There is a long, think line between eating to live and living to eat. The similarities they appear to share at first glance only seem to reveal an underlying message. Looking closely, one is truly able to see how "Eating to live or living to eat" illustrates very different cultures and eating habits.

America is a melting pot of cuisines from around the world. Simply put, Americans live to eat (or should I say love to eat?). The most recent projection of the percentage of overweight Americans is estimated to be 75% by 2015; 42% of those categorized as obese and 24% being children. Eating has become an everyday occurrence for many Americans such that it has become more of a mental habit than a physical need.

Flaunting one's obesity or chubbiness during the Middle Ages or anytime in the far past meant wealth. Wealth meant a limitless supply of food. Lots of food leads to eating more. But now it isn't eating to live. It's living to eat; to get fatter to show wealth.

In America today, the overweight aren't seen has wealthy. It can be assumed that the overweight eat cheap, junk and fast food. Though one can argue of genetics attributing to being fat, there are no facts supporting genetics hindering the ability to walk or run a few miles. I believe we are at a point in American where most live to eat. Eating has deviated, as I said, from being a instinctual necessity to a past time.

However, there exists large groups of people in this world where eating a plate of food means waking up the next day or never waking at all. Food is a definite necessity and anything with calories would do. Unlike many Americans, these people still stay active. Walking many miles from village to village, planting crops, and group dances are all examples of what they may do.

In one corner we have Americans who live to eat and eat too much. 75% of them will be overweight and sit around all day not being active. In the opposite corner, we have many unfortunate nations and groups of people who must eat to live to the next day. All 100% of them will contribute to the well being of their group and stay active.
No, this phrase is not a paradox as some would think. One must think deeper and find the deep, cultural ironies it presents.

Learn more about this author, Dr. Indubidibly.
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