Letters to the Editor

[January 21st, 2004] PORKLAND, OREGON

Thank you for your overdue obesity article ["The New Urban Sprawl," Jan. 14, 2004]. Though ending on a question, putting the topic on the table is so important. When Krispy Kreme debuted, it made The Oregonian's front page--and with no mention of obesity. Now think about that: the front page. What sort of message is that sending?

Though good overall, you neglected a few things. Chiefly, last July state legislators rejected a $2.2 million federal grant to fight obesity. The reason? It doesn't make sense for the government to spend millions to keep Oregonians from getting fat. Gee, great call, Rep. Randy Miller (R-West Linn), what with $730 million spent on weight-related hospitalizations and all.

Second, you made a huge omission with phys ed in schools. You discussed exercise, but that's only one part--having kids play dodgeball a half-hour a day won't cut it. The larger, more challenging aspect is education.

As a former inner-city grocery clerk, I saw two categories purchase vast quantities of processed junk foods: people on food stamps, and wealthy-by-comparison college students. What did they have in common? Neither knew any better, and both ended up spending more and getting less than their better health-educated counterparts.

Buying fresh foods instead of processed, drinking water instead of soda, cutting out chips and candy--these are not expensive to do, and it's erroneous to state such. Processed ("value added") foods are more expensive, not less. Hello!? Kraft is rich; farmers aren't. The only way unprocessed foods cost more is in education. And with awarded grants like the above being so casually rejected, that doesn't look like something Oregon is yet ready to spend money on.

As for Oregonians' unique penchant for celebrating diversity, all I have to say is, "Let's celebrate morbid obesity." Because being different is being great.

Joshua Dallman
Northeast Schuyler Street

PUT YOUR MONEY WHERE YOUR MOUTH IS

Thank you for your article on obesity ["The New Urban Sprawl," Jan. 14, 2004], but I think you are too pessimistic about the possibility of slimming down Oregon. All the state has to do is to arrange for all services by health professionals to be charged by the pound. Those whose BMI is in the normal range would pay a basic rate, and those whose BMI is not would be subject to a surcharge proportionate to the degree of deviation. Considering that the addiction of most Oregonians to money overrides all other obsessions, including that of excess food consumption, the fat problem would shrink a lot faster than it swelled.

Raymond H. Fischer
Southwest St. Clair Avenue