America has been gaining weight. American obesity has doubled to 31% among adults and has tripled to 15% among kids aged 6-19. The US Department of Health and Human Services reports that nearly half of all American children do not get enough vigorous exercise. This is hardly surprising with the new technology, internet, and television that kids use today. Hardly any of it uses any muscle power (other than the ocular ones).
Dr. Nancy Krebs, a Colorado pediatrician notes that the problem is not strictly the exercise, the food their eating isn't so healthy either. According to McDonald's website, a super sized value meal with a cheeseburger is 1,350 calories (roughly ½ of a 2500 calorie diet) and 40 grams of fat (67% of your daily intake). And we wonder why we are in the middle of one of the biggest obesity epidemics ever.
One example of the government working for us is the USDA is trying to also cut down on the fat for in-school meals. It has bought more vegetables (22% more) for schools then it did in 2002.
However, many feel the fast food restaurants get too much of the blame. As is on McDonald's website: Health experts the world over - including the World Health Organization, the U.S. Surgeon General and the American Dietetic Association - agree that no single factor is responsible for obesity. Rather, the causes are complex and fueled by many factors. Among these are genetics, cultural issues, economic factors, excess food consumption and today's increasingly sedentary lifestyles.
-- Mark Waldenstein
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