This is my draft of an opinion piece that ran in this past Thursday’s issue of The Berkeley Beacon—the Emerson’s newspaper. The editors decided to change the point of view from second person singular to first person collective, along with additional, slight changes. I know my editors know a hell of a lot more about newspapering than I do, but I think the title the piece was given, “America: Don’t Blame the Big Mac”, was trite and a misrepresentation of the real focus of the article: personal accountibilty and behavioral change. The piece as it ran is here:
http://media.www.berkeleybeacon.com/media/storage/paper169/news/2007/02/01/Opinion/America.Dont.Blame.The.Big.Mac-2691992.shtml?sourcedomain=www.berkeleybeacon.com&MIIHost=media.collegepublisher.com
Let me just say that I do not mean to offend. If people think I’m being mean or unfair, I would disagree, but you certainly have the right to voice your objections in comments. This is a subject we do not talk about nearly enough. The national dialogue on the obesity epidemic is severely lacking, and I thought I needed to bust through the door on this one, not knock on it. --Chris
America, you’ve gotten fat. No, you’re not just portly, big-boned, large-framed, husky, solid or rotund. That isn’t winter weight. It’s not baby fat either. America, let’s face it: you have a weight problem.
It doesn’t mean you’re bad people, America, you just need to lose some weight. Obesity is just like any other problem people deal with—a bad temper, personal debt, selfishness—it can be rationalized and explained away, or it can be recognized and attacked at its root. Obesity isn’t the plague; you don’t need to deny it or make excuses, it’s really quite common in our culture. You have plenty of moral support: 63 percent of adult Americans are overweight. The chances are good that someone very close to you is struggling with their weight as well. Dieting and weight loss can be isolating, make sure to do it with a friend. It makes your effort easier and more sustainable. Until we face up to our national weight problem, that percentage—and our waistlines—will keep growing.
And please America, don’t “genetics” or “slow metabolism” me. Be honest with yourself: you need to change. Sure, some people have slower metabolisms, and some people have historically overweight families, but don’t expect your metabolism to speed itself up without exercise, and don’t expect to stay thin while eating more food than you need. Obesity is the result of bad habits and behaviors, and if these bad habits can be replaced with good ones, you can get into shape.
These habits are pretty easy to recognize. In 1970, you consumed 2,200 calories a day. Today, you consume 2,700. America has been called “the land of plenty,” but today it should be called “the land of too much.” Portion sizes have ballooned out of control, making it impossible for you to maintain your weight. The statistics are eye (and pants button) popping. Check this one out: Americans consume more than 23 quarts of ice cream and other frozen products a year.
Yet despite this increase in caloric intake, you lead increasingly sedative lives. Today, 90% of American travel takes place in cars, buses, or trains. Only 15 percent of you exercise vigorously for at least 20 minutes three times a week. Our country spends $33 billion a year on food designed for weight loss, but without exercise, reduced fat Oreos can’t help you lose weight. And this is pretty embarrassing America: you spend more money on fast food than higher education. Many of you go to Big Mac U multiple times each week.
But America, don’t blame McDonald’s, blame yourselves. It doesn’t matter if the nutritional information isn’t posted on the wall, you should know that a large two cheeseburger meal with a Coke is packed with calories (1480 without ketchup), and that you should probably have a salad for your next meal. America, don’t have sympathy for the people who blame McDonalds for making them fat. When the consumer pushes their own money across the counter to buy food they put into their mouths, the corporation is not at fault. Use your head America: fast food is not health food.
That’s what this is all about America: you taking personal responsibility, you not pointing fingers at someone else. Don’t rely on food companies and restaurants to shield you from their most fattening foods. These companies exist to make money, what do you expect? Don’t talk about not having time to go to the gym. If you have enough time to watch Desperate Housewives and Grey’s Anatomy every week, you have enough time to work out. Don’t pass the buck America, seize it. And put it towards the purchase of a Stairmaster.
7 comments:
I agree with your stance that everyone needs to be able to control their weight, but I think it's rather assuming to just say Americans are fat. Personally, living in a suburban/rural area where most people are in decent shape, the problem doesn't seem to be as big as some people make it out to be. However, I think this is partially because I'm not in an inner-city region or place with higher poverty levels where the obesity rate increases. When a person gets off a 16 hour shift of work, consequently, the last thing said person wants is to take the time to prepare a healthy meal. Therefore, they turn to a cheap but less healthy alternative such as fast food or frozen prepackaged meals (Note: I don't believe this is the fast food restaurants' problem). And when this person is working 16 hour shifts for minimum wage and possibly taking care of children also, there isn't a ton of time for Grey's Anatomy OR exercising.
that's a fair point. poverty corallates directly with obesity. people who work longer days don't have the time/energy to work out. also, poorer peopel don't want to spend money on fresh produce and leaner meats instead of hamburg patties and french fries or something. another thing i didn't mention is that minorities are much more likely to be obese than white americans, who live, as you said, in rural/suburban areas with safer streets for jogging and better access to a gym.
however, as over half of our country lives in urban areas (and the number is increasing), obesity as it relates to poverty and the urban setting should be a major concern.
Hey Chris, what do you think about the ban on saturated fat that NY just layed down?
Thumbs up or thumbs down?
Or some Gladiator-like middle hand gesture?
not to slight Gladiator, but i say thumbs up. trans fats have been proven to be extremely harmful to one's health, and are directly linked to heart disease. this is like cigarette companies using tar and nicotine and every deathly chemical in their product, except that restaurants have easy alternatives available to them. this crosses the line of personal discretion into public safety. the thing is though, potatoes fried in extra virgin olive oil are no less fattening than when they are fried in trans fats. people think that because of this ban, fried food in new york is "healthier". it won't give you heart disease, but it can just as easily make you gain weight.
one problem with how we measure "obesity" in america is BMI, which doenst taken into account muscle mass...Arnold Schwartzenger (i definately did not spell his name right) was considered Obese during his prime physical years...
but thats not what i want to say
Props to tom for mentioning Greys
Props to Chris for quoting Tommy Boy
Americans do have to take responsibility for their actions... I watched an episode of some medical show, where a man who had lost like 800 lbs, only to put them back on, talked about how food is the only addiction where once you break your bad habits, you have to continue to put food in your mouth- you cant go cold turkey on food....
"also, poorer peopel don't want to spend money on fresh produce and leaner meats instead of hamburg patties and french fries or something."
"Don't want to ..." DO you mean "can't afford to?"
yes, i do mean cheaper, right.
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