Aug
7
We Are Eating Ourselves To Death
9 Comments
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Have we finally reached the point where we “as a society” can’t control our weight? The disturbing trends of overweight Americans is an epidemic now and there is no clear change in sight. Today’s people have gotten to the point where things are too convenient. Fast food, comfortable cars, video games, and remote controls have made our life so easy that we don’t do the things our parents and grand parents did in order to control weight gain.
I blame the start of this all on McDonalds as that was the first fast food franchise in America where you no longer had to dine inside and prices were affordable for everyone. The original hamburger was only 10 cents. This started a trend to eat more since the cost was so small that buying more than just one seemed like the thing to do. No one cared about transfat and cholesterol, just the taste of those fatty little burgers. They also started the trend to “drive-thru” so that you didn’t even have to get out of your car get your menu items.
Our parents and grandparents did things that are considered foolish for most now. Why walk to a local grocery store in town and get one bag of items when you can drive to a supermarket miles away and stock up for the week. Don’t get up and change the channel because a wireless remote can work from across the room. There’s no sense in taking an evening stroll because the next sitcom or reality moment is about to take place.
We forget that by creating all the conveniences of our present day we have removed the function of physical exertion. This was thought to be an annoyance that was overcome by invention after invention to make things “easy”. Well we got our easy and a whole lot more. The average American is either overweight or obese. Yep, you hear that right and in case it doesn’t sink in I’ll say it again. Over 50% of Americans are either overweight or obese. As a nation we are fat and as a nation we have developed problems that may never go away.
Fat, overweigh or obese people cost more at work from loss of productivity by more time off to deal with medical issues. They have become a huge part of the type II diabetes trend. The amount of heart attacks in overweight individuals triples when compared with those that are not. Respiratory problems, joint and orthopedic problems and a long list of medical issues are caused by eating too much.
The majority of America is running out of time and well on their way to eating themselves to death. As a Nation, we have to act to curb this activity or we are doomed. I’m not saying that lawmakers need to step in, but maybe there needs to be some thought on how to combat this problem. Social interaction is done on a computer now and not by engaging with your neighbor. We need a physical fitness plan that every American should follow and want to be part of. It’s time to get off the couch and be active again.
Comments
9 Responses to “We Are Eating Ourselves To Death”
[...] the original post: We Are Eating Ourselves To Death [...]
I find it very perplexing that as a society we are getting fatter and YET the standard we hold up to ourselves and our children, via models in magazines, is a unattainable one. The mag pictures are photoshopped… a lightening here, and nip in there, an erasure over there… we look at those pictures and say “I’ll never look like that! Why bother trying.” when you know how little these models eat, and they are still not perfect enough to be featured in a magazine without touch ups… it’s a sad state of affairs.
The answer (I fear) is beyond us already!
Cheers,
Shelley
Be Naturally Well .com
Excellent point Shelly and frustrating that we (as a society) are more concerned with eating even when it’s very bad for our health.
[...] We Are Eating Ourselves To Death [...]
yeah, it’s about lifestyle. We have to change our lifestyle into a healthier one, doing exercise, eating healthy food, avoiding junk food. It’s the matter of habit. We must start from now.
Lifestyle….moderation, staying active! Eat smart. Nice post!
moses said it so well.
it is time to stop talking and START (& chat along the way…)
Interesting, well worth reading.
Yes Tom,
I believe we are eating ourselves to death. It’s time to get back to basics/nature. Btw, thanks for the comment on my Open Letter to Physicians. Now if I can only get some attention from physicians.