Statistically Americans are overweight…we all know this…
- Percent of adults age 20 years and over who are obese: 35.9% (2009-2010)
- Percent of adults age 20 years and over who are overweight, including obesity: 69.2% (2009-2010)
Source: Health, United States, 2012, table 63 
[PDF – 9.8 MB]
- Percent of adolescents age 12-19 years who are obese: 18.4% (2009-2010)
- Percent of children age 6-11 years who are obese: 18.0% (2009-2010)
- Percent of children age 2-5 years who are obese: 12.1% (2009-2010)
Source: Prevalence of Obesity in the United States, 2009–2010
These are startling statistics yet despite the ever increasing awareness that there is an epidemic the numbers continue to climb. In Canada where I am from the numbers are strikingly similar. Why doesn’t the curve start going the other way?
Personally I believe the focus is far too much on WHAT the problem is and HOW something should be done when in fact this problem needs to be addressed at the core…WHY.
The statistics should show the correlation between a healthy person and the life that they attract. It is no coincidence that healthy vibrant people also attract more healthy vibrant lives. Healthy you…healthy life.
WHY would you want to be healthy? Seems like a silly question yet if I asked that question to a friend of mine as he was snarfing down a plate of nachos followed by a plate of wings they might find it a tough one to answer at that particular moment.
Everyone of us has a really good reason WHY we would want to be healthy.
The reality is that what we put in mouth has high degree to do with our weight. Often we eat because of the way we feel, so comfort food gets first choice after a long hard day instead of the healthy alternative. I have played into this role as much as anyone else in the past and still do from time to time. It is not easy to stay the course with our healthy food choices all the time. Its not what we do once in awhile that determines our health its what we do daily. So taking a detour once in awhile is good for the soul as long as the daily food habits are good ones.
I encourage you to examine what your ideal weight would be and set a target to move in that direction. It starts with what you put in your mouth. The rest comes organically such as exercise, what you drink, rest, and so on. One change will start the chain reaction to other changes and create a compound effect that will create a healthy you and make those statistics obsolete to you and your family.
Have a great week!
John—one hip guy