by David Payne

Created on: July 07, 2010   Last Updated: July 11, 2010

It is that easy option attitude that has got the United States of America into its current state of affairs. While it is noble and indeed the first step on the road to recovery, obesity will not be cured by exercise alone.

God forbid we brooch the eating habits of the majority of Americans. To see the extent of the problem you do not even have to look to food immediately. Look at how television and indeed how Americans watch their entertainment. A million channels to choose from. Adverts every five minutes it seems. Channel flipping is almost an art form the good old U.S of A. The lack of patience results in a very short attention span. Switch and switch again, and while your at it order some fast food. It is not a slur on America as such, merely an observation that goes a long way to explaining this unique culture. Though America produces endless brilliant TV shows and movies that the whole world enjoys somewhere in this brilliance a vein of impatience has grown. When everything is bigger and better,  the sheer endless choice has made the apple very rotten.

Sports, fast fluid and high scoring. Similar to the nation's home entertainment  issues. Everything must happen and it must happen now. There is a reason why basketball, American football and baseball are amongst the most popular sports to watch. There is instant gratification watching said sports. More often than not very high scoring. Just as soccer and cycling for example, are not by any stretch of the imagination high up on the list of things to watch. Somewhere down the line it has become ingrained in the national consciousness to be immediately appeased. And while there is nothing wrong with having what you want and having it now, there should be equal pleasure in the things in life that take a little more time.

And so to food, really fast and greasy food. If the current laziness that has caused this obesity epidemic is not stemmed it will become an illness that will cripple the nation within the next thirty years. Every conceivable branch of food can be obtained from a fast food outlet within minutes. Portions much larger than other parts of the world all for next to nothing. Gallon sized drinks with more sugar than a box of chocolates. Super size your food portions and also your waistlines. One would imagine that Americas kitchen appliance sector could probably shut down and no one would notice.

The only way to change this fast food culture that has led to mass obesity is by educating the children of tomorrow. They must learn to make their own food and choose the healthy option. To know what good food tastes like and with a little effort their lives will be far richer. If the children of tomorrow are to have any chance the parents must stand up and be counted. By not taking your children to eat the rubbish that is on offer from the fast food outlets. Make cooking a family activity and every generation will see the benefits.

Exercise coupled with this new attitude to food is the only way to make serious progress against obesity.

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