Food consumption habits have harmed our overall health and wellness but even more disturbing, our deplorable eating habits have drastically affected the health of our kids for far too many years. As the majority of you may already know, the obesity crisis is the #1 health topic these days due to the fact that obesity in America continues to grow out of control. Two out of every three adults are both overweight or obese. However, the worse part is, one out of every three youngsters fall into the same category, either severely overweight or obese.
What Have We Been Teaching Our Children?
We have actually been teaching our children the exact same detrimental eating habits and in the end, it is going to be our children who will truly suffer and become sicker than we are already, they don't deserve it. Here is another alarming fact for you to chew on. Over the past 40 years, obesity rates in America have escalated by 659%. Can you wrap your head around that fact.? It is almost incomprehensible
Super Sized And Sick
As a nation we are living in a fast food, microwave generation. Americans eat so much more away from home today than at anytime in our country's history and it just gets worse. Most restaurant food is far less healthy for us compared to what we eat at home (sometimes). On top of that, the portion sizes in most restaurants are gigantic and, for a few pennies more, your already humongous sized meals can be "Super Sized. We have evolved into a nation of "Sick, Super Sized" people.
Economic Backlash
But gluttony is not just about the excessive, overwhelmingly massive amounts of food we as Americans consume on a daily basis. The economic backlash of obesity is devastating. The high financial cost of obesity in America is at an all time high. Alarmingly, research shows that in America alone, obesity related illnesses claim over 850 lives a day and over 300,000 lives each year. More than half our nation's population are well over their recommended weight and qualify as obese. Pediatric diabetes is fast approaching epidemic rates. Do you know that the The United States spent $75.1 billion last year on medical expenses, such as drugs, doctor visits and hospitalizations, related to obesity according to a study published in the journal of Obesity Research. So what is the core cause?
Gluttony Is A Sin
America is a nation of gluttonous people and not only is it shameful, gluttony is a deadly sin, just like envy, greed, anger, sloth, etc. Way back in the day, the early Christian monk Evagrius created a list which included "8 impure thoughts" but his list was later revised under Pope Gregory I to the "7 deadly sins". During that era, a sin was only a "deadly sin" if it was in direct opposition to one's love of God. For instance, during those days, if you ate more than you needed, it was an excusable sin. It only became "deadly when you so over indulged and ate so much just for the pleasure of eating, that it turned the individual away from spiritual instruction. Back then, it you were considered gluttonous. you were stoned to death.
Today, we not only turn a blind eye towards celebrities, politicians and preachers who publicly exhibit gluttonous behavior, but even worse, we applaud and embrace them. So when we become obese or incur too many speeding tickets, or gamble away our lives savings putting our families in jeopardy or get caught in adultery, destroying the family,or beat our spouses or allow our children to eat what they want, when they want And always "Super Size" their meals......it has become simply... "The American Way". Shame on us and sadly, shame on me.
Why I'm Ranting
Why am I ranting? Because I'm fat, borderline obese and I'm pissed! I recently started my own weight loss program and never having the need for a scale before, I just went out and bought one. (I promise I will tell you how much it says I weigh, but just keep in mind, like my friend Kris told me, scales are evil and they lie..smile).
During my research on how to correct my own weight gain, I have come to truly understand the profound implications of what it really means when I hear and read the word "obese". So if you are overweight (like me) or even obese, or worse, you child is, I hope this video will help to motivate you into action.... Oh yeah, 216 lbs! Oh Crap! (to see video, go to http://mybabyboomerblog.com/weight-loss/gluttony-in-america)
Gluttony In America