Obesity in America - Readers Speak Out

People are becomming more and more alarmed at the cost of the obesity epidemic in America - costs to individuals in health problems and doctor bills; and social problems caused by higher insurance costs.

Obesity is not an individual problem, as these kind readers point out.

From a reader:

Why the low incidence of obesity in western Europe?

We just got back from a trip to Italy, France and Spain, and we were struck by the fact we saw very few obese people in these countries. And yet, Europeans seem to eat sizeable quantities of carbohydrates (bread, pasta, etc) and saturated fats (meats, especially preserved meats). Many also consume significant quantities of beer and wine.

Why aren't more Europeans obese? One thing we did notice is that while in Europe we walked a lot more than we do in the states. However, every major city in Europe has mass transportation systems such as subways and buses that reduce the need to walk. Neverytheless, I feel that Europeans tend to walk much more than Americans.

When we flew into Newark, NJ, we were shocked to see so many obese people waiting in the terminal. I'd estimate 10 to 20 percent of the people were overweight, some significantly. Has anyone studied the difference between European and the US cultures to determine why they are so different in terms of incidence of obesity?

From "B"

Dear Readers,

Although I agree with Tracy 100 percent, I do have one problem. I am a disabled -single mother of two. One daughter is 40 lbs over weight. When our family decided that we were going to get on the "healthy" band wagon - we had no idea that it would be so expensive!! The cost of fresh fruits and vegetables are much higher than the pre-packages snack foods. This is just one of the many "cost" issues that our family faces.No wonder we have become a country with weight problems.

Most low-income families just cannot afford to eat healthy all the time. Got suggestions? Gyms are outragous and health equipment is also. I am finding it hard to motivate my 10 year-old to exercise. I am unable to do the walking or jump rope along with her. She just doesn't seem to mind being over weight, even though she hates being teased at school.

On this note I blame myself for not setting better eating habits from the begining. But at the same time when she goes to her father's for visits - he's a junk fook junky!! I. myself only weigh 96lbs @ 32 years-old and my other daughter is very under weight @ 36lbs - 7 years old. Does anyone how how I can find balance in all this mess???????? Please help!!!!!!!!

Katrina

(In response to Tracy, see below) I, for one, share your belief that Mr. Ronald McDonald never made anyone fat. I am outraged by these periodic "Mc Donald's ruined my life" lawsuits. We are responsible for our genetic predispositions, what we do with what we've got, and consequently, how fat we are.

I am about thirty pounds heavier than my "skinny pictures". Mc Donald's was also around when those were taken. Back then, however, I ate the grilled chicken sandwich with water.

I haven't had much success with my all too recent switch to the fattiest junk on the menu. I'm the one who kept making the conscious decision to eat with no regard for my health. The girl in the "skinny pictures" keeps reminding me of that when I'm out trying to sweat it off, or making less tastey nutritional choices more often because I need to loose weight now, rather than simply maintaining it, like before.

Thanks for listenning,

Karen

I agree and disagree with Tracey. Yes I don't think we can go out and sue McDonalds or any other fast food company for making us fat if thats what you mean. However I was in a rut for a long time that I got so addicted to fatty foods and my kids were too that we just didn't want anything but fast food it made food at home not taste as good. I think products like Pepsi, Krispy Kreme and KFC know that people get addicted to sugar which is why they dump so much sugar in their food and its cheap for them! Over time these habits and tastes can be changed I know now! But addictions are hard to break so don't be too hard on the people that frequent these places. However we need to look at our American Society because we have become a quick fix, convenient society and when a Mom like me does pack apple slices and homemade oatmeal cookies fortiefied with wheat germ and flax seed people scrunch there nose up at me oh and I forgot about the bottled water I pack. The other kids and parents let us know that this is just uncool! I am proud of my homeschooled kids and myself because we were going along with the mainstream until last year and we all decided that enough was enough we were all eating too much junk. I think as more families make changes and fight for good nutrition in our schools and make good nutrition fun it will become a new fad with great results!

Lisa:

Tracy, girl, you are absolutely right! I live in Canada, and my family is involved with the McDonalds business (My great uncle was CEO and each of my uncles and cousins own one or two or three resteraunts.) Every day there are posters put up in the bathrooms of the stores by mcdonalds haters. Cigarettes kill, are the companies being sued by smokers? Alcohol kills, are the LCBO’s being sued by alcoholics and occasional drinkers alike? Rice constipates, Coke gives gas, chocolate puts weight on stomachs, red meat blocks arteries, the list goes on and on. What has happened to TAKING RESPONSIBILTY FOR OUR ACTIONS???? It seems that the new “fad” is to blame OTHERS for the choices WE make. Grow up people! We aren’t two years old anymore. We have to make the right decisions for ourselves and our families. No other person can be held accountable for making these decisions for us. Continue to allow people like Tracy to be heard, Jonni!

Monica:

I am in full agreement with Tracey on this one.

"We" overeat and say the resulting woes are the fault of the people who make the food available."We" smoke and say it's the cigarette manufacturers fault that we get sick."We" overmedicate and blame the pharmaceutical manufacturers, the Dr's etc. etc. etc. "We" drink too much and blame......."We" drive too fast and blame the results on......"We" spend too much and blame the results on........."anyone but me!!" Surely it can't be my fault!

When did intemperance become one of the desirable characteristics or traits of the general population as a whole? Whatever happened to self control and self discipline? Those words are almost treated as swear words.... Discipline!?..... Heavens forbid....you can go to jail for that....Self discipline....how can I do that when all those big meanies keep shoving things down my throat!!!!

SELF control.....whatever for...I wouldn't be happy then.....and I'm sooooo happy now.Sick,fat,drug dependant....but HAPPY!

Yeah right and then there's this bridge in Arizona...

Keep up the good work and printing the "mind challenging" articles and views that are out there.We need to hear some hard truths that will shake us out of this whiney poor me rut we've fallen into!

Jim:

On the comments about pre-packaged food, I would caution anyone on a diet to
avoid packaged or processed foods as much as possible.

You are eating half as much food so the quality becomes much more important.

Prepackaged foods are generally made from highly processed ingredients that
have had 95% of the water, and the nutrients the water carries, removed and
have most likly killed all the enzymes with heat).

And no matter how hard you try, you cannot put the water back. So they lack
the good water our body needs (we get at least 25% of our water from our
food).

They lack the nutrients and they have a greater chance of industrial
contamination.

I know the labels show added nutrients but considering the negative
interactions between some nutrients and difficulty with bio-direction, I
wouldn't put much faith in these.

If you are paying good money for food, I'm sure you'll find that whole foods
are far cheaper and the nutrients are real and naturally bio-directed.

(Comment from Jonni - I couldn't agree more, Jim. Pre-packaged foods are not the most nutritious food, they taste bland, they have lots of preservatives and other stuff that you can't pronounce, and they cost too much. Not to mention the lack of fiber. That's one of the big reasons that I wrote The Easy-Does-It Diet. It's time we went back to healthy food, and it doesn't have to be inconvenient or expensive.

Liz:

(Responding to Tracy, see below) All I can say is "You go girl". It irritates the heck out of me when I see mothers and fathers buying their kids the high calorie foods and then complaining while the kids are eating them that they are so fat. Mom and Dad usually are in the same place. You are entirely correct, McD's, Wendy's, Kraft, etc didn't force them to buy these foods, they didn't put a gun to their head, we as a nation did that to ourselves. We are the ones who are going to have to pay the price of our mistakes. Unlike the nicotine, that has proven addictive, food is one thing that we choose ourselves. No one force feeds it to us. If you want a healthier lifestyle, it all starts at the end of your own arm. Thanks for saying it so much better than I could.

Gary:

(Responding to Tracy, see below) Good on You! In addition to your comments about the lure of fast food, add the cost. For less than any food served at a fast food outlet better tasting and healthier food can be prepared at home. Like many things we do, the tastes we enjoy are often behaviors. With a little discipline fresh, grease free, low salt and other health food alternatives can be just as enjoyable as unhealthy foods. And you’re right again, make the fast food a treat.

Bob:

Jonni- I have been in "Shock and Awe" of the ballooning American obesity
thing for some time. I recently turned 40 and have been into hiking for at
least the last 20 years.

I went to Nepal some ten years ago and hiked over 400 miles in the
Himalayas. I rarely saw any over weight people at all there. I was there
for almost 3 months and when I got back it was a real culture shock. The
situation that has developed is a combination of factors of course. One
factor I would call the SUV mentality. Americans Never walk anywhere if at
all possible. I have noticed that half of all SUV's have handicapped tags
on the rear views-simply to get the closest spot. Anyone can get one of
those if they "know somebody". I live in Boulder CO and this is still the
case.

The absolute saturation of fast food advertising is a big factor- I
am skeptical of that Jared guy. Another factor seems to be that more and
more jobs have become sedentary over the last decade or so- All the
muscular jobs like manufacturing have been sent to South East Asia and
other muscular jobs have been tamed by machines. I work for Dish Network
television as a CSR- which is very sedentary by the way-. The variety and
seductiveness of television has never been greater. 200 channels is not
unusual. I have tomorrow off so I am going to consult the topo maps and
go for a hike in the Rockies- I might even burn a few calories- Pack a
lunch -------Bob

Tracy:

Why are people as individual AND Americans as a whole quick to blame others for their own mistakes. Stop criticizing fast- food chains and processed food companies for creating products that we continually purchase. When are people going to realize that Kraft and McDonald's aren't putting their keys in the ignition and driving them to these places. Who allows their children to eat double cheeseburgers and large fries? Where is the discipline? Who is teaching the children in the home to eat a whole bag of oreo cookies, instead of maybe a limit of 3? I have a 5 year old son who very rarely watches television, asks for fruit when he needs a snack and is very limited on soda and sugar. If and when we do splurge on fast food or "junk food" it is a treat. We go to McDonald's and get a cheeseburger and small fries and water. People are ridiculous! Companies aren't to blame for what they put in their food....We are to blame for consuming it....EXCESSIVELY!!!!"

Carmel:

I agree (with Tracy) 100+%. We need to stop blaming others and take responsibility for the bad choices that we make.

Thomas:

Jonni. I do have concerns about the obesity problem with the generations in this country. I am a male senior citizen, 62, with heart disease and a quadruple bypass and overweight. I also have diabetes II taking insulin. Here is the problem. Big business is at fault with the advertising of fast foods that are loaded with all bad ingredients that pile up on the waist. Preprocessed foods off the shelf and from the freezer department. There are so many super market fast foods that will add inches to your waist and plac to your arteries. That is the reason I am in the condition I am in today. I am trying to loose weight. All the weight loss plans are too expensive and do not work for me. I am on SSI retirement income. I get tired when I exercise so my times are very short. I have reduced my meal size and caloric intake.

Teresa:

I think school lunches are terrible. Plus alot of schools have vending machines with garbage in them.

I do think that working moms have a hard time cooking and the end of a long day and meals tend to be on the unhealthy side.

I bought myself a pedometer this week. I though I was moderately active. No Way. I'm on the low end. I am trying to add more steps each day. I think everyone needs to be more active. Its hard when you work behind a desk all day.

I hate our fast paced world. We need to slow down and get back to basics. That means food too.

Suzy:

I enjoyed reading your article today. I am not overweight, I take an avid interest in food and nutrition and also in the fact that exercise is a large part of the equation as well. I live in Australia, 10 minutes from the beach, so my lifestyle is quite active. We have wonderful weather and a laid back lifestyle that makes it easy to incorporate a little exercise into your day. I have never played sport in my life and I am nearing the age of 45, so the weight is beginning to pile on around my middle and bottom and thigh areas, so I am trying to walk a couple of times a week and also do some stretching, yoga and floor exercises at home each day.

I have visited America twice for a holiday and had such a wonderful time, but I was amazed to see so many overweight people. If I look at my friends and work colleagues who are overweight, it is quite simple to see why. These people are not educated in the types of food they should eat and the fact that they should incorporate some form of exercise, even a walk around the block each day, in order to tone up their bodies. People seem to be getting lazier and lazier. They don’t bother to cook their own meals any more, so often end up eating take away, which is an absolute no-no! I love pizza and have it once or twice a week, but I always make sure I do a little bit of extra exercise to compensate, then I don’t feel guilty at all. The other reason people don’t make their own meals any more is the expense. I love fresh vegetables and making BIG salads in summer and THICK soups in winter. But the expense of buying lots of different veges and then going home and taking the time to put it all together would put a lot of people off. I love my veges and I love home cooking and I love preparing food, so it is no effort for me at all. But I think a lot of children are growing up these days without any home cooking to eat, without any home cooking skills of their own and therefore just follow the trend and have take away.

These are my thoughts – I hope they are useful. I think they are fairly general, but I really think a little bit of education and a little bit of energy on everyone’s part will make a huge improvement. I look forward to your next newsletter eagerly.

Donna:

Jonni,

I will start by saying I am a recovering alcoholic for almost 20 years with a two year relapse in the middle. I will also say that I have been an addictions counselor and clinical therapist for 10 years. I do understand where you come from with regards to what we intellectually know of the science of the body and sugar and stress and addictions. For those people who have never been given this information, the ebook is great.

But as you and I know, the book is all the information we have learned throughout our educations and our personal experience. I think there is obviously much more we haven't understood or put into our bag of tools. I used the 12 step program of AA to maintain abstinence as well as OA to try and address my double addiction of food as well. I have always and still struggle with the food addiction. I believe more so because I could put down the alcohol and never have to take a drink again, but i have always had to eat.

If I were to go further in the history of my life, I would say that the stress of living in a dysfunctional family and abandoned issues of an alcoholic father and sexual abuse would be the pivoting factors in my life. I have traveled the hard road of therapy and recovery and 8 years of college to get to the other side. I think we really need to look at the traumatized psyche of the person who has come from those types of histories. I have yet to meet an overweight person who has not suffered some kind of trauma in their life.

I also have yet to meet a person who suffers from different types of depression who is not overweight. I know that is not 100% true, but my experience personally and in my clinical work, continues to prove this. I "believe" we create a chemistry that becomes out of balance, and stays that way in many instances due to the stessors we have been through in our lives. I believe that trauma and stress change the body.

Scientific testing show this to be true. I think many addictions are formed from this physical, psychic and emotional stress. I don't think anyone can say we don't live in a very stressed society. With the working mom, single parent families, and the biggest stressor, divorce that has been almost accepted as normal. My parents divorce at the age of 3 has definitely affected my subconscious and the choices and feelings I have lived with my whole life. You see, I know exactly what has affected me , how i have reacted and what has been harmful. I have adopted recovery programs, and yet struggle with weight loss.

I don't believe knowledge is always the whole answer. I think we have very deep ingrained programming that has been born into our DNA ( as I am part Native American as well, and that is another journey and story) as well as our subconscious programming which has been created by our life experience which is not usually reached in conscious therapy, and our conscious perceptions and choices.

We must not forget the the soul and spiritual side of ourselves. So when we begin to address an issue, it does become a very complicated and layered issue. We also need to address the sociological parts of who we are in the community we live in.

I don't have all the answers and I don't think anyone really does. I think we all struggle with how we each "deal" with life. I do think genetics, DNA, and chemistry makeup affect us very deeply. I think our chemistry makeup can be affected in many ways. I think that we change our makeup and regain a healthy chemistry by our emotional circumstances, and the foods we eat and how we perceive the world around us.

I also think we don't always have control of how our chemistry is being changed due to circumstances we have no control over. We must admit, that the worldly issues we have been going through have affected many of us. I believe we are a people struggling to deal with war, terrorism, economic insecurity, social imperfections and people. I believe human nature propels us to find comfort.

Due to the chemical changing nature of drugs, alcohol, food, sugars, etc, we are self medicating. I think the answer is to find medications that are helpful rather than harmful... Those medications could be the proper foods which enhance our chemistry, our spiritual part of ourselves could be enhanced to help with internal comfort when all external is uncomfortable. I think we can look at support groups that can help in that comfort zone of sociological family and place.

also believe real medications must be approached when needed. I myself, have had to take wellbutrin, an antidepressant for sometime. I went through the struggle of believing I didn't need medical help, and when I felt better, quit because I didn't want to be dependent on a drug, to relapsing into deep depression, and then accepting that if I need this drug to help me to be more my normal self, then I had to accept it. I and my family are much happier I accepted my chemical imbalance, that no matter what I tried, I couldn't change it.

I had to come to terms with the fact that all the spirituality I lived with, and the recovery I had, and the years of therapy and education, still didn't change my chemistry enough. I have permanent chemistry dysfunction. I would have to share more of my life history to help you to understand, and I don't find it necessary. I believe that most people who have suffered trauma and short term and long term know what I mean. I also believe that short term trauma has less affect than someone with long term trauma.

I also believe that trauma that appears short term may be in your life forever and we don't know we are still suffering. The terms are post traumatic stress syndrome. Anyone who suffers from this, I believe has chemistry change. I also believe that many thin people have had a chemistry change that may have changed their hunger drive or other parts of themselves. I know people who can eat everything and not gain an ounce.

But the behaviors they show, compulsive movement and other reactive thoughts and behaviors are also signs of stress and truama. They just physically and emotionally have been affected in other ways. I would end this by saying I could probably write a book on my thoughts, but we are all totally responsible for what we do with our lives today. I think it is very important that we all look at our experiences, address them, gain knowledge and then make the decision as to what decisions or changes we will make to be the best person we can be. Most of us can not do that alone. I think we are growing into a very isolated society, computers, email etc.

It is difficult to really cultivate love, support and comraderie on a machine. I think the human body and spirit needs to be touched and kindled with physical support. Our society has little time for "just being together". I think many of the sociological and familial changes have hurt each of us as a person. I believe there are people who still do this, but as individuals, we need to find those people and make a choice to love and care for ourselves in whatever way that is.

I appreciate your ebook. With my experience, it wasn't as helpful as i had hoped. I know all of what you say. I guess for me, I continue to look for new answers or insights, but I havent' found any. I know I already have the answers and I will need to make choices from those answers to be happy instead of miserable. The frustrating thing for me is to have knowledge and understanding to why but still struggle. It has always been hard for me to "act as if".

I have had several life changing experiences the last two years and my weight had rollercoasters with each one. I still search and struggle with my chemistry and weight issues. As I look back I can say that I am healthier in that area than I have been most of my life. I guess it suffices to say, that trauma and change in chemistry take a long time to heal. Because I am more into the healing for permanancy rather than just weight loss, which I can do very well, but it is the keeping off and having a balanced body, mind and soul that I am aspiring. I hope my response has been helpful in some way.....Good luck....Donna

Anononymous:

Hi there!

I have been involved with an online Bible study regarding changing one's focus from food to God, and to me, this is the only true answer to lifelong weight loss and fitness. Our country has long been turning from its foundation on the truths in the word of God, and it is time we turn to Him and repent. One way to start is to overcome the sin of gluttony. Here's the website; just follow the link to "The Lord's Table."

www.settingcaptivesfree.com

Confident in Christ,

Rena:

Dear Jonni,
You are correct when you say that the weight loss industry is a
multi-billion dollar industry. It is working hand-in-hand with the
television, movie and entertainment industry. However comfortable we try to
become with our bodies we are all recieving conflicting information. Healthy
and fit does not mean 'model thin'. I feel that the diet and fitness
industry should be working in the community and in schools to help children.
When we are going through puberty and our bodies are changing is the best
time to work with young people about the habits that will follow us the rest
of our lives. Waiting to address it in our adult life is closing the barn
after the cow got out.
The money that we spend trying to regain our youth should be spent on our
youth to prevent childhood obesity which is growing at an alarming rate.
Until recently it was America's Adult population that was the heaviest in
the world, now our children are catcing up with us.
Our children are growing up in front of the computer and t.v. and only a few
still manage to make it ooutside and run and play. Gym in school is very
different than when I was in High School, twenty years ago.
If we are to change this trend then it is our children that we must save not
just wait for the problem to be faced when we become adults.

Sherry:

America is becoming the nation of everything fast. Fast food loaded in grease and refined sugar. No time to cook because of all of the other things that goes on in ones life. Just go to the nearest take out and don't forget to biggie size it. How are kids to learn to eat if all they get is fast food. The good lunches at school can't compete with Micky Ds. The ones on food stamps don't get enough to provide one nutrious meal everyday for a month. What is a parent to do but buy noodles? Okay now I have preached a small sermon hope this helps. Sherry 3/2/2003

Milli:

I think what Americans are doing wrong is not getting enough excercise. When I was a child, we didn't watch a lot of TV. We were outside playing, running, and riding bikes. We didn't have all this "fast foods". We ate veggies and balanced meals.

I think people need to stay off their computers, and stay away from the TV set for hours on end and DO something. Go for a walk, or do housework, but just be ACTIVE.

Jeanne:

I recently read an article about why Americans are fat. It was
suggested that our mass produced cattle and veggies are pumped
up with steroids and antibiotics which we eat. Ok so we are eating
steroids. What does that mean? Seems to me we are being
indirectly pumped up with steroids and getting fatter. I think that is
the big fight. Can't fight being drugged. I also think that the
statisitcs show that the poor and middle class are fatter because
we are the ones buying these cheaper priced mass produced beef
and the like that are pumped up. While the wealthy are eating filet
mignon from special cattle and everything organic from these
specialty shops. Seems believeable to me. Tell me what you think!!
I actually think it was from Dr Berg. Don't remember, will check my
sources.

(Jeanne later sent the link to the Dr's webpage, at http://www.bodyrt.com. 3/2/2003

Elaine:

Hi Jonni,

We have a 14 year old son who is 5’10” and weighs 265 pounds. We have been very concerned about his weight and started seeing a nutritionist once a week at a cost of $135/hour. The cost is an investment in his health future. If I were able to go back and do it all over again, I would do many things differently. I won’t go into all of that because we all know the “excuses” if you will of both parents working, stress, trying to find quick, easy, prepackaged foods to put on the table, bazillions of fast food places, etc. I am not exempt from any of them but am trying now to reverse the bad habits I have helped to get us all into.

I think that what it comes down to is educating parents so that they don’t get the bad habits going in the first place. It is very easy to be “lazy” about food. By that I mean that when your child won’t eat vegetables, you give him macaroni and cheese, or pasta, bread, potatoes – stuff most kids like to eat. It takes planning, effort, and persistence to get them used to eating foods that are good for them and it takes much more effort to not allow them to eat sweets, junk, soda pop, fruit juices, etc. except very rarely. This “junk” is everywhere – its at daycares, preschools, parties, festivals, museums, zoos, grandparents, and on and on and on. It’s near impossible these days. Birthday parties are an every week occurrence. If a child is at daycare, a Mom is always bringing something in for all the kids – cupcakes, birthday treats, juices, etc.

I would like to see lots of education for parents in the form of videos, educational tv programs, recipe books and such. I think that it would be good for parents to see the life long effect that poor nutritional habits (not to mention excessive TV, videos, computer games) have on their kids. I think teaching them what foods to buy, how to plan, prepare, and serve food will go a long way to help raise healthier children. I think we need a national program of education where we bombard people with the information they need to make better food choices. If we don’t buy the junk food, they won’t make it, or there will be much less of it around. I think the focus should be on parents, particularly of young children, who can learn from the very beginning how important good nutritional habits are for lifelong good health and eating. If the message gets through to those of us who already have bad habits and helps us to change, all the better. But we need to begin raising children who are not addicted to all this, pardon my expression, crap! We created the problem, now we need to take steps to fix it.

We also need to give parents some good tools to work with. It is nice to see so many prepackaged, fresh, clean fruits and vegetables already cut up and available in most supermarkets. We need to give parents good, easy, fast recipes, and help them to plan meals ahead. We need to work with day cares, schools, etc. to “ban” parents from bringing unhealthy cakes, donuts and candy to celebrate birthday parties, etc. and instead give them alternatives for healthy snacks they can bring. We really need to do something about the candy, soda, and snack vending machines available in schools – particularly middle and high schools.

We have a monumental problem and we need to begin with the children. Thanks for listening!

Geraldine:

Hi,

I am living in Australia and am constantly surrounded by slim healthy
people, which is depressing some time and seeing as there are so many slim
Asians living here it gets even more depressing. I am over weight by about 7
pounds but my body fat percentage is about 20% which is not good but I use
the excuse that I have impaired glucose tolerance a stage before diabetes.
My mother is a type II diabetic and I believe this is a big killer in the
western world. Diabetes seems to be hereditary and may be a reason why the
likes of America has a huge percentage of obese people, it has just been
passed on from generation to generation. Many people may have blood sugar
problems but have never been diagnosed!

But here is my real theory about why certain countries have more obese cases
than others and why some countries have very little. I believe when people
are born, they are either born to live in hot countries or cold countries.
If you are meant to be born in a hot country you have a fast metabolism and
will most likely stay slim where as if you were meant to be born in a cold
country you have a slower metabolism and have a tendancy to put on weight
easily just so you will have that extra blubber to keep you warm in the cold
weather.. It may be a silly theory but it is the only way I can understand
Asian people who eat fried fatty foods and hi-carb food and still have got
lovely slim bodies!

My two cents worth
Geraldine

Crystal:

Hi Jonni,

Firstly i would like to say that iam very impressed that you are interested
in the general populations opinion. I though i would like to tell you
generally about my background so you can see where I am coming from. Iam 18
(soon to be 19) years old and i have lived in Australia all my life
(although i have travelled almost around the world). At school i did asian
studies and religion studies as well as chemistry, biology, and history. So
over the years i feel that i have gained a fair amount of knowledge about
nutrition and ancient and other cultures diets. I am also the second eldest
of 8.

My mother has been health concious even before i was born, I was brought up
on fruit and vergies and basically on "fit-fol-life" (im not sure it you
have heard of it but basically it it a healthy way of eating). My mother
also has always owned a restaurant - so now i ahve grown to appreciate
food. I am addicted to cooking and am myself interested in weight loss (even
though i dont have a problem) and how to maintain you r weight.

At school we have several nutritional talks (i was fortunate enough to go to
a private girls school although myself am from the "middle class").

I several of my friends have either been balimic, or anerexic, and i have
seen them recover from it all. One of my closet friends went on weight
watchers and lost 25kg and has kept it off. At one stage she was warned
because she was getting to skinny.

Thus from my experience, obesity and anerexia is a result from two major
factors : money and mental strengh (self confidence/ phsycology).

Just the other day my boyfriend told me that at work he was trying to buy
"healthy food" such as freshly made sandwiches, but he didnt know how much
longer he could last, since he was running out of money, and the cheapest
foods, was junk food (fast foods). The "healthy foods" were more than double
the cost.

When i was younger, we always had more fruit and vegetables in the house
than junk food because it was cheaper. Now, we have more junk food, and more
preserved food because it is cheaper. My younger siblings are having
pre-packaged, cakes and chocolates rolls (i think you call them twinkies)
for school lunch, because it is quicker to prepare and cheaper.
So i think that is why more "lower and middle classes" are obes because
generally they work harder, and have less time and money to prepare their
children;s lunches.

I was appauled to discover the other day to find out that Australia is the
second country, after America who has the highest number of obese people.
(we are such a small country).

I also discoverd the other day that the reason for increase in disease and
sick people is because people are not eating enough fresh fruit and
vegetables (which contain enzymes).

Thus i think that the solution to the problem is a long term and costly one.
The government needs to stop spending money on weight loss programs because
thay are never goint to work in the long run. They should impliment
councillors in every school to help build up kids self confidence so that
they will have respect for their bodies. They need to reduce the cost or
fresh foods (i.e.f ruit and vegetables) and increase the cost of prepackages
and processed foods. Ofcourse physical fitness also will strenghten the
mind. however i know that alot of Australians includign myself deteste
exercise. Thus they need to promote new and exciting ways to exercise. I
personally love walking along the beach but that is not for every one.

I hope to hear from you again in reply to what you thin k about my ideas.
Also i was owndering if you could please tell me about others ideas on the
issue because i am very interested to know.

Ann:

We are taught that we deserved more or everything. It is alright to indulge in excess of everything. I feel after 10 years of successful changing my lifestyle and exercise each day-I deserve to feel good, happy and healthy because I really earn my being on this earth each day. Every day I exercise..walk 6 to 10 miles, carefully and proportionably eat in moderation three balanced meals a day. Yes, it takes time to shop, prepare, cook, and exercise but I feel perhaps I will not be a burden to society by being overweight and unproductive in the latter part of my years. At age 60 I feel simplicity and respecting the rights of others is more important and an oversized meal and all the material things I can acquire in life. You don't have to join health clubs, buy books (library can get any book you want to read) let some organization charge you monthly to treat you like a baby and prepare and feed you, then weight you. You are responsible for your life..take charge of it.

Yes you may print my comments and I would very much like to see the other comments..When I think of all the many wonderful days I spend being an active thin 60 year old I am so grateful to you and others who take the time to make reading literature available so we all can educate ourselves on proper eating, exercising and attitude. I have just read a most interesting book "What Happy People Know." The whole point of this book is "yes, you are responsible for yourself."

P.S. I am getting ready to do my 20th Walking Marathon in St. Louis Missouri. I started walking at age 50 and one step lead to another and now I do Walking Marathons within the United States.

Jonni:
What Would it Take to Make America Thin Again?

(This is the article that started it all.)

I really would love to hear your opinion about something. This is a subject that is really bothering me, and I want to get to the bottom of it.

Here's the deal. Nobody wants to be fat, but the statistics show that at least 60% of Americans are overweight.

There is a huge industry built around offering products and services that claim to help people lose weight - and yet America gets fatter every year.

There's also an enormous profit being made by the health care industry - not just from the prescriptions and operations for obesity, but also in chronic, emergency and long-term care.

All this money - millions of dollars each year - is flowing from the pockets of people who are desperate to lose weight. Yet the statistics keep getting worse. Clearly, something is missing.

Some nations don't have weight loss industries, and don't have the mushrooming problems of heart disease, diabetes and cancer that goes along with obesity. China is one example - the traditional diet in some of their provinces actually includes more calories than the average American diet, and yet they stay thin and healthy into old age.

We're obviously doing something wrong. Tell me what you think it is.

What do you think it would take to put America and other Western nations back on the path to health?

I've personally tried to offer help, by writing the only book I know of that is written by someone with training in the addictions field. I really believe our addiction to sugar and refined flour is one of the biggest reason why diets fail. But that's my opinion, because of my particular education and experience. What do you believe is causing this epidemic, and what products, services or programs do you think our society should implement in order to turn things around?

While you're thinking about your answer, ponder some of these issues:

Obesity is a problem primarily of the poor and middle class. Why is that? Is it poor nutrition education in our public schools? Is it the fact that noodles, packaged foods and snacks are the easiest and cheapest things to prepare after a long day at work? Is it the poor quality of school lunch programs? What do you think would help?

Many people believe that you can't be addicted to sugar because it's "food." Yet some researchers are now beginning to study the possibility that sugar consumption early in life actually "primes" a child to later alcoholism. This hasn't been studied enough yet to know if the theory is true or not, but it would explain some of the social problems on Indian reservations, where for years the government has given out low quality surplus food, high in sugar and fat. Do our free lunch programs and services to the poor actually contribute to the growing problem of addictions and obesity in America?

Jonni Good is the author of most of the original articles on this site. Jonni always looks for the easy way to solve common health problems, by working with human nature. Her books have helped hundreds of people lose weight, get fit, and regain their health - with less struggle. Please take a moment to visit her other sites:

Do You Gain Weight... Even when you eat less than your thinner friends? Learn why it happens, and how to use nutritious, satisfying food to break the metabolic pattern that causes some people to gain weight too easily.

Sugar Cravings and Addiction – Describes a simple program to help people break their addiction to sugar and fat. This book has been popular ever since it came out in 2003, and has helped hundreds of people lose their cravings for sugar and other simple carbs. Once the cravings are under control, it's easier to stick with your diet and regain your health.

Weight Lifting for Absolute Beginners – A guide to lifting weights for strong muscles and bones.

The Easy-Does-It Diet – A guide to creating your own delicious and healthy frozen diet meals. Eat healthy, low-fat meals without paying extra for store-bought frozen diet food.

Disclaimer: This site and the articles contained here are for information purposes only. The authors have made every effort to make sure the information is accurate, but no health decisions should ever be made based on this or any other website. Please contact your doctor before starting any diet or exercise program.