An epidemic of sloth and malnourishment is plaguing our country, and the only ones we have to blame are ourselves. We as a nation are becoming less healthy by the year, and soon enough it could lead to us becoming less of a physically and mentally advanced species and more of a population of incapable slugs. Throughout the majority of our history as a species, we have been active hunters and gatherers, working to obtain our necessary nutrients. However, as time progressed, so did our mental and technological intellect. First came the process domesticating animals,or our first step towards making life easier, then machines and vehicles, and now we have technology so advanced that many of us don’t have to leave our houses to conduct certain tasks. This has unfortunately lead to Americans becoming lazy and indifferent towards the aspects of our lives that made us strong enough to advance so far in the first place. Ever since 1984, obesity rates have begun rising annually to the point where nearly 3 million cases of obesity in America every year. As of 2016, 39.6% of adults over the age of 20 were found to be obese, with 38% being men and 41% being women. All of these numbers can cause many to believe that the issue is an advanced medical problem that can only be fixed by expensive professional help, but that is simply not the case at all. In fact, a majority of America’s health issues, both mental and physical, can be solved through a combination of exercise, healthy eating, and other aspects of daily life.
It is quite difficult to find reasons as to why anyone would be against the prospect of good physical fitness, but a few minor nitpicks can be found here and there. First off, some claim that they cannot afford proper nutrition required for healthy eating, as the food is far too expensive. This is easily resolved by simply learning to not eat junk food 24/7, as millions of Americans, mainly obese people, do. Cutting back on fast food and vending machines and trying to stick to food groups like fruits, vegetables and proteins can lead to significant improvements without having to seek out expensive miracle foods. Another ‘argument’ against fitness could be exercise being too difficult or, like food, too expensive. Some may even claim that exercise can put you at risk of injury. Of course, exercise doesn't mean one needs to become a bodybuilder and do all of those ridiculous muscle-shredding exercises shown on television and in magazines. Exercise can come in forms as simple as jogging or even walking, which anyone with a pair of legs who isn’t disabled or 600 pounds should be able to do. The argument that exercise is too expensive is truly grasping at straws, since a gym membership is not required for one to go outside and do jumping jacks or run around the block. While the risk of physical injury while exercising is present, this is true of everyone who does any form of activity in their daily lives. It all comes down to making sure you are doing the exercise right and not pushing yourself. One is not going to drop 100 pounds in a single day, so they shouldn't exercise like that’s what they are trying to achieve.
Maintaining a healthy body can seem like a big effort, but putting in the work may save one from having to suffer through many physical diseases in the future. Diseases such as obesity, diabetes and cardiac disorders can result from lack of proper bodily care. Obesity is found in one out of every three Americans, and that includes nearly 13 million children, and can cut off nearly 20 years of one’s life. Diabetes results from bad dieting, the most common being an overabundance of sugar. It is the 7th leading cause of death in the country, and cannot be cured (though it can be controlled for many years). Cardiac disorders, such as heart disease, are the number one cause of death in America, and can be made less likely by a combination of healthy eating and regular exercise. Bad health can have psychological consequences as well, with effects ranging from social stresses like depression and anxiety to eating disorders like bulimia and anorexia. People who are overweight or obese tend to have low self-esteem and a lack of enthusiasm for life due to them feeling guilty or ashamed of their body. They see advertisements, commercials and other aspects of media everywhere that advertise what an attractive and ideal body should look like, and this causes them to hate themselves and thus lose any motivation they may have had because they firmly believe that they will not and cannot get better. This, unfortunately, leads them on a downward spiral that can end in severe depression or even suicidal thoughts. Luckily, working towards a healthy lifestyle can improve one’s social life as well. People who are obese tend to be self-aware and ashamed of themselves, leading to depression and self-deprecating thoughts. Improving one’s health can lead to higher confidence around others, increasing the chance of a healthy social life. Social life can even go hand-in-hand with healthy activities, such as joining exercise or dieting groups. Of course, none of the benefits that come with physical fitness are free. One must be aware of the best practices of fitness in order to get the best results.
There are a number of practices that can improve one’s health, but the two most and the simplest to achieve are a good diet and daily activity. The most basic of healthy eating habits is guided by the Food Pyramid/Food Plate. It outlines the daily necessities for a balanced diet, consisting of grains (preferably whole or multi), protein, fruits and vegetables, dairy, a limited amount of fats and oils, and plenty of hydration. Fruits and veggies should take up at least half of one’s daily intake, while grains and protein are relegated to about a quarter each. As stated above, fats, oils and sweets can be consumed in moderation, but it is heavily advised to relegate them to a special dish, and definitely not one that is eaten daily. Hydration is perhaps the most important part of the diet, but water is recommended above everything else. Sugary drinks such as soda should especially be avoided. Exercise keeps our bodies in shape and physically capable of conducting necessary activities. Four categories of exercise are recommended to be practiced when possible, if not daily. Aerobic exercises, such as running, jogging and swimming, keep our cardiovascular system strong and functional. Strength exercises, such as push-ups, squats and weight-lifting, build muscle mass, which in turn burns fat and leads to weight loss. Balance exercises, such as lunges, planks and toe raises, maintain motion control and center of gravity, which tends to fade as one gets older. Flexibility exercises, mainly stretches like toe touching and overhead arm stretches, improves your joint motion, reducing the risk of injury during activities. Other areas of one’s lifestyle can be beneficial to their health as well, including sleep, avoidance of technologies, and even study. Getting a proper amount of sleep allows people to function properly during the day and reduces risk of mental problems. Abusing technology use has been proven to lead to depression and antisocial tendencies, not to mention it impairs sleep. Study, while unfortunately revered by many young people out there who despise schoolwork, is especially important for school and college students, as properly educated people have been proven to evade diseases such as Alzheimer's and dementia, which can occur later in life. While the methods of achieving a healthy life are plentiful, like any worthwhile goal, physical fitness is no easy feat, and one will undoubtedly run into many obstacles along the way.
In fact, nearly the entire American population fails to meet what is considered a normal, healthy way of living. Recent studies have identified four central qualifications of what is considered a ‘healthy lifestyle;’ at least 150 minutes of weekly exercise, a diet score above 40% under the Healthy Eating Index of the Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion, a BMI of under 20% in men and under 30% in women, and not smoking or other drug paraphernalia. Less than 3% of Americans meet this standard. It gives one cause for pause as to why so many people aren’t living this way, but plenty of valid areas of caution and concern do exist when people explain their lack of physical fitness. As stated previously, people who are overweight or under a lot of stress may feel less inclined to exercise or even attempt to make the time for exercise due to anxiety or depression. This is not a factor that can be fixed by flipping a switch, as some of it may need to involve counseling. Plus, there exist uncontrollable factors such as low blood sugar or glandular problems can lead to people being overweight. People who cannot control their weight should seek out medical help if they haven’t already, as it may be more than just overeating or lack of exercise. Other people out there may try to find mental and physical relief through simpler and less healthy means such as alcohol and drugs. Things like allergies and other bodily disorders can potentially prevent certain areas of the food pyramid from appearing in one’s diet, such as nut, dairy, soy and wheat allergies. Of course, other types of healthy foods they aren’t allergic to can be implemented into these peoples’ diets, but they should still be cautious when expanding their options. Some challenges presented to fitness may stem from social or cultural mentalities. Nick Bacon, a fitness instructor at Belmont University with a PhD in Exercise Science, shared some of his ideas on why people lack proper motivation to exercise. “People expect too much, too fast. They don’t have the patience to go through the what sucks about exercising first, or what I call the ‘Sucks Phase’” (Bacon). In other words, people who are attempting to work out feel like they should have a six-pack after one day at the gym, which is simply not the case. Getting in shape takes time, but people live in a fast-paced society that want fast results, as if they think buff arms and a flat stomach comes with two-day shipping. They are not used to something that takes effort.
The issue of health in America will never be cured overnight, or anytime in the foreseeable future, but if more people start taking progressive steps towards a better lifestyle through simple eating and activity habits, we could expect future generations to lead much better lives. Children are easily influenced by the people around them, especially their parents. It’s not uncommon to see an obese child under the care of parents who are also suffering from weight problems. Of course, there are many people out there who believe the blame should go to modern technology for causing people to be lazy and unhealthy, but this statement is contradictory. Technology and the internet now enables us easier access to diet and exercise programs that anyone can follow, as well as reliable sites that tell us what we shouldn’t be doing if we want to be healthy. In fact, claiming that factors outside of our own ignorance are responsible for our poor health can be considered outright insulting in some regards to countries that are truly suffering poor health for reason outside of their control. Currently, America can be considered the opposite of hundreds of third-world countries, whose citizens are malnourished down to the bone, while Americans consume so much that they essentially become handicapped. However, whereas these third-world countries are suffering from malnourishment due to their inability to access the proper resources, we as citizens of a wealthy nation have no excuse. Salvation from obesity is a prospect as simple as not gorging ourselves on junk food and getting off out butts and doing something active. It has nothing to do with technology, the economy, or medical availability. We are making the active mental decision to not live healthy lives, and thus have no one to blame for the increased rate of unhealthiness amongst us.