America's Obesity Epidemic
As the numbers of overweight Americans continue to skyrocket, one thing is clear: being obese is the true exception to the rule in a society governed by a culture of gluttony. You can't turn on the television or turn the pages of a magazine without being bombarded by tantalizing images of cheap, marginally nutritious foods. Especially during the holidays, when visions of turkey with all the trimmings, cakes thick with icing, and gravy sodden mashed potatoes, may dance in our heads. Is it any surprise that more than 50% of us find this pressure to indulge almost impossible to resist? It's no big secret why 90% off all dieters fail. Society makes it impossible for them to succeed.
Ritualistic Eats
The overwhelming pressure to eat doesn't end with the appeals of Madison Avenue.
The act of eating is interwoven with our social and work lives. Think about all those meetings when plates of cookies were available just because, or how going to the movies becomes an excuse to scarf down huge buckets of buttered popcorn and mega-sized bags of candy. Let's face it, for most Americans eating, like shopping, has become a recreational activity that has little to do with our basic biological needs. This is one reason why diets don't work. Only a fortunate 20% of Americans can easily eat for recreation. Blessed with a speedy metabolism or a personal trainer, their bodies will never betray them by turning that extra croissant into a love handle.
Button Pushers
While we're placing blame, let's not forget the role that technology has played in thickening our middles. These days we don't have to work at anything but the office. We've become a remote control, vacuum cleaner, washing machine society. In short, a nation of sedentary button pushers. Yes, there are gyms and aerobics classes, but who has the time? In the face of long work hours and lengthy commutes we're too tired. It takes almost superhuman effort to stay in shape. The result: a population that's getting bigger by the minute.
What's the Solution?
Despite a diet industry that nets over 33 billion dollars a year, a smorgasbord of fat free and low fat foods, and so called miracle diet pills, no cure has been found for obesity. Even if a cure materialized tomorrow, it wouldn't remove the near insurmountable obstacles to healthier eating habits. For that to happen a societal sea change must occur modifying the way we as a nation eat, move and work. Once bicycles and walking have become our preferred modes of transportation, once restaurants replace frying with baking and super size portions with realistic portions, and once eating becomes something we do in response to our true biological hunger, then, and only then will obesity cease to be an issue. In the meantime, many of our futures continue to loom large.
If you are among that lucky 20%, and if you've ever made fun of an overweight person (be honest), know that by the grace of God, your quick metabolism or gym membership, that obese person could've been you.
Lynnel Hampton is a native of Seattle, Washington and a graduate of the University of Washington. She holds a BA in English with creative writing emphasis and is currently pursuing an MA in Communications. She is a past winner of The University of Washington's Annual Black History Month Essay Contest.
Wood Dale Chicago prom limo .. Lockport Chicago limo O’HareThe difference between weight loss, and steady or weight gain,... Read More
The Government of the Australian state of Victoria has started... Read More
Now that the holiday season is here, holiday foods and... Read More
There is never any absolute certainty about what the nutritional... Read More
A healthy pregnancy almost always involves weight gain. But now... Read More
Here are 5 solutions to slimming:1. Set Mini-Goals: Try setting... Read More
If you're like me, you probably wish that there was... Read More
If I Want to Lose Weight, What Can I Do... Read More
The average American eats about twice as much protein than... Read More
Wanna know the truth? If you're going to... Read More
Obesity is defined as an excessive accumulation of body fat.... Read More
Almost everyone has attempted to follow diets and weight loss... Read More
Lean turkeyLean ground beefChicken breastFish, halibut, orange roughy,More fish, shark,... Read More
College weight gain is at an all time high, and... Read More
In our society of fast food and long hours spent... Read More
From personal experience I have myself like all of you... Read More
Many individuals these days, male or female, young or old,... Read More
Do you know anybody who does not wish to get... Read More
The best exercises for quick weight loss in my opinion... Read More
In 1994, I had a RNY surgery. At 350 lbs... Read More
Stop Weight From Creeping Up By Staying AwareEveryone has small... Read More
Diet and Exercise. They are the inseparable twins that are... Read More
When it comes to our weight and the appearance of... Read More
If you are looking for a way to lose fifteen... Read More
If you find this article helpful, please forward it to... Read More
Antigo wedding limo ..Have you ever stepped on the scale after a week... Read More
You see it all the time; people agonizing over their... Read More
I am considering Gastric bypass surgery because I am overweight,... Read More
We all have aspects of health we want to improve.... Read More
Eating the right foods and exercising regularly have been the... Read More
It seems there are two schools of behavior patients follow... Read More
You are probably familiar with the weight loss connection with... Read More
A "normal-tummy" looks at the food pyramid from the bottom... Read More
Every regime has its supply of useless folk lore and... Read More
Gastric bypass surgery has many forms and can involve stapling... Read More
Of all the possible exercises there are to help you... Read More
The weight loss protein debate centers around the effectiveness of... Read More
I personal lost 60 pounds in 2003. Here are some... Read More
With the growing epidemic of diabetes and obesity in our... Read More
Weight Loss ? Basic Lessons for Sustained SuccessWeight loss is... Read More
What is a calorie? The definition of a calorie is... Read More
It's calorie-free, inexpensive and easily obtained - yet few people... Read More
Mindfulness is all about paying attention. It's amazing what can... Read More
Weight loss, diets and "carbs" are common household topics. There... Read More
Your brain has this really interesting system that is kind... Read More
Diet is one of the most controversial subjects around. Bring... Read More
You may be considering a low carb diet program, but... Read More
America is a nation of self-disclosers, amiably acceptant of our... Read More
To see the "low carb" diets on the way out... Read More
Yesterday evening my computer hard drive crashed. Resulting in the... Read More
Weight Loss |