Obesity is an American epidemic

Q: I recently read an article that said America is one of the most obese countries in the world. What is the reason for this? You would think with our wealth and technology we would have a better handle on health. Do you have any theories as to why this might be the case? - Frank

A: Frank - Your question reminds me of two different pictures I once saw of tourists walking on the Rehoboth Beach Boardwalk.

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

The second picture was taken in 2005 and showed obese, overweight, unhealthy-looking 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.

Fast-paced lifestyle and fast foods
Working long hours 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 don’t take the time to prepare meals
Once upon a time the average America family sat down together for three squares a day regardless of the circumstances, ensuring 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 one’s metabolism.

Increased stress levels wreak havoc on our bodies
It’s a medical fact that stress and lack of sleep promote weight gain, and 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 possible minute outside playing games that required physical activity such as biking, running, throwing and chasing. My parents literally had to threaten me to be home in time for dinner or I wouldn’t be allowed 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 have 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.

It's true America leads the world in many things; unfortunately, obesity is one of them.