2008 Woodie Awards
Why is America so Fat?
The Voice of the Observer
Issue date: 10/13/08 Section: Observations
You've heard the statistic. More than 2/3rd's of Americans are overweight, and 1/3rd of Americans are obese. In a land of plenty, we are overeating because of our abundant resources, while others starve.
Especially with food prices going up, and the inherent cheapness of healthy food (vegetables, fruit, rice, lean meat, etc.) it is amazing that this statistic is so high. Despite having ample opportunity to eat healthily and exercise regularly, we just don't get it. The information on healthy living is free, easy to understand, and openly accessible.
The truth is, we just don't care. This is why there are vending machines for junk food all over campus. They're in the waiting room at Penn Station, too; just in case during your five minute wait for the train, you absolutely have to stuff your gaping maw full of congealed high fructose corn syrup and cholesterol. It only costs a dollar! Even though a dollar is almost the daily wage of laborers in third world countries. Perhaps our overwhelming wealth is almost too much of a blessing.
It is absurd, but this is the most likely reason that our healthcare system is in shambles. People are gorging themselves on instant packaged crap and sugar water instead of whole grains or fruit and water.
The convenience and cheapness, however, will later add up and make us suffer in the long run.
We give ourselves kidney disease, hypertension, diabetes, and coronary disease because of our insatiable desire for grease and sludge. We run up huge hospital bills and shovel pharmaceuticals down our throats to fix the damage caused by our unwholesome, mindless consumption.
We are also the most clinically depressed nation, probably because of our poor health, lack of exercise (which most Americans don't get enough of) and quick-fix pill gobbling for medical problems. This problem is not confined to cities or suburbs either; it is rampant on our own college campus.
Our cafeteria offers incredibly greasy food at inflated prices, but there is always a huge queue for pepperoni pizza, pre-cooked potatoes and hamburger patties, and practically poisonous Quizno's subs.
The good news is that the situation is not permanent or immutable. Enrolled students have full access to the Golden Dome Gym, located conveniently close to campus.
There are basketball courts, Stairmasters, free weights, weight machines, and a variety of other personal fitness possibilities for the prudent passerby.
Put down the fork and hit the treadmill, kids!
Especially with food prices going up, and the inherent cheapness of healthy food (vegetables, fruit, rice, lean meat, etc.) it is amazing that this statistic is so high. Despite having ample opportunity to eat healthily and exercise regularly, we just don't get it. The information on healthy living is free, easy to understand, and openly accessible.
The truth is, we just don't care. This is why there are vending machines for junk food all over campus. They're in the waiting room at Penn Station, too; just in case during your five minute wait for the train, you absolutely have to stuff your gaping maw full of congealed high fructose corn syrup and cholesterol. It only costs a dollar! Even though a dollar is almost the daily wage of laborers in third world countries. Perhaps our overwhelming wealth is almost too much of a blessing.
It is absurd, but this is the most likely reason that our healthcare system is in shambles. People are gorging themselves on instant packaged crap and sugar water instead of whole grains or fruit and water.
The convenience and cheapness, however, will later add up and make us suffer in the long run.
We give ourselves kidney disease, hypertension, diabetes, and coronary disease because of our insatiable desire for grease and sludge. We run up huge hospital bills and shovel pharmaceuticals down our throats to fix the damage caused by our unwholesome, mindless consumption.
We are also the most clinically depressed nation, probably because of our poor health, lack of exercise (which most Americans don't get enough of) and quick-fix pill gobbling for medical problems. This problem is not confined to cities or suburbs either; it is rampant on our own college campus.
Our cafeteria offers incredibly greasy food at inflated prices, but there is always a huge queue for pepperoni pizza, pre-cooked potatoes and hamburger patties, and practically poisonous Quizno's subs.
The good news is that the situation is not permanent or immutable. Enrolled students have full access to the Golden Dome Gym, located conveniently close to campus.
There are basketball courts, Stairmasters, free weights, weight machines, and a variety of other personal fitness possibilities for the prudent passerby.
Put down the fork and hit the treadmill, kids!
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