Comments on: Report: Obesity Rise Not Tied To Government Welfare Programs http://livinlavidalowcarb.com/blog/report-obesity-rise-not-tied-to-government-welfare-programs/1482 To educate, encourage, and inspire the world to start low-carb living Thu, 09 Feb 2012 16:24:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= By: PJ at TDLC http://livinlavidalowcarb.com/blog/report-obesity-rise-not-tied-to-government-welfare-programs/1482#comment-4367 PJ at TDLC Wed, 10 Jan 2007 17:20:00 +0000 http://livinlavidalowcarb.wordpress.com/2007/01/10/report-obesity-rise-not-tied-to-government-welfare-programs/#comment-4367 As long as the government and AMA and USDA et al are in bed together with the richest sugar, corn and carb-pushing food corporations, this is not going to change. You cannot set up a government program, have "healthy" guidelines, and not base them on the official government food pyramid. And if the food pyramid is not healthy, that is going to snowball as it rolls downhill from there.<br /><br />WIC was invaluable to me when I was poor and pregnant with my daughter 11 years ago. I was so thankful for that program. Food stamps however are a different thing, as Cindy mentioned, and I question the statistical value of any study that combines them.<br /><br />PJ As long as the government and AMA and USDA et al are in bed together with the richest sugar, corn and carb-pushing food corporations, this is not going to change. You cannot set up a government program, have “healthy” guidelines, and not base them on the official government food pyramid. And if the food pyramid is not healthy, that is going to snowball as it rolls downhill from there.

WIC was invaluable to me when I was poor and pregnant with my daughter 11 years ago. I was so thankful for that program. Food stamps however are a different thing, as Cindy mentioned, and I question the statistical value of any study that combines them.

PJ

]]> By: teapotsgalore http://livinlavidalowcarb.com/blog/report-obesity-rise-not-tied-to-government-welfare-programs/1482#comment-4366 teapotsgalore Wed, 10 Jan 2007 16:42:00 +0000 http://livinlavidalowcarb.wordpress.com/2007/01/10/report-obesity-rise-not-tied-to-government-welfare-programs/#comment-4366 It really bothers me that WIC checks and food stamps are considered comparable in this particular study. My mother (Barbara Deskins, PhD, RD) was instrumental in setting up the WIC program in Pennsylvania decades ago, and one of the key points she always emphasized was the WIC specifies food that the money can be spent on, whereas food stamps allow the users to buy cigarettes, junk food, sugary soda, and other unhealthy things.<br /><br />I was actually on the WIC program when I was pregnant and for awhile thereafter, and thanks to those checks (and what I *had* to use them to buy), my family and I ate good healthy low-carb cheese and deli meats when we would not have otherwise been able to afford those items (or as much of them). WIC checks also pay for milk, which even though it's not low-carb, I do not consider a bad food, and cereal, which would be the only food I take issue with in terms of carbs and sugar.<br /><br />Anyway, even though WIC has changed some over the years and become burdened with political bureaucracy, I still think it's a good healthy-minded program that is much more beneficial (and even low-carb) than the food stamp program. <br /><br />However, I do agree completely that changing both programs so fresh produce can be purchased would be a wonderful thing :)<br /><br />-Cindy It really bothers me that WIC checks and food stamps are considered comparable in this particular study. My mother (Barbara Deskins, PhD, RD) was instrumental in setting up the WIC program in Pennsylvania decades ago, and one of the key points she always emphasized was the WIC specifies food that the money can be spent on, whereas food stamps allow the users to buy cigarettes, junk food, sugary soda, and other unhealthy things.

I was actually on the WIC program when I was pregnant and for awhile thereafter, and thanks to those checks (and what I *had* to use them to buy), my family and I ate good healthy low-carb cheese and deli meats when we would not have otherwise been able to afford those items (or as much of them). WIC checks also pay for milk, which even though it’s not low-carb, I do not consider a bad food, and cereal, which would be the only food I take issue with in terms of carbs and sugar.

Anyway, even though WIC has changed some over the years and become burdened with political bureaucracy, I still think it’s a good healthy-minded program that is much more beneficial (and even low-carb) than the food stamp program.

However, I do agree completely that changing both programs so fresh produce can be purchased would be a wonderful thing :)

-Cindy

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