Why So Fat?

I’ve traveled to the USA a bit more this year in comparison with previous years. I’ve gone to Baltimore, Tampa Bay, Orlando, Washington DC and New York City in the past three months. From my short journeys down south, the most startling thing that I’ve noticed everywhere I’ve gone is heavier nature of the population. While this may seem to be anecdotal evidence, it’s true that obesity is on the rise in the USA. It’s even gotten the attention of former President Bill Clinton, who has started initiatives to combat childhood obesity. [I myself cringe each time I see a heavier child eating at a fast food joint]

So what, Americans are getting fatter? But, the questions that I found myself asking were about the differences between Canadian and American eating habits. Of course our cultures are different (not many Canadians like to be referred to as an American), but even still there has been debate on the nature of our differences. Is it the type of food in the States? The amount of fast food available? The growth hormones in the meat? Why is the obesity rate growing so much faster in the USA than it is in Canada? In living in an obesophobic society, it’s interesting to see the morbidity of obesity on the rise.

While I have done no epidemiological studies into the relationships and amount of fast food locals with obesity rates in the two countries, I’d be interested in reading more. I recall a professor making a comment about how urban sprawl, aside from the environmental devastation it causes, contributes to the growing problem of obesity. In areas where individuals are required to sit in traffic for prolonged periods of time on their drive home (adding to air pollution), they would be more prone to grab a quick meal on the way home  instead of waiting until late evening to eat. All of this eating out would contribute to a fat nation.  Additionally, once these individuals reached their destination, they would be too tired from the work day to engage in any physical activity. At first I thought the idea to be a large generalization, but I suppose that if this situation occurred more than once a week, the empty calories would accumulate.

What about all of the weight loss programs? The public health initiatives? The risk of disease that accompanies unhealthy diets and weights? Who listens, and who doesn’t? I suppose I’ll have to pick up some books on the subject, read a bit more, etc.  I’ve read a bit about the prevalence of diabetes among Canadian Aboriginal population, and the implications of obesity, but I’m truly interested in this stark difference between the ‘fatness’ of neighbouring USA and Canada.

Think Twice.

A friend sent me this link, a video called “Meet Your Meat.”

While I don’t consider myself any sort of animal rights activist, some of these images are horrifying and disturbing. In a way, the video reiterates the notion that I, as a consumer, am fairly ignorant about to the history of the food I eat. On the growing list of books that I would like to read are a couple on food politics, genetically modified foods, etc.

At the end of the video, there’s a plug for vegetarianism. While I don’t have a problem with being vegetarian (although I could never do it myself), I don’t think it’s a feasible solution. Of course, it works for some people, but for the rest of Western society that enjoys their meat, I think a better solution would be the promotion of organic, or naturally-bred animal products. I’ve heard of “free-range eggs,” and my family used to buy grain-fed chickens from a local farmer at our church. Alternative meat options should be explored, I would love to look into the subject, to find out where I can get “healthy” meat. Ideally, if these safer alternatives were explored, it would take a toll on the traditional, treat-the-animals-like-garbage way of farming. Ideally.

Who, after all, would want to eat a steak that came from a cow that had cancer? But we’ve already seen something like that – a little disease called Creutzfeldt-Jacob’s Disease. Also known as Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy. Also known as Mad Cow Disease.