Obesity in the U.S.

A report was released recently about what is being increasingly called the "epidemic of obesity" in the United States. It's not exactly big news, in the sense that it's probably not surprising to most people. Like many, I've had my own struggles with obesity. I've finally moved off the "obese" part of the BMI rankings, but I'm still officially "overweight," so this is something I think about a lot.

What I wonder about most of all, though, is what can be done about this epidemic. The folks who released the study have proposals of their own, including increasing government spending and focusing resources on healthy programs. That's all well and good, and obviously with a problem this large and affecting so many people, it needs as much attention as it can get. But what to do on a much smaller level: individuals, families, friends and workplaces? I know that my company occasionally talks about issues of health and fitness, but what does that really mean? If they were truly committed to encouraging their employees to follow or pursue a healthy lifestyle, I have to wonder if they would do more - like remove the junk good from the vending machines, or at least provide some healthy options. They could provide showers for those who bike or walk to work. Or (gasp!) provide financial incentives to those who lose weight or take other steps to be healthy.

But the responsibility isn't just corporate, it's personal. So what's a family or an individual to do? Parents can strive to set a good example for their kids by eating more fruits and vegetables, and foods rich in whole grains. We can choose active options for family get-togethers: going for a walk or a bike ride. But I also know that there's a place here for personal responsibility. I was at a seriously unhealthy weight for a long time before I finally decided to do something about it. I made my own choices, and I paid the prices for the bad ones. I had to get to the point where I wanted to lose weight for me, to make the effort to live a healthier life because it was what I wanted. And there's no government program that could make me do that; I had to do it for myself.