Obesity in America: A rant.

I wrote this little rant for my sociology class, but feel it necessary to share on my blog:

Walking down the street in any U.S. city, it’s difficult not to notice the robust size of many people. But why are so many Americans fat? In order to answer this quandary, it’s essential to examine the culture we live in today. There are many reasons why Americans are fat. To put it simply, they overeat and do not spend nearly enough time exercising. There are more complex reasons also to understanding this phenomenon. First, eating is not seen as an event. Rather, it’s something to be quickly done, and food is picked based on convenience rather than nutrition and quality. Processed, pre-packaged food is eaten all too frequently; it is packed full of empty calories, fat, and sodium. Moreover, the prevalence of fast food dining also contributes to American obesity, especially for those who are low-income. Portions at restaurants can personally feed me for days; however, many consider that only one meal. Most Americans vastly misunderstand portion-size, and must eat massive amounts in one sitting to accommodate their misconception. The more they eat, the more they need to eat to be satisfied.

Another reason contributing to American obesity is the misunderstanding of nutritious eating. All too often, bars, cereals, and instant drinks are replacing fruits, vegetables, and whole grains as sources of nutrition. While these tout vitamins and minerals, they misrepresent healthy eating. We’ve also lost much of the variety in our produce by using agricultural methods that focus on quick profit rather than sustainable planting; the monoculture employed by most corporate farms has destroyed so many varieties of nutrient-dense fruits and vegetables. The lack of variety in fresh produce leads Americans to other aisles to find it; there are about 100 varieties of potato chips and 50 varieties of cookies in any given grocery store. Moreover, Americans have become disconnected from what they eat due to extensive transport and packaging. Thus, they have taken to putting unhealthy and processed foods into their bodies, and their bodies have revolted.

Moreover, Americans do not understand the importance of regular exercise, and if they do, they simply cannot find the time in their insanely over-committed schedules. Most of our cities and suburbs are not pedestrian-friendly. Few Americans bike to work or school. Our society prizes cars above all other forms of transportation, with drastic impacts on our health as well as environment. The U.S. is quickly becoming a concrete jungle even in many rural areas; the lack of connectedness to nature leads Americans away from experiencing life with their bodies to experiencing it vicariously through computers, televisions, and video games. Most everyone agrees that regular exercise, even if it’s nothing more than walking 30 minutes a day, leads to weight loss and improved health. But too few Americans listen to common sense, and their health and well-being will suffer.



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I'm not saying being skinny is necessary for happiness; more important by far is health. We have, though, lost a lot of good stuff we had going for us a hundred or so years ago. Our society needs to remember the good old days of family walks instead of primetime TV shows. Victory gardens. Hiking. Biking. The simple but free things in life that contribute to well-being. I know as I take time to think about the unhealthy practices in my life, and seek to improve them, I feel a gazillion times better about my body and spirit.