Why are there so many overweight people these days? There they, waddling around, when they should be putting the remote control down and getting off the couch. I suppose I have just partially answered my own question. I have read several studies on this subject and most of them conclude that diet and exercise are the keys to weight management and being healthy. Processed and fast foods are easier to prepare and way more convenient. Living in a busy world, convenience is something people want. I cannot say I do not eat the occasional meal at a fast food restaurant, because that would be lying. What makes things worse is that when I do eat out, they want you to super-size your meal and give you a huge sleeve of fries and even bigger sugar laden soda pop. The smells can also cause you to think you are hungry. Every corner has fast food establishments tempting you to come in and buy a cheap, unhealthy meal. I do however try to avoid doing this as much as possible, but it is hard to find a restaurant nowadays that offers healthy choices. All of these things cause people to become fat and exercise becomes just too much effort.
Contributing to the endless supply of fast food restaurants, eating and preparing health meals at home can also a chore. I know firsthand that it takes effort to plan meals based on fresh vegetables, fruit and whole grains. It also costs a lot more for these types of foods. It also takes effort to read labels and avoid Hydrogenated oils and trans fats that clog up the arteries. After a while you crave the unnatural foods and reject the wholesome foods. It takes effort and determination to get off this treadmill and on to and exercise treadmill. Even diabetes (which people are getting earlier and earlier) does not scare people into changing.
Contributing to the endless supply of fast food restaurants, eating and preparing health meals at home can also a chore. I know firsthand that it takes effort to plan meals based on fresh vegetables, fruit and whole grains. It also costs a lot more for these types of foods. It also takes effort to read labels and avoid Hydrogenated oils and trans fats that clog up the arteries. After a while you crave the unnatural foods and reject the wholesome foods. It takes effort and determination to get off this treadmill and on to and exercise treadmill. Even diabetes (which people are getting earlier and earlier) does not scare people into changing.
Reuters (2008)Fast-food Ad Ban Could Cut Child Obesity: US Study. Retreived Novemeber 29,2008 from http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2008/11/20-4
2 comments:
You are absolutely right. I myself, am battling the obesity war and there is nothing in the world I would like more than to be the ideal representative of the nursing profession. In as much as we would like to blame the whole obesity problem on the fastfood industry, we do have choices and we can certainly exercise these choices we've been given.
Great posting, Tammy. I like that you have chosen to do some health teaching along with your own insights to our food choices and dilemma's. I can relate....
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