The CDC states that in the US, about 1/3 of the population is obese.Obese is defined as having a BMI > 30. What does that mean? Just for sample numbers, check out.

http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/bmi/index.htm

If you're at a height of 5'7, but weigh about 200 lbs, you are obese. I mean, I feel like most people I know are under this, but it's still surprising to think one out of three fall at 200lbs and above. Its one thing to rib a person for being chubby(which is dickish asshole behavior) and its another thing entirely to point out a person who is obese and hurting themselves. Think about that…1 out of every 3 people you meet randomly on the street are obese. 25% of children are obese. In america. France and Japan on the other hand, have the lowest fat index. Which proves in my mind its not so much a genetic thing, as it is a diet and lifestyle issue. Asians in america are fat, and whites in america are fat, and asians and whites around the rest of the world are not as fat.

I mean, I've gotten a lot of flack about this topic in the past, so I'm walking a little bit on eggshells here, but I feel like "fat" has become the new gay, or the new race, or the new non-PC uncommentable issue, where if you make a less than sensitive comment towards fatness, you'll be crucified and burned in effigy. There's a lot of negative feelings towards image, specifically in regards to weight. There's a lot of eating disorders and painful experiences relating to weight.

But on the other hand are we hiding behind such concepts to avoid the truth? That america really needs some one to kick their ass and say the ugly and brutally honest thing? We're fat and lazy and slowly eating ourselves into health problems?

To those who have gone through real eating disorders and suffered through emotional pain, I'm sorry, I'm not directing my comments toward you. Well, at least not directly. But for every one of you guys, there's at least another 10 who just don't.

A lot of this is related I think, to the food we eat. Only in america, is there a tie-in between obesity and being below the poverty line. When I mean poverty line, I mean the arbitrary yearly salary of like 29K or something that the government establishes. I mean, say in third world countries, with "real" poverty, if you're below the poverty line, you face malnutrition and hunger as your day to day worries. In america, if you're below the poverty line, you face diabetes and heart disease and obesity. What does that say about us in general?

I feel one of the problems deals with cheap convenient food, i.e. fast food, preprocessed meats, canned meats, contributing to our downfall. I am on a crusade to make people cut down on fast food. Did you know for instance, whenever you go to the supermarket, most of the meat you buy is Grade A. Sometimes if you feel like slumming, you might buy Grade B because it has some nice deal going on it. Fast food meats, are always cheapest by the pound and come in at Grade C and sometimes D. High end pet food is better than the taco meat you get at Taco Bell. You can chalupa all you want to that crap.

Furthermore, fast food is high trans fat which leads to high cholesterol. Fast food joints usually use partially hydrogenated vegetable oils to cook their food. What does that mean? Its artificial and synthesized oils that are used because they are cheaper, and last longer without spoiling(which means in corporate, cheaper). The french, in an analysis of their diets, always use natural vegetable oils when cooking. Hmmm, maybe there's a link there(sarcastic tone).

Basically, fast food is an entirely corporate run money making institution that aims to boost sales and reduce cost. The cost reduction comes at the expense of consumer health. I guarantee for those of you who are struggling with high cholesterol or weight, if you change nothing at all in your life except you ate your own cooking instead of fast food, you would lose weight within two months and feel like you have more energy.

It would probably cost the same, and the only thing you would lose out on is time. Time and energy for the cooking and cleaning thing that people despise. I feel like most people don't enjoy cooking, and consider it a chore. Women don't like to cook, because it takes away from their independence and if you're a girl and you talk about cooking, you get the "raised eyebrow" look and air of condescension from your professional women friends, and men don't like to cook because well they don't and have no real excuse. Possibly, the spoiled men with stay-home mom's expect their gfs to cook for them. I dunno. Holdover of the traditional conservative era. But seriously, if the guy isn't going to cook and the girl isn't going to cook, how is the family going to eat? The live-in housekeeper? I mean, perhaps we should try to bring in the community cook-out thing again, especially in the summertime with all the BBQs. It really takes about the same effort to cook for 1 person, as it does for 3-4 people. Maybe we can get some rotational dinners with friends to liven up the diet. Kalbi and bulgolgi at my place this summer for sure.

Or don't drink sodas…that's a small change that has a big effect. Just drink juice, its sweet and will still give you a kick. Bring back the juice boxes! Start a trend. Hi-C and Juicy Juice and Ocean Spray and Minute Maid. Fruits are good too.

I don't know, I've been blessed with a rather fast metabolism and I've never had any weight issues growing up. However, I've also had a rather active lifestyle that despite 9-12 hrs of sitting in at a desk daily, still includes the gym and sports and mountains and beach time and regular exercise. I think I eat ok, with a fair amount of junk and fast food, but I do try to eat smarter. Eat smarter, not less. Smarter…hmmm what a concept.

Maybe we should have more sex, as that is a rather active workout. Furthermore the pursuit of sex should make people more body image conscious and whip their butts into gear. No more of that pansy, don't make fun of me because I'm fat and I'm going to cry, crap. Especially if you're over the age of 21 and in charge of your life and make your own decisions. I'm going to make fun of you until you lose weight and get into shape because its for your own good. There, I said it.

Send hate mail to [email protected].

[ esca | 6:42 PM | ]

 

Two engineering students were walking across a university campus when one said, "Where did you get such a great bike?" The second engineer replied, "Well, I was walking along yesterday, minding my own business, when a beautiful woman rode up on this bike, threw it to the ground, took off all her clothes and said, "Take what you want." The second engineer nodded approvingly and said, "Good choice. The clothes probably wouldn't have fitted you anyway."

[ esca | 8:11 PM | ]