2.1. An apple a day...

Focus on

 Plato con división de distintos alimentos
Imagen de USDAgov en Flickr.
 Licencia CC

Reflect upon the following questions:

  • What do you understand by a healthy lifestyle?
  • How healthy is Spanish cuisine? What about international cuisine e.g. Japanese, Italian, British, American, etc.?
  • Have you ever worried about your weight?
  • Which is the best way to lose weight?
    - Going to the gym
    - Eating less
    . Being a vegetarian
    - Taking pills
    - Cutting out chocolate and bread
    - Walking and cycling everywhere
  • Look at this shopping list and decide which of these products are a must on your own shopping list.

Do it yourself

How much junk food do you eat? Do you think the Spanish are keen on junk food?

 

You are going to listen to six young people from different nationalities answering these questions: Do you eat junk food? If so, what kind do you eat?

Match the sentences below with the speakers according to what they say. Write the number of the speaker in the space provided. 

SPEAKER 1 Anita from Taiwan
SPEAKER 2 Mitchel from USA
SPEAKER 3 Ruth from England
SPEAKER 4 Lucinda from New Zealand
SPEAKER 5 Alan from Canada
SPEAKER 6 Mark from USA

 

 

SOURCE: https://www.elllo.org/english/Mixer001/T018-JunkFood.htm

After doing the activity, click on audioscript to listen and read the script at the same time.

 

SPEAKER : This person normally eats gummy kind of candy.

SPEAKER : This person goes to McDonalds as a cheap solution to eat.

SPEAKER : He/She likes chocolate but if it is bitter.

SPEAKER : This speaker tries to avoid cakes, chocolate and crisps.

SPEAKER : Although he/she tries to control the quantity, at parties he/she eats a lot.

SPEAKER : This person admits eating junk food intermittently.

SPEAKER : At this moment in his/her life he/she has cut down on fast food. This speaker used to eat much more.

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Do it yourself

Read the following newspaper article and say if the statements are True or False.

UK AND US 'KEENEST ON FAST FOOD'

The UK is the country most attached to fast food, closely followed by the United States, a survey has suggested. A poll of 9,000 people in 13 nations, alongside a BBC investigation into global obesity, found vast variations in attitudes towards food and weight.

Many French get on the scales every day the poll found, while Singaporeans are the least likely to weigh themselves.

People are now said to be getting fatter in most of the world, with the exception of parts of Asia.

The three-day BBC series will look at the problems arising from the trend and what can be done about it.

This study, by market research firm Synovate, questioned 9,000 people in 13 countries across five continents.

Few people blamed their government for rising levels of obesity: the largest number of respondents blamed the food that was now available.

People in the UK and the US were the most likely to nominate "no self discipline" as the leading factor in obesity.

These two nations also had the most respondents who said they would be unable to give up fast food.

Some 45% in the UK agreed with the statement "I like the taste of fast food too much to give it up", while 44% of Americans said they would be unable to give up their burgers, pizzas and chicken wings.

Middle east diets

The survey also threw up some other interesting geographical variations.

Saudi Arabians and those from the United Arab Emirates were among the top consumers of low-fat food products, meal replacements and food supplements.

They were also the most interested in weight-loss courses, gym memberships and home exercise equipment.

"People are inherently contradictory and nowhere is it more obvious than on such a sensitive and important issue such as their weight," said Steve Garton of Synovate.

"The results show there's a world of people who cannot deny themselves that hamburger or extra piece of pizza, but probably make themselves feel better by washing it down with a diet cola."

A recent study of men and women in 63 countries found between half and two-thirds of men were overweight or obese in 2006.
The populations of Canada and South Africa currently lead the way, with an average Body Mass Index (BMI) of 29 - a calculation that takes into account both height and weight.

There is still some debate about the exact health risk posed by rising levels of obesity, but those who are overweight do have a higher risk of heart disease, Type II diabetes and other diseases including some cancers.

It is thought that an increasingly sedentary lifestyle is a major factor in rising obesity rates.

Health analysts warn that obesity-related illness threatens to overwhelm healthcare systems around the world.

Neville Rigby, of the International Obesity Task Force, said: "It is serious for individuals, but it is also serious for countries."

"Reports from the World Health Organization have shown that preventing chronic disease can have major economic benefits, and failing to do so can have major economic disadvantages."

Douglas Smallwood, chief executive at leading health charity Diabetes UK, said: "This survey is a sad indictment of current eating habits in the UK."

Peter Hollins, chief executive of the British Heart Foundation said: "If we are to tackle the growing obesity crisis it is vital that Britain's junk food addiction is addressed.

"But this isn't going to happen whilst a junk-dominated diet is being normalised through the constant barrage of advertising and promotions."

Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7165990.stm

 

Question 1

1. Singaporeans seem to be less worried about their weight.

Question 2

2. In some parts of Asia the problem of obesity is not as worrying as in other parts of the world.

Question 3

3. According to the poll, the government is considered most responsible for the high levels of obesity in current society.

Question 4

4. People in the UK and the US recognize they couldn't stop eating fast food.

Question 5

5. Saudi Arabians are really into body culture.

Question 6

6. Health experts say that healthcare systems will have to take care of patients suffering from  illness related to being overweight.

Question 7

7. According to the WHO higher levels of chronic disease mean major economic problems.

Question 8

8. The obesity crisis won't stop until advertising campaigns and promotions change.

Do it yourself

Find words in the text above for the following definitions:

1. A set of questions that you ask a large number of people to analyze an issue:
2. A device used for weighing people or things:
3. To say or think that someone or something is responsible for a problem :
4. To stop doing something that you normally do:
5. A person who weighs more than he/she should:
6. Illness:
7. Not doing much exercise but a lot of sitting:

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Culture counts

Did you notice the title: An apple a day....

Manzana con un corazón recortado
Imagen de Andreas-photography en Flickr. Licencia CC
This is part of the English saying An apple a day keeps the doctor away. In English there are a lot of sayings and idioms related to food. Check the meaning of the expressions below by clicking on each. Are there similar expressions in your language?