America’s obesity epidemic is of great interest to me.
Having just recently graduated with a Masters in Health and Physical Education,
I have seen the efforts being made by schools and universities to enhance a
childs physical education. However, I have served in a steakhouse for over 7
years, and have been privy to the efforts families make to enhance their
waistlines. As much as the educator in me wants to believe that people don’t blatantly
disregard the overwhelming warnings about poor eating habits and the value of
healthy eating and exercise, the server in me has seen people do it too many
times.
Sweet Tea, Coke, and other soda options were not an option
for me as a child as water was my only choice. More often than not, I see
parents allow their child to suck down 6 glasses of their sugary drinks,
probably because they are only concerned with receiving their 7th
refill. The amount of sugar and calories in these drinks have been well
exploited. I would also like to add that even though you ordered diet coke,
after drinking 4 glasses, it is no longer a healthier option. PS…ordering water
for you and your kids will save you about 2.50 a drink….which could be used
towards the tip…water is easier to refill than Mr.Pibb…
Cheesefries have never nor should they ever be ordered as a
meal for any person, let alone a child. Especially when the salad ordered from
them contains only iceberg lettuce (the lettuce that provides absolutely
nothing to your body..aka the redneck lettuce), extra cheese, ranch, and
crotons but NO tomatoes or cucumbers. Basically, any excuse to eat ranch
dressing. Sometimes people just forgo even the lettuce and just ask for cheese
and crotons.
More often than not, these are the families that had to
request a table because a booth isn’t large enough for them or had to ask for a
large booth that should seat six but will barely accommodate their family of 4.
Older generations, such as my parents, didn’t have the
education that so many people do now about portion control, exercise, and
calories. And yet, this is the fattest generation we have ever seen and it is
only getting worse. I am a firm believer that the root of childhood obesity can
be traced back to the parents. Portion control shouldn’t have to be taught. If
you eat fried foods and cheeseburgers every day, how in the world would you not
expect to gain weight?? Americans used to understand that. So my question might
be, as we as a country get fatter, are we also getting dumber? Test scores from
around the world might indicate that we are.
If you are reading this and don’t know me, you might be
thinking I am some skinny bitch who has never dealt with weight issues. You
would be right about the skinny bitch, but I have definitely had weight issues.
Currently healthy at 105 pounds, I remain in shape by running and using portion
control. However, in college, I gained 30 pounds because I chose to ignore my
education, and decreased my activity level and increased my greasy food and
beer intake.
After college, I conveniently remembered everything I had
been taught over the years and started using my common sense. Running and a
healthy diet, with definite occasional splurges, allowed me to shed the weight
over the course of a year. I believe this is a dying practice
Look at the ways more and more Americans are trying to lose
weight. Gone are the days of shedding pounds in a healthy way over a longer
period of time. People want to lose weight quickly and much like they did on
their journey to becoming obese, they disregard the harmful effects of their
actions on their body. I believe the dangerous stomach stapling surgeries,
cleanses, and diets that are so currently popular have been sending out a very
risky and powerful message: “It doesn’t take hard work to get what you want.”
And unfortunately, I think it is obvious that this is the mindset so many
Americans have begun to encompass. Many people want to lose weight fast or get
rich with minimal effort. Younger generations feel entitled to instead of
working hard for some of the creature comforts we all desire. Although I know
it still exists, that American spirit of working hard for what you want is
quickly diminishing.
I was at a water park outside of Atlanta a few days ago, and
I still haven’t figured out if I had more fun on the rides or people watching. I
feel like I was watching a showcase featuring America’s most unhealthy
families. I am not being critical when I say we were in the minority by not
being overweight or obese. I actually thought to myself, “Americans in general
are a terrible looking population.” I know this is obviously a very small
demographic but it was still very disconcerting. The south has some of the
highest rates of obesity. Seeing these people walking around in bathing suits
with no apparent concern for the excess weight displayed made me ask the
question, “when did it become normal for people to be so fat?”
I know it is incredibly important to have a healthy self
image. People need to be comfortable with themselves and their body. But where should
the line be drawn? Now considered a disease, allowing these obese people to be
comfortable with their body is like encouraging a smoker to keep lighting up.
Americans have become desensitized to the dangers of
obesity. Allowing it to be so common that is now considered a disease should be
a huge warning sign to those of us concerned with the state of our country. It
appears that the concept of self control is being lost. People are more willing to lose limbs from the
complications of diabetes or endure a possibly fatal heart attack rather than
stop going to McDonalds.
My education is in health and wellness. Prior to receiving
my masters, I earned a bachelors degree in Health Promotion and Behavior. I am
well aware of the difficulties that can cause weight gain. I know that unhealthy
food is almost always cheaper to purchase than healthier options such as fruits
and veggies. I know there is varying combination of factors that can allow
people to become obese. Is there too much empathy for the obese? Should we
continue to enlarge seats and increase weight maximums to accommodate the
growing obese demographic? Are the accommodations and modifications being made
for the obese actually encouraging people to not change?
I work hard to maintain my weight. I try to eat healthy. I indulge in double quarter pounders. I almost understand how obesity first emerged due increased portion sizes and decreased activity. But what I am still trying to fathom is why it is only getting worse.
