We´re Too Damned Fat, America!

On the front page of my local paper recently (The San Diego Union – Tribune, Monday, March 24th), in bold headlines: "Mexico is second - fattest nation after U.S." Wow, I guess I should be overjoyed. We´re ´first´ in something! We are first in being the fattest among industrialized nations on earth? Somehow, I don´t think this is a positive accomplishment.

Having casually observed this trend toward obesity, disturbingly so amongst children, for some time in my own community, read of it, and seen reports on television, I decided to look into the matter. Here´s some of what I have found.

´Fatness´ is determined by measurement of a factor called ´Body Mass Index´ (BMI), a fancy name for how fat you really are - the percentage of fat to your total weight based on height. The ´normal´ for people in the industrialized world is somewhere between 18.5% and 24.9%. (Athletes have a very much lower BMI; they are ´fit´.) This can vary between men and women with women on the higher end of the scale. This makes sense since women are child bearers and, as such, are built differently than men who are more designed to be ´hunters and gatherers´ with higher muscle mass than women. (Sorry, I can´t account for those Russian women athletes!)

Currently, the BMI for Americans is 32.2%, slightly higher than number two, Mexico, at 30.2%. The chart indicates we are the ´fattest´ while Japan is the leanest at 3.0% and Korea at 3.55. You may rationalize that Asians have the better diets. Not necessarily so. Close behind is Switzerland with a BMI of 7.7%, well below the norm. So does Norway with their BMI rated at 9.0%.

As Americans, we have become increasingly sedentary. I watch nearly every day as kids get off the school bus and head directly to their homes. I seldom see them outside again - not out playing ball til dark, running, or doing anything physical. Instead, they have parked their fat butts in front of their computers, televisions, or video game players where they burn up few calories whiling away hours getting little exercise. They munch on junk food, quaff sodas, or otherwise accumulate excess calories they will take to bed with them unburnt.

All of these unused calories become stored in the body´s fat cells for later use. But as is the case in most instances, they won´t be ´used´. Tomorrow more of the same behavior will result in more fat being stored - on and on until creeping ´obesity´ is the result. In plain language our kids are getting fatter by the day!

Adults, too, are guilty of a lack of sufficient rigorous activity to account for their diet. . Our jobs today are in offices, behind registers at the retail stores, or any other nonrigorous activity. Seldom do we exert ourselves to the point of even breaking a marginal sweat. Weekends we spend an inordinate amount of time watching television, the biggest bane to our health ever invented. Even if we take the time to get involved in some sports or activities requiring some exertion, it usually is not enough and not frequent enough for any lasting effect. A round of golf doesn´t burn a great deal of calories. Sorry!

An excellent booklet has been published by the American Heart Association / Robert Wood Johnson Foundation entitled "A Nation At Risk: Obesity in the United States" which is very informative and outlines the problem with clarity. This may be found on the web and downloaded for free.

There are numerous studies and articles to be found on the web to educate oneself as to the nature of the problem which is simply we eat too much, get too little exercise, and grow fatter by the generation. (See ´The Surgeon General´s Call to Action to Prevent and Decrease Overweight and Obesity´)

What is the solution? Simple. Cut down, a little at least, on the fatty foods in your diet. Drink more water or juice than calorie (sugar) laden sodas. (We consume an incredible amount of soda in this country – far too much which is why they call them soft drinks - they are making our whole nation ´soft´!) Plan on some form of exercise at least three to four days weekly. Walking a mile at a reasonable pace will burn 100 calories roughly. Three miles a day will take about 45 minutes to accomplish. (A pound of fat consists of @ 3500 calories. It will take awhile to burn a pound of fat by exercise, but that´s the only way to do so effectively.) People who try dieting only are not going to be successful without also incorporating exercise into their weight loss efforts.

Obesity is a chronic problem in the United States now with more than half of Americans overweight. Twenty percent of our children are overweight with that percentage increasing yearly. This will result in a future of health problems as kids grow into adults and continue to be overweight and even progress to obesity. This does not bode well for our future health care system especially when these overweight kids reach their 40´s.

Our government at all levels needs to sound a clarion call to action on this problem. Publishing studies does little. A national outreach program must be initiated to change this frightening epidemic. So far, little of note is being done in a coordinated, all encompassing fashion to combat an alarmingly chronic condition.

I know education must be key. People do not know enough about being fat and what that can do to them over time. Perhaps a national ad program would help. Advertising ´sells´. Just review what corporations spend on it….advertising can sell ideas, too.

Do your own survey. The next time you are out in public observe the people around you. If you are like me you will be astonished at the number of overweight folks, especially young adults, you´ll see wandering around. If you really want to be shocked, stand outside a fast food outlet for 30 minutes and observe those going in and coming out. Make a mental note of what you see.

Fast foods have nearly ruined us. They are high in calories and relatively low in nutrients. Yet, millions of Americans eat at these ´fat stores´ regularly. It has been ingrained in us. An entire generation knows no better. Bad habits breed bad results.

Meanwhile, let´s grab a burgher and fries for lunch – don´t forget to SuperSize your order! How about a Diet Coke, jumbo size?

Damned, that's good - but it's slowly killing me! I'm getting 'supersized' myself!