You know the other thread on fat triathletes got me thinking, what would it take to increase survivorships and decrease the incidence of diseases like HTN or Type II DM. Of course the simple answer is “diet and exercize”, I mean, how often have we heard that, it should be a subconcious mantra in every Americans head, but for some reason it is not…why is that?
http://baltimorechronicle.com/021705Mathilde.html
According to this article, it is multifactorial and deep rooted in our societal behavioiurs. I happen to agree
The American culture of obesity is not just a societal trend. It also has strong cultural and economic roots. Foreign observers to the US are surprised that it seems socially permitted to eat anything, anytime, anywhere here: at work, in the classroom, in the mall, in the car. They are amazed to see US restaurants open almost all day long.
In Europe, in contrast, lunch is served only between 11:30 a.m. and 2:00 p.m., and dinner, between 7:00 and 9:00 p.m. Mealtimes in Europe are priority periods for conviviality and sharing a special social activity. Here, it is striking to see how eating is so often reduced to the satisfaction of a basic need, fulfilled as soon as one feels a need for it, an activity totally disconnected from other purposes than feeding.
The American way of life in fact encourages this practice. The main focus in US society is on work. Other activities, such as eating, are often viewed as a “waste of time," and not considered a social activity. Lunch breaks are quick, and food preparation is viewed as an annoyance. Perhaps that is why what cooking is done in the US is treated like a “sophisticated” middle class activity, while in most European countries it is viewed as a simple and enjoyable activity by all people.
The economic interests that drive US cultural practices are rarely explained in the media, which makes solving the obesity problem especially difficult. US government officials have become aware of the huge health costs related to diabetes and hypertension, first on individuals, then on the society as a whole, through lost work productivity and through the costs associated with expanding healthcare facilities to serve the increasing number of people with diet-related medical problems. Some government agencies are lobbying against the “Mc Do culture," and encouraging people to exercise. Such efforts are muted, however, because nutrition advice in the US is still the responsibility of the Department of Agriculture, whose primary goal is to serve and oversee the needs of the nation’s agriculture industries. In most European countries, nutrition-related programs are the purview of health departments.
Then there is the problem of providers, my peers, and even among them, many are ill equipped to fully tackle the problem…this is a good article here.
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science...374350441c6a0c
Just as a refresher, here’s a map detailing obesity trends throughout the US…
http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/obesity/trend/maps/
A breakdown of the economic consequences of increased obesity.
http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/obes...nsequences.htm
And for the lawyer folks, Here is an interesting discussion about the need for new legislation regarding food service and marketing et al.
http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/full/297/18/1982
This is a terribly complex problem, and is only a symptom of the decay of American society where people thing nothing is possibly their fault, and that someone should be able to “fix” anything immediately. SO what CAN we the cycling community do…
Well, A LOT. Go to your local schools and talk with kids about the fun and joy associated with your sport…those who race can talk about the excitement and drama. We need to reach kids at the grassroots level and talk to them about maintaining a strong and active lifestyle throughout their lives. YMMV…Thoughts?
