"Why are so many people fat? Scientists have come up with some novel excuses, including air-conditioning, lack of sleep, fewer smokers, and more sex among obese people, which can produce chubby kids."
Wow. Of course this study would have roots in the south--it was conducted by a reseacher at University of Alabama (again, click title for link to story).
I understand the lack of sleep. That actually has been proven, in various studies, to contribute to obesity--but mostly because people eat more when they're sleep-deprived, and tend to make less healthy food choices. And yes, smoking is an appetite surpressant, so I'll give them that. But we're fatter because we don't shiver and sweat? Obesity producing chubbier kids? C'mon. Is there truly a gene for obesity? That's the only way that reproduction would make obese children. However, the food choices of obese people would likely be reflected in the decisions of their children. If they're eating junk, so would the kids, and then--boom--fat kids.
It's time to wake up and smell the bacon. We can't blame obesity on air-conditioning, or on "Darwinian Natural Selection," ie fat people outsurviving the skinny ones. Yes, we tend to have the same body types as our parents. But weighing 40+ pounds over our desired weights is not due to genetics! When we eat white bread, sugared cereals, and processed snacks, and wash it down with corn syrup--cause that's what coke is--then it's our own choices that make us fat. Not our environments and not our genetics.
In better news...Warren Buffett giving 1.5 BILLION per YEAR. That is incredible. In my line of work, I don't tend to be thrown by large amounts of money. We received at $500,000 gift yesterday, and no one blinked an eye. But this man is giving away $37B. That's money that could've gone to his children, his grandchildren...or to houses, planes, a private island. Granted, the second-richest man in the world probably has most of those things already. Still, I hope this influences the thinking of some of the wealthiest in the country--maybe it's time to stop building multi-million dollar homes, and instead start giving money to those that need food. And water. And small tablets that fight malaria, or shots that keep away TB, or a simple eyeglass prescription.
Bill and Melinda Gates, can I work for your foundation?
Tuesday, June 27, 2006
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2 comments:
"Granted, the second-richest man in the world probably has most of those things already."
Actually, he lives in the same 300k house he purchased in the 1970's. You REALLY need work on the cynicism. It's wearying.
Amen to the first comment about why we are fat. I know that lack of sleep affects me in a negative way. I also know that the high amounts of stress that we tend to put ourselves through affect our body in a bad way too. I'm trying to avoid the stress but not the sleep. I'm also trying to avoid white sugar and white flour. Since I started swimming last week I already have more energy in the evenings, but it will be better once I have gotten through the withdrawal from refined flour and sugar.
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