We’re a fat nation on a fat planet. Well, the first world countries are fat while the third world countries starve. That’s an atrocity but a different discussion.
All you have to do is go to a fall fair to realize there are more fat people in this country than ever before. A recent study from the University of BC finds obesity rates among adults have gone up 25% in the past decade or so. BC is actually the least obese province. They think it’s because people there are more active than the rest of us.
But almost everyone agrees that the Body Mass Index (BMI) ratings are flawed. They seem to have been created by stick-people. I’ve lost 17 pounds recently and even when I lose 4 more and hit my goal, I’ll still be at the very top end of what’s considered “normal” for my height. Well I’m not willing to exist on celery sticks to conform to someone else’s idea of my perfect weight. I promise to step up my activity level and to try to stay on the healthy track and I know how much better I feel when I do those things. But for the anti-fat movement, that’s not enough.
There seem to be two competing schools of thought on a sensible weight. There’s the one created by calculator-toting diet freaks and the one by people like me who finally wise up and realize it’s as simple as calories in, calories out. There’s the billion-dollar diet industry that tells you that you need to buy special food and eliminate other foods for the rest of your life against the understanding that everything in moderation is key, plus getting up and moving your butt on a regular basis. Health is more important than skinniness and there are skinny people who are unhealthier than fat ones. Yes, our nation is fat. But they also know it and they’ll do something about it if and when they’re ready. If they don’t, they’ll pay the price. That’s what freedom is about!
“there are skinny people who are unhealthier than fat ones” Yeah we all know this is true. But we also know that on average obese people are much less healthy and at much more risk of high blood pressure, stroke, heart disease, diabetes, sleep apnea and have a substantial increase in the likelihood of getting bowel and esophageal cancers, among others. That’s what freedom is about? Not when everyone else has to pay more for healthcare because of it. We’ve made seatbelts mandatory because when they’re not used people are at greater risk of being killed or injured. When people are injured healthcare costs increase, affecting society as a whole. Obese people are at much greater risk of dying or becoming ill. Why is one risky activity regulated and the other is not? And besides, ever get crammed in one airplane seat next to someone who needs two? It ain’t right!
You make good points however we’re a long way off (and should probably never get to) becoming the kind of society that forces people to eat a certain way or exercise. It’s dictatorial. It’s just the way it is. I was stupid to ever start smoking but all of the attempts by others to get me to quit, failed. It wasn’t until I decided for myself that I accomplished it. 24 years ago, by the way!
I agree in that I wouldn’t want to live in a society where anyone is forced to live a certain way (any more than we already are) but how will this trend toward obesity end? It absolutely will not end unless we take steps to end it. We have to get mandatory physical education back in school. More sports for kids. More competition for kids. Proper nutrition lessons for kids. No fast food and sugary drinks allowed in schools. Bad nutrition should be treated like religion. If you want to teach it at home, go ahead but not in schools. Obesity, like any other problem on earth, can be changed with education. You just need to have the will to change it.