Fitness Crisis
Re: Fitness Crisis
I find this a very interesting issue that I'm surprised get talked about more often. It is like the issue of gun violence in that it seems to be a uniquely american issue. Other rich countries have obesity problems too but none anywhere near as bad as we do. But I rarely hear anybody asking, why?
I wanna love somebody but I don't know how
I wanna throw my body in the river and drown
-The Decemberists
I wanna throw my body in the river and drown
-The Decemberists
- Dave_LF
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Re: Fitness Crisis
Hm. Apparently I'm both too old and too bekidded to join the military. Not that I intended to, but I sort of don't like knowing that I can't.
A big part of it is demographics--black populations are still concentrated in the South, and for reasons that could make up a topic of their own, African-American communities are less healthy than general American ones wherever they occur. Another factor, I think, is cultural. "Macho culture" is stronger in the South than elsewhere, and within that culture, it's considered unmasculine to look after your health since this is tantamount to a confession of mortality.I wonder why that is? I mean, I knew the southern states are economically depressed- I just figured that was from getting whapped with serious hurricane damage every decade or so. Why do they get more physical problems than average, as well?
Re: Fitness Crisis
I seem to recall a statistic that said something like even the health state in the US (Colorado, I believe) has higher obesity rates than the next most obese country (the UK, I believe). If I'm remembering that correctly and it is true, singling out southern states seems besides the point. This is not a regional problem, it is a US problem.
I wanna love somebody but I don't know how
I wanna throw my body in the river and drown
-The Decemberists
I wanna throw my body in the river and drown
-The Decemberists
- Dave_LF
- Wrong within normal parameters
- Posts: 6810
- Joined: Fri Mar 17, 2006 10:59 am
- Location: The other side of Michigan
Re: Fitness Crisis
It is, but the South is worse.
Which is something you could say about most of our national problems.
Which is something you could say about most of our national problems.
Re: Fitness Crisis
What bothers me the most about this is the statement:
"Over 24 million of the 34 million people of that age group cannot join the armed forces -- even if they wanted to,"
Only 10 million available for military duty ... and 16.1 million Americans served in WWII.
Not that we'll ever do trench warfare ever again- but if anything ever comes up requiring the same numbers, we'll be in trouble.
edit: I had another "recalled to active duty" dream last night, with a new twist. I couldn't button the uniform. They didn't make them big enough for me.
"Over 24 million of the 34 million people of that age group cannot join the armed forces -- even if they wanted to,"
Only 10 million available for military duty ... and 16.1 million Americans served in WWII.
Not that we'll ever do trench warfare ever again- but if anything ever comes up requiring the same numbers, we'll be in trouble.
edit: I had another "recalled to active duty" dream last night, with a new twist. I couldn't button the uniform. They didn't make them big enough for me.
- Dave_LF
- Wrong within normal parameters
- Posts: 6810
- Joined: Fri Mar 17, 2006 10:59 am
- Location: The other side of Michigan
Re: Fitness Crisis
Well; I expect they'd relax their standards somewhat in a true emergency. With what consequence, it's hard to say.
Re: Fitness Crisis
We have a huge population of gamers. The answer would probably be remote controlled robots or mech suits.