Americans Think: Everyone Is Fat Except For Me
Robert Paul Reyes
April 12, 2006
Everyone knows that TV makes you look ten pounds heavier, but most folks don't realize that mirrors make you look ten pounds lighter. Sixty percent of Americans are overweight, but we refuse to believe what we see in the mirror. Your unconscious mind takes off a few pounds from the figure staring back at you in the mirror.
According to a new Pew Research Center telephone survey, ninety percent of Americans know that most of their friends and family members are overweight, but just 40 percent believe themselves to be too fat.
More that 60 percent of the U.S. population is overweight, and half is obese, meaning they are risk of serious medical complications.
"Obese" is such a chilling word, being labeled obese is akin to being branded a hippopotamus. The truth hurts and maybe being called obese is what will spur the horizontally-challenged to lose weight.
Even though we need a super-sized wardrobe to accommodate our super-sized frames, we refuse to admit that we are fat. We can't trust our friends either, they will tell us that we look fine even if have given up wearing regular clothes and don only muumuus.
Only health care professionals will tell us the unvarnished truth, your doctor cares more about your health than he does about your feelings. If your physician tells you to exercise and go on a diet -- you need to follow his instructions.
Obesity is an epidemic and we need to do away with the mindset that "Everyone is fat except for me." The next time you have a physical checkup ask your physician if you need to lose weight.
According to a new Pew Research Center telephone survey, ninety percent of Americans know that most of their friends and family members are overweight, but just 40 percent believe themselves to be too fat.
More that 60 percent of the U.S. population is overweight, and half is obese, meaning they are risk of serious medical complications.
"Obese" is such a chilling word, being labeled obese is akin to being branded a hippopotamus. The truth hurts and maybe being called obese is what will spur the horizontally-challenged to lose weight.
Even though we need a super-sized wardrobe to accommodate our super-sized frames, we refuse to admit that we are fat. We can't trust our friends either, they will tell us that we look fine even if have given up wearing regular clothes and don only muumuus.
Only health care professionals will tell us the unvarnished truth, your doctor cares more about your health than he does about your feelings. If your physician tells you to exercise and go on a diet -- you need to follow his instructions.
Obesity is an epidemic and we need to do away with the mindset that "Everyone is fat except for me." The next time you have a physical checkup ask your physician if you need to lose weight.
Print
Email
