Yesterday Maggie Fox (@maggiemfox) wrote a great piece regarding an American Heart Association study about the current trend in obesity and the health of Americans. The piece was based on a 10 year study that looked at the trending health and weight issues we face. The study lists a series of issues America will face due to this epidemic. I use the term epidemic because things like increases in high blood pressure, diabetes and of course heart diseases are forcing us into a national crisis.
When everyone hears about health issues the cost of health care becomes top of mind. When I do, and I’m sure as an Air Force brat, when Maggie does as well, it also brings national security and national resources to mind. Over a quarter of all young adults between the age of 17 and 24 are physically unfit to serve. I know a percentage of those people have physical reasons why they can’t serve but the number is still staggering. As a former United States sailor it absolutely shakes me to the core to think of what will happen if this trend in Americans’ health continues. Will we not be able to protect our borders, man our ships or send humanitarian aid to countries when they have natural disasters like typhoons or earthquakes?
I am editorializing here, but I feel like I have a right. Anyone who knows me can tell you I don’t eat the healthiest foods or live the best lifestyle but I balance them out by visiting the doctor and working out almost every day. I bring this up because the gut reaction (pun intended) of every pundit is to say we need to evaluate our dietary standards. I’m sorry but to me this seems like a losing attitude. Attacking obesity by trying to change the foods we eat is like trying to fight crime by redefining what crime is. Sure, it seems like a good plan but it never really has any actual results.
The food we eat is very important to controlling our health–healthier options create healthier people. But it’s just one tool in our tool box, it’s not the solution to our problems. Growing up I remember The President’s Council on Physical Fitness being a major part of my education. I remember Arnold Schwarzenegger telling me how important it was to remain active and stay fit. Now, there are even more options out there. HHS, give me a call and we can talk about programs like Fitocracy which can help kids track their eating and exercise in a fun, interactive way. We need to do more than just tell people to eat better, we need to help enrich a system that encourages a healthier lifestyle. PALA+ (the President’s initiative to help people increase their physical activity through research-based information and other tools) is a great beginning, but the concept needs a jump-start. Let’s find ways to create social games that reward activity and create lifestyle changes for life.
I think it is our duty as Americans to make sure we have healthy happy adults who can lead the world into the future. Blaming one thing, our diet, isn’t going to stop this problem.
What would you like to see happen to stop this trend? Let me know.