The past few weeks I have watched some older television shows and several movies from the 1980s. I noticed that the actors are a lot different than the actors of today. They all had big hair, and they were all skinny or averaged-sized. So I have to ask the question, “Why?’” Some people attribute this to casting, however, on the generic street shots I still didn’t see many overweight people. It seems to me that back then there weren’t many people who were overweight. Certainly a very few were obese, but it’s clear that today’s America is fatter than ever.
According to the Center for Disease Control, 68 percent of Americans are overweight. Of that 68 percent, more than half are obese, meaning obese Americans now outnumber fit Americans.
What really bothers me is that we are in a recession right now. In many other countries, there would be a lot more people simply eating less to save money. We don’t need to eat milk shakes, pastry desserts or an entire tub of ice cream. It may taste good, I’ll give you that, but it is an expensive and unrewarding habit.
Some people “eat their emotions.” I think that is unwise. It’s just going to turn into a vicious cycle, as one eats a lot one day because you got a pay decrease and then gets overweight and eats again. Then you’ll continue when you run yourself into the poorhouse for buying all of this frivolous food.
One can even get fat using the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (commonly known as food stamps), using the stamps to buy anything from vegetables to junk food. I think that’s wrong. Oreos and Twinkies are not as filling as good wholesome vegetables, yet you can buy them with food stamps. Why are taxpayers buying junk food for these people when they could be feeding themselves locally grown corn or beans?
Our government needs to set limits. I believe that Uncle Sam should not be purchasing soda, candy or unhealthy food for Americans. I am not saying we need to make the underprivileged suffer. However, I do not see the need for people to get fat with my money.
Turn on the television. I can almost guarantee whatever show you turn on there will most likely be someone who is overweight, if not obese. Despite all the fuss about the twigs they have for models, the media has now made it socially acceptable to be overweight. If you watch any of the older shows, the main characters were always fit and relatively skinny. Now you have people like Cee-Lo Green and shows like “Mike and Molly” featuring obese characters and setting a bad example for today’s youth.
It used to be that you had to be fit and healthy in order to be on television. I guess now they have moved away from that, considering most of America is overweight.
Just look at the local school children ”“ I guarantee there are a lot more overweight kids than there were a generation ago. I think this is a tragedy. The sad part is, it’s our own fault. No one chains people into a car and forces them to buy from a fast food chain. It’s all their own doing.
America was once known as the greatest nation on Earth. I don’t think we can say that if more than half of our country is unhealthy. We as a nation need to get back on track. Let’s return to a healthier nation, one where the majority of Americans are fit. I believe we can make a society where desserts and junk food are considered a rarity, not a main stay. I have faith that we can accomplish this goal. For most people, it’s just a matter of will power.
— Timothy Morris is a student at Thornton Academy who is active with Thornton Academy television station and will be writing this column for the Journal Tribune through the summer.
Comments are not available on this story.
Send questions/comments to the editors.
