Theyre Wide, Theyre Here, Get Used to It
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.
MORE RESOURCES:
|
5 Summer Fruits For Fast Weight LossRetirement PlanningBy Scott Sheffield One of the healthiest and fastest ways of achieving weight loss is by eating summer fruits – and lots of them. In effect, since fresh fruits and vegetable are abundant during summer, we can say that is the perfect for considering ... |
|
Tailored Weight Loss Program for Veterans DisappointsNational JournalBy Maggie Fox An intensive, one-on-one weight loss program developed by the Veterans Affairs Department failed to attract many comers, and the few who did take part didn't lose much weight, researchers report. It's not clear why the program did not ... |
kjrh.com |
Wes Cole: Weight-loss principleskjrh.comMost of us have tried low carbohydrate diets, low fat diets, aerobics or weight lifting, but according to our fitness expert, Wes Cole, there are four laws of weight loss that will always be. Create a caloric deficit - This is a fundamental law of ... |
Google News
|
 |
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
Leaning Toward Lean: Clear Thinking For Better Health(Care)
Mindfulness is all about paying attention. It's amazing what can be accomplished when mindfulness is applied to systems that need all the attention they can get.
3 Surprising Statistics About Our Weight
To say that Americans are obsessed with dieting is anunderstatement! Pick up any magazine, tune-in or turn-on anysource of advertising and you're bombarded with the latest dietschemes and food fads. More often than not, they are endorsed bysome familiar Hollywood celebrity, or promoted using some othercleaver technique.
Weight Loss Information -- Setting Effective Goals
Weight loss information is often confusing and misleading. The more specific we are in discussing weight loss information the better it is for everyone.
What are Fats?
Fat is fuel. That is basically what it is.
Are You Ready To Lose Weight?
I know, I know. What a crazy question!Considering that we've all tried so many diets until we can give calorie counts in our sleep - where do I get off asking a question like that?But bear with me please.
Hydrate to Lose Weight: Drinking Water & Its Relationship to Weight Loss
It all begins with water ..
Weight Loss Online -- The Fastest & Easiest Weight Loss Plan
My first article provided steps for fast healthy weight loss. This was followed by my easy weight loss plan.
The Beginners Guide to Losing Weight
So you've decided that you're going to do it.You're sick and tired of being sick and tired and are once and for allhell bent on losing weight.
The Truth About Weight Loss: The 6 Biggest Myths About Dieting!
All of our behavior results from the thoughts that preceded it, so the thing to work on is not your behavior, but the thing that caused your behavior, your thoughts.- Dr.
Burn More Fat With Insulin Control: The Secret Weight Loss Switch
If you're serious about losing weight and getting fit, you might be interested in what I'm about to tell you. If you're like most people who don't have time to do cardio exercise and weight training for a few hours a day, then you need to read on.
Real Weight Loss Begins Today...With Cliff Kuhn, M.D.s Fun Factor Diet!
Weight Loss is something that many Americans struggle with. In this article, Cliff Kuhn, M.
Weight Loss: Its Not Always What You Eat, But What You Dont Eat
On a little island half way in between Guam and thePhilippines there is a rampant epidemic affecting the inhabitants. This tiny island of approximately 8,200 people is not afflicted with famine or a deadlydisease as you might think when talking about anepidemic.
Weight Loss Problems - Or is it a Self Image Problem?
Some of you will not like what I have to say, even though it is the truth. And that may be where the problem of American's health problems lies.
Do You Need To Cut Down 100 Calories A Day? But Dont Know What 100 Calories Is?
The difference between weight loss, and steady or weight gain, can be as little as 100 calories a day. Well, that is according to the American Dietetic Association, and it is very easy to believe the underlying truth in that.
Four Big Weight Loss No-Nos
I've worked with hundreds of people who were interested in losing weight. Overthe years I've noticed four areas that I believe are particular hindrancesto weight loss.
Dieting to Death
It has been 15 years since I was diagnosed with Bulimia Nervosa and I have been recovered for 12 years. To this day if I head for the washroom after a meal my mother feels the panic start to well up inside of her.
Lose Weight NOW! - The Truth or Consequences Diet?
If you knew when you were going to die, would you really want to know? If you knew when you were going to lose your life, would you do anything different? If you had a choice of living longer or living a better quality of life, which would you choose, longer or better?People say, "if only" they had known they were going to have this happen to me, they would have done things differently. IF ONLY?I had not stressed so much about life.
Schoolchildren on South Beach diet
As a part of a children's diet and health study, conducted by Dr. Agatston, six elementary schools from Osceola County, Florida were included in a diet program from September through May 2005.
Weight Loss: Customize, Personalize, Spice up!
You know you have weighted, err, waited more than enough. So you decide to get yourself started on some weight loss programs and regimens.
Rating The Diets: A Mindless Exercise?
There has been a recent surge in the experts weighing in (pun intended) on popular and celebrity diets to rate them in terms of effectiveness, nutritional adequacy, and balance. Look at the latest crop of magazines, Internet news reports, and television specials.
|
