What’s happened to ‘moderation’?
Detail:
The UK has, I believe, one of the longest working weeks in Europe and, as retailers always say, although doors may be closed to the public, there is still a lot of work to do when the last customer leaves.
So I was interested to read a report in The Guardian that said sleeping consistently for less than six hours a night can cause an early death. The research by academics in the UK and Italy considered data from 16 studies across Europe, the US and Asia over 25 years, covering more than 1.3 million people and more than 100,000 deaths.
It found, I quote, ‘that those who generally slept for less than six hours a night were 12 per cent more likely to experience a premature death over a period of 25 years than those who consistently got six to eight hours’ sleep’.
The study noted that previous research into lack of sleep had shown it was associated with ailments including heart disease, high blood pressure, obesity and diabetes.
But it’s not good news for those who like a lie-in. Published in the journal named (appropriately enough) Sleep, the study also drew the conclusion that those who consistently sleep more than nine hours a night can also face an early death.
Oversleeping itself was not seen as a risk, the report hastened to add, but was a potential indicator of underlying ailments.
Now obviously this is not going to create a massive panic and cause millions of people to rigidly ensure they are in bed by 11pm so they can be up bright and early by 7 at the latest. But it does hark back to our mothers’ and grandmothers’ words of wisdom – everything in moderation.
Which led me to think about the recently concluded Rabbit Awareness Week and its central theme of pet obesity, and indeed the Pet Food Manufacturers Association’s campaign against pet obesity. Yes, correct information as to what is a good food and correct portion size is crucial to keep a pet’s weight within in optimum range, but surely at the heart of this is that old message about moderation.
What is it about the society we are in that has lost sight of what moderation means? It’s been said before, but pet obesity is mirroring human obesity. And yes, it can be awkward for a retailer to talk to a customer who is obviously horizontally challenged with a portly pet about said dog’s diet and the need to lose weight.
I’m curious, do you as a retailer go ahead, bite the bullet and talk about that pet’s obesity? Or do you hope the owner sees the light on his/her own accord? Perhaps a tactful way is to suggest that the pet in question might prefer a different food and you have just the product to try?
Everything in moderation. Three simple words, but oh so difficult to adhere to.
So I was interested to read a report in The Guardian that said sleeping consistently for less than six hours a night can cause an early death. The research by academics in the UK and Italy considered data from 16 studies across Europe, the US and Asia over 25 years, covering more than 1.3 million people and more than 100,000 deaths.
It found, I quote, ‘that those who generally slept for less than six hours a night were 12 per cent more likely to experience a premature death over a period of 25 years than those who consistently got six to eight hours’ sleep’.
The study noted that previous research into lack of sleep had shown it was associated with ailments including heart disease, high blood pressure, obesity and diabetes.
But it’s not good news for those who like a lie-in. Published in the journal named (appropriately enough) Sleep, the study also drew the conclusion that those who consistently sleep more than nine hours a night can also face an early death.
Oversleeping itself was not seen as a risk, the report hastened to add, but was a potential indicator of underlying ailments.
Now obviously this is not going to create a massive panic and cause millions of people to rigidly ensure they are in bed by 11pm so they can be up bright and early by 7 at the latest. But it does hark back to our mothers’ and grandmothers’ words of wisdom – everything in moderation.
Which led me to think about the recently concluded Rabbit Awareness Week and its central theme of pet obesity, and indeed the Pet Food Manufacturers Association’s campaign against pet obesity. Yes, correct information as to what is a good food and correct portion size is crucial to keep a pet’s weight within in optimum range, but surely at the heart of this is that old message about moderation.
What is it about the society we are in that has lost sight of what moderation means? It’s been said before, but pet obesity is mirroring human obesity. And yes, it can be awkward for a retailer to talk to a customer who is obviously horizontally challenged with a portly pet about said dog’s diet and the need to lose weight.
I’m curious, do you as a retailer go ahead, bite the bullet and talk about that pet’s obesity? Or do you hope the owner sees the light on his/her own accord? Perhaps a tactful way is to suggest that the pet in question might prefer a different food and you have just the product to try?
Everything in moderation. Three simple words, but oh so difficult to adhere to.
By:
Sandra
Date/time :
05/05/2010
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