to eat brains, it is making them buy masks (there is a massive run on masks and North Korean style centralized distribution of essential goods).
I agree, the health issue is one side - the political another. I would suggest that if one could, there would be a very narrow selection of people profiting immensely at the expense of others. As I said to someone yesterday, it is kind of like the "sale periods" spread throughout the year (Valentine's, Easter, Mother's Day, Halloween, Father's Day, Christmas etc) except for industry. All you need to do to affect the markets is, make them think they might catch a deadly flu - Sentiment - the reality is meaningless.
I have never understood why some people have such dirty ears - but, perhaps it is the filth they listen to. :D
The medical industry raises a lot of serious ethical concerns. It's rather sad how some people like to complain about plastic surgery being shallow instead of medication expensive.
I'm thankful not to live in America where the medical system is an absolute nightmare. It's bad enough everywhere else. I'm not just talking price or insurance coverage - even the drug adverts on TV are nauseating. Actually, it's one of the few reasons why I don't want to live there (that aside I would love to be in cajun country, rocky mountains, or Texas).
Maybe that explains declining eyesight too ;p
You're from Canada, though. And Canada has public only healthcare?
Canada only has public health care. There are random user fees and medication isn't a burden for the average person (but it can be for seriously ill).
I live in Korea. There is universal public health care insurance but it isn't as comprehensive as Canada...reasonable (middle class) user fees for everything, won't bankrupt you, but no lines or waiting lists (Canada is really bad for that). I used to get American cable and satellite TV when I grew up in Canada, visited often and had american relatives. But actually, Canadian weather sucks and I dream about living in the Southern US sometimes.
Yeah, I know you live in Korea although not every reader does.
Thanks for a summary of how the system works in Korea. Finland has a mixed system where middle class people buy very cheap insurance policies for their kids to deal with the trivial stuff (ear infections etc.) that cost a couple of hundred euros per year. Most employers buy similar cheap policies for their employees. The elderly, the unemployed and other low income folks get their general care provided for them by the public sector where waiting times can be frustratingly long. Everyone gets their serious illnesses treated at public regional or university hospitals at a very small fraction of the actual cost. My wife and our daughter spent three days at the university hospital when she was born - the same one where @smallsteps was born. :) I don't remember how much it cost but it must have been around 100-200 euros while the actual cost must have been at least a few thousand.
It seems more similar to Korea than Canada. In any case, no one seems to be left without a choice for healthcare. I'm no activist, but I lean towards the idea that affordable healthcare and education are human rights. Who doesn't want good health and schools?
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Yet, they think that is the way it has to be.
I have to wear glasses.... I blame the internet :D
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Have you ever met my children's grandparents? XD
I'm pretty sure this was pushback against photoshopped unrealistic portrayals of "ideal" beauty (or at least ideal now because it's fluctuated a lot over the ages). Wasn't supposed to be a copout but I suppose everyone can just twist things around to justify whatever :)
One of those things is more profitable than the other.
Being wrong is umcomfortable and unpleasant and to be avoided at any and all cost, therefore it must absolutely always be someone else's fault so that we don't have to feel bad, because it was their fault. Oh wait we've been through this XD
Sounds like you need to invest in a chest freezer (or another one if you have one, because you totally have a tonne of money and space spare for this kind of thing). Hope you managed to stockpile a few supplies for small :) Meanwhile in Australia they're still fighting over toilet paper.
It started back in the sixties as an extension of the various civil rights movements I think.
And this is the reason it was pushed. Love yourself enough to keep consuming / because you're worth it.
Already on the cards, just have to get into the house as we have no room where we are.
I think it is a symptom of people being crappier :D
Bahahahahahhahaaaa XD
Oh my "one of those things is more profitable than the other" comment was actually about the medical industry, prevention isn't encouraged because while prevention is better than cure, cure is what gives you more repeat customers.
But it could definitely apply to "keep consuming coz you totally deserve this" too.
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This is never going to happen, as far as I believe. We have some recent cases of Corona in India, due to people neglecting to go and get themselves scanned because they came from a potential place (India), where they got infected. And they went and infected their own relatives, apart from others as well. The authority came into picture only late after knowing this, but that does not relieve them from the problem. They have to also suffer through the trauma, because of failing to look after themselves. Others also got hit, but that is another side.
That line isn't about Corona virus, it is about the general condition of society and the way we use information so poorly.
Exactly, even in case of Corona, People expect the authority need to look after them and has the ultimate responsibility - but its the people who should first take care of themselves and make sure, they are helping the society by preventing it to spread. Tons of information are there on Corona, but people are preferring to hide until it becomes critical.
Yesterday even in New Delhi in an unfortunate event, the people from society called police to look after someone who just locked himself in a house thinking that he is affected and even till late night, many tried and asked him to come out and get screened - but he was not opening the door.
People act poorly when scared. Unfortunately, people are easily scared these days.
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I need to Tweet more healthily