Vast overspend on the London 2012 Olympics

The Telegraph reports a vast overspend on the London 2012 Olympics. - I'll bet that comes as no surprise to anyone. By now there must be few people who believe a word that government ministers say/promise.

My personal opinion is that we should never have tendered for these Olympics. I don't know even one person who was/is in favour of having the Olympics in Britain. The claims that it would inspire youngsters to take up sport and athletics, and improve fitness and reduce obesity, were glib, ludicrous and false. Exercise does not reduce obesity, however often that claim is made and however important the person making the claim.

Let's look at some of the main official 'partners'/sponsors of the games: aha! - those well-known fit and healthy companies, Coca-Cola and McDonald’s! - They'll do a lot for children's health and fitness, to be sure!

Children's health is best served by protecting them from highly salted food like McDonald’s mainly provides, and protecting them from heavily sugared junk drinks like Coca-Cola. High salt intake in childhood is a major cause of obesity and the host of chronic illnesses that are associated with obesity.

See Children and Obesity

Lose Weight

Sodium in foods

Jackie Ashley thinks that the Olympics are a chance to transform the nation's lifestyle.

The Olympics are a chance to transform the nation's lifestyle - Guardian

Extract:

"The marathon story is uplifting because it symbolises our urge for self-improvement, open to anyone from any background, fit or unfit. But of course it's a minority who run - a small minority in two senses. The wider picture is that we British are getting unfitter and fatter. Obesity is soaring. Just over a decade ago, 16% of women and 13% of men were obese. Bad enough, but by 2005 the figures were much higher: nearly a quarter of women and 22% of men. Among kids, there has been a similar jump. Just under a fifth of boys and girls are now considered obese.

So what else, apart from marathon running might really make a difference on a national scale? To change the country's attitude to sport will take more than a bit of government finger-wagging now. It will need something big.

That exists already, of course. It is the London Olympics of 2012, the subject of national celebration two years ago but already buried as a good news story by an unending stream of grim tales of soaring costs, terrorism fears and fighting about who will pay."

Pious hopes - but only hopes... - Obesity is not caused by inactivity and is not lessened by taking more exercise. - Read the evidence here: Exercise has little effect on childhood weight

Obesity is caused by fluid retention and can be lessened by reducing salt/sodium intake and eating plenty of potassium-rich food like fruit and fresh vegetables.

Lose weight by eating less salt! Go on! - Try it! - You will feel so much better!
See my website www.wildeaboutsteroids.co.uk
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