Both Oars In Battle of the bulge, the sequel

Apr 15, 2011

No war is more recurrent than the battle of the bulge. I am not referring to the famous WW II battle, rather the constant struggle to keep trim. Unfortunately, as a nation we seem to be losing, as each year more Americans become casualties in the great weight fight. Now, nearly two thirds of us are overweight. Of late, even our children have been dragged into the fray.

Unfortunately, I am no exception. Several times since I turned thirty, I have taken the challenge to get my weight straight with my age and height. Over the past decade and a half, I have had several victories, some even prolonged, but, I am losing the war. Today, I am again far closer to being obese than fit.

During my last valiant attempt, I lost 50 lbs. Faced with entering into the ever expanding “waist-land,” I dropped from 225, borderline obese for me, to 175, the target weight for my build. I felt great. I may have looked a bit too thin, but it was nice to be my lesser self.

Unfortunately, I have regained 80% of that weight — which is not uncommon. I am back to sore joints and nagging back. I look at my midsection in embarrassment and disbelief. Fat just seems to appear spontaneously around my waist. I wonder, “Is there fat in the air?”

Likewise, over time, we have gained weight as a nation. As the Baby Boomers have gone from protesting to retirement, obesity rates in the United States have increased by 50%. We have gone from a heavy nation to, pardon my candor, a fat one in just twenty years. The Centers for Disease Control toss the word epidemic around in connection with the issue. Their website states, “American society has become 'obesogenic,' characterized by environments that promote increased food intake, nonhealthful foods, and physical inactivity.”  

The CDC believes that policy changes are needed to change our poor food culture and increase our physical activity. I agree. Hold the burger altogether! Let the elevator go. It is time to face the music on being fat before it becomes a dirge for us and our economy.  

Speaking of music, maybe Uncle Sam should re-release Meredith Willson’s “Chicken Fat” song. A favorite of my dad’s for waking up the family, this song was also an attempt by the government to address childhood lethargy in the 1960’s. Adolescent inactivity is now a major contributor to obesity among our youth. Maybe, Eminem can rap it back to the top of the charts.

I applaud the First Lady for launching “Let’s Move” and convincing the President to set a goal to end childhood obesity in one generation. Given that we have gotten fat with the rise of fast food and video games, the First Lady’s simple two punch solution of healthier eating habits and increased physical activity could be the solution.

It may seem odd for the government to take on an issue that is generally regarded as personal. Yet, the ramifications of obesity go far beyond the physical and psychological damage to the individual, which are appreciable and regrettable. Reports vary, but there is basic agreement that obesity costs more than 100 billion dollars a year in unnecessary health costs. At the time she presented the “fight on fat,” Mrs. Obama estimated it to be $150 billion — that is more than the annual direct cost of the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars.

The magnitude of the issue, as well as its ubiquity, makes it government business. There is the need for transparent, objective, well-funded research to answer several nagging questions. Why is obesity so widespread? Why did it take off so fast? Has the food industry, especially those responsible for highly processed foods and High Fructose Corn Syrup being in everything from Ketch-up to sport drinks, hooked us on non-healthy food? Certainly, the tobacco industry provides a precedent to make an earnest inquiry.

And, if real research proves that there is something at work here other than our own lack of discipline, it is time to put the finger on the food junkies pushing fat-laden cupcakes and breakfast meals encased in syrup-flavored buns. I am willing to do my part — again — but, I want the odds back in my favor if someone has been stacking the deck. That will take hard-nosed policies. That’s the government’s part.

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