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Frank:

Your question reminds me of 2 different pictures I once saw of tourists walking on the Rehoboth Beach Boardwalk.

The first one was taken in the early 1900’s and pictured normal lean healthy people.

 The second picture was taken in 2005 and showed obese, over weight unhealthy people. Why the big difference?

I believe it’s because Americans have developed a lifestyle that promotes weight gain. Here are some of the factors that created this problem.

Life revolves around work.
Most Americans work long hours and weekends never leaving time to relax or take care of themselves. Workouts are last on the priority list and never seem to be done consistently.

A Fast pace lifestyle requires fast foods
Working long hour’s leaves little time for preparation so fast foods have become a staple of the American diet. Most people consider it normal to eat highly processed foods on a daily basis and are not willing to change their habits.

We no longer take the time to prepare meals.
Once upon a time the average America family sat down together for 3 squares a day regardless of the circumstances insuring a hot prepared meal with fresh foods. Today most Americans rely on packaged food from a convenience store shelf loaded with man made chemicals the body doesn’t recognize having a devastating effect on ones metabolism.

Increased stress levels wreak havoc on our bodies
Its medical fact that stress and lack of sleep promote weight gain but the average American experiences both on a regular basis. We also take fewer vacations than our European counterparts resulting in little to no chance for stress relief.

Technology has replaced activities.
When I was young I spent every minute possible outside playing games that required physical activity such a biking, running, throwing and chasing. My parents literally had to threaten me to be home in time for dinner or I wouldn’t be aloud out the next day.

Today’s youth spend most of their time in a dark room staring at video games with little to no activity in their daily lifestyles.

Many adults suffer from the same circumstances sitting in an office all day working on a computer with little time to exercise or be active. Technology and services has replaced the things we once did for ourselves such as cutting grass or cleaning our houses.

Mix all of these factors together and you have the perfect recipe for a country with an alarming obesity rate and a stressed out healthcare system.

Its true America leads the world in many things; unfortunately obesity is one of them

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