| To say that Americans are obsessed with dieting | | | | ever before. |
| is an understatement! Pick up any magazine, | | | | Here are a few examples of what we were |
| tune-in or turn-on any source of advertising and | | | | eating in the 1970's compared to our diet today |
| you're bombarded with the latest diet schemes | | | | (information is taken from a recent U.S. |
| and food fads. More often than not, they are | | | | Department of Agriculture survey): |
| endorsed by some familiar Hollywood celebrity, or | | | | - We are currently eating more grain products, |
| promoted using some other cleaver technique. | | | | but almost all of them are refined grains (white |
| It's no mystery that the weight-loss industry has | | | | bread, etc.). Grain consumption has jumped 45 |
| built a thriving empire. In America, for example, | | | | percent since the 1970s, from 138 pounds of |
| we spend about 35 billion dollars every year on an | | | | grains per person per year to 200 pounds! Only 2 |
| assortment of weight loss products and plans. In | | | | percent of the wheat flour is consumed as whole |
| addition, we spend another 79 billion dollars for | | | | wheat. |
| medication, hospitalization, and doctors to treat | | | | - Our consumption of fruits and vegetables has |
| obesity-related problems. Even with this, the | | | | increased, but only because the U.S.D.A. includes |
| obesity epidemic continues to spread. Sadly, we | | | | French fries and potato chips as a vegetable. |
| have become the heaviest generation in our | | | | Potato products account for almost a third of our |
| Nation's history. | | | | "produce" choices. |
| The National Center for Health Statistics reports | | | | - We're drinking less milk, but we've more than |
| that we have some very good reasons to be | | | | doubled our cheese intake. Cheese now outranks |
| concerned about our weight-gain. Americans, for | | | | meat as the number one source of saturated fat |
| example are packing-on the pounds faster than | | | | in our diets. |
| ever before and weight-related medical problems | | | | - We've cut back on red meat, but have more |
| are taking center stage. Diseases like heart | | | | than made up for the loss by increasing our |
| disease, diabetes and yes...even certain forms of | | | | intake of chicken (battered and fried), so that |
| cancer have all been linked to obesity. | | | | overall, we're eating 13 pounds more meat today |
| Here are a few of the surprising statistics about | | | | than we did back in the 1970s. |
| our weight: | | | | - We're drinking three times more carbonated |
| - A whopping 64 percent of U.S. adults are either | | | | soft drinks than milk, compared to the 1970's, |
| overweight or obese. That's up approximately 8 | | | | when milk consumption was twice that of pop. |
| percent from overweight estimates obtained in a | | | | - We use 25 percent less butter, but pour twice |
| 1988 report. | | | | as much vegetable oil on our food and salads, so |
| - The percent of children who are overweight is | | | | our total added fat intake has increased 32 |
| also continuing to increase. Among children and | | | | percent. |
| teens ages 6-19, 15 percent or almost 9 million | | | | - Sugar consumption has been another cause of |
| are overweight. That's triple what the rate was in | | | | our expanding waistlines. Sugar intake is simply off |
| 1980! | | | | the charts. According to the U.S. Department of |
| - Nearly one-third of all adults are now classified | | | | Agriculture, people are consuming roughly twice |
| as obese. At present, 31 percent of adults 20 | | | | the amount of sugar they need each day, about |
| years of age and over or nearly 59 million people | | | | 20 teaspoons on a 2000 calorie/day diet. The |
| have a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or greater, | | | | added sugar is found mostly in junk foods, such |
| compared with 23 percent in 1994. | | | | as pop, cake, and cookies. |
| (The BMI is a number that shows body weight | | | | - In 1978, the government found that sugars |
| adjusted for height. For adults, a BMI of 18.5 - | | | | constituted only 11 percent of the average |
| 24.9 is considered normal. A BMI of 25.0 - 29.9 is | | | | person's calories. Now, this number has ballooned |
| overweight and 30.0 or above, is considered | | | | to 16 percent for the average American adult and |
| obese.) | | | | as much as 20 percent for American teenagers. |
| Modern life both at home and at work has come | | | | The days of the wholesome family dinners so |
| to revolve around moving from one "seated" | | | | near and dear to our hearts, where we all sat |
| position to another: whether it's television, | | | | around the kitchen table to discuss events of the |
| computers, remote controls, or automobiles, we | | | | day, are now a part of our sentimental past. |
| seem to be broadening the scope of our inactive | | | | They have been replaced by our cravings for |
| endeavors. | | | | take-out and fast-food. We have gradually come |
| At times, life seems to have gotten almost too | | | | to accept that it's "OK" to sacrifice healthy foods |
| easy! For entertainment, we can now just | | | | for the sake of convenience and that larger |
| sit-down, dial-up our favorite TV program or DVD | | | | serving portions mean better value. |
| movie and enjoy hours of uninterrupted | | | | And, since I have been throwing-out statistics, |
| entertainment... | | | | here's one more: Americans are consuming about |
| And all those simple calorie burning activities that | | | | 300 more calories each day than we did twenty |
| were once a normal part of our daily routine not | | | | years ago. We should actually be eating less |
| so long ago? Long gone! You know the ones I'm | | | | because of our decreased activity level, but |
| talking about...activities like climbing stairs instead of | | | | instead are doing the opposite! |
| using escalators and elevators. Or, pushing a lawn | | | | Decide TODAY that healthy eating and exercise |
| mower instead of riding around on a garden | | | | habits will become a permanent part of your life! |
| tractor. And what about that daily walk to school? | | | | Begin to explore your values and thoughts and |
| Now, our kids complain when the school bus | | | | other areas of your life where change may be |
| happens to be a few minutes late getting to the | | | | required, and then take action. Begin slowly, but |
| bus stop! | | | | deliberately to make improvements in the areas |
| Along with the convenience of our affluent | | | | you identify. And remember, it has taken a very |
| lifestyle and reduction in energy expenditure, have | | | | long time to develop your habits, and it will take |
| come changes in our diet. We are now consuming | | | | some time to undo them...so be patient! |
| more calorie rich and nutrient deficient foods than | | | | |