“Marx once predicted that the capitalist countries would become so bloated that the bourgeoisie would actually pay to lose weight.” – From a comment on USAToday
That prediction has come true – the rich and poor are paying to lose weight. Many people in America are not only overweight — we’re getting fatter. If they were being graded on it, we’d get an F. This is according to a report by the Trust for America’s Health and Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Two-thirds of adults are overweight, which is double what we were in 1980. Too many of our children and even our pets are overweight. (see Quick Facts about Childhood Obesity)
Utah, Colorado and California, are doing better than the rest of the nation but are also gaining. Issues like poverty, a sedentary work force and less time for recess and play at schools and child care centers factor in, according to Jeffrey Levi, executive director of Trust for America’s Health.
“Millions of Americans still face barriers, like the high cost of healthy foods and lack of access to safe places to be physically active, that make healthy choices challenging.” It’s worse for low-income Americans and minorities.
A 2008 survey in Utah found that 21.5 percent of elementary students were overweight. In this survey a sampling of students were weighed and measured — unlike this national survey which was done by telephone. I find that a frightening number.
We spend a lot of time sitting in cars, then on couches and not nearly enough time in playgrounds, outside or moving around. Exercise was once built into our life but now we have to make time for it. Also, you have to go out of your way and it’s more expensive to eat healthy than it is to prepare food that is healthy.
Are we headed towards life like is shown on the movie Wall-e where we get so fat we are carted around all on a platform and have machines take care of us? What do you think we should do about the issue?
Related articles
- Michelle Obama Gets Kids Moving (rubberecycle.com)
- How you Can Help Fight Childhood Obesity? (rubberecycle.com)
- Welcome to our New Fit Nation (rubberecycle.com)
Tags: New Jersey, Obesity, playground
