don's report archive

by Donald B. Ardell, Ph. D.

Wellness in the Headlines
(Don's Report to the World)

In pre-modern societies, being a bit heavy (there is no evidence that any group of hunter-gatherers managed to become fat) was a good thing, as overweight individuals tend to outlive their lean counterparts when food is insufficient. However, obesity is not such an advantage in our time. As Robert H. Eckel, an obesity researcher at University of Colorado Health Sciences Center in Denver put it, "obesity is a result of a survival advantage that has gone astray." Perhaps obesity is not so much about poor lifestyle habits (willpower, education, a supportive environment and so forth) but the result of "a human genetic package more suited to an era when food was scarce."

Perhaps. Whatever the cause, in some countries, it is considered a good thing to be fat! Really. Americans bemoan the rise of obesity but in many parts of the world, adipose tissue is not an issue. On the contrary, as in the Victorian era in England, a stout middle is highly prized, sort of like wellness is considered a bit of an achievement in this country. In some parts of Sweden, for instance, studies of lumberjacks who once consumed 7,000 calories a day cutting trees, hauling logs and so on indicate that members of that profession are proud of their guts. Why? Because their beer bellies reflect ownership of nifty machines that do the hard work they had to do before they became "prosperous" and able to afford labor-saving devices. In Malaysia, highway workers who no longer use picks and shovels but heavy road equipment evidence a similar story, as is true in China where motorized scooters have largely replaced bicycles. In Mexico, sixty percent of people aged 18 to 49 are overweight or obese. That is about the same as US rates. Astonishingly, even in regions of Africa beset by famine or AIDS, obesity is rampant among the relatively affluent. In these societies, being fat is said to be "a mark of beauty, fertility and prosperity, as well as persuasive evidence that you don't have HIV, which not surprisingly carries a huge stigma." (Source: Wall Street Journal, "Rising Global Obesity Reflects Changes in Diet and Lifestyles," July 1, 2002.)

Well, wherever you live, it's NOT a good thing to be fat because that means you probably can't do many of the things you could do if you were fit (the positive motivator) and because obesity is linked to many health problems that are unlikely to occur with a vigorous daily exercise regimen (the negative motivator.) Americans are a sorry example for the rest of the world. Do you support foreign aid? If so, be of more aid to the rest of the world by being a better role model -- choose wellness! If the rest of the world, or some parts of it, are going to follow our lead in music, films, clothing styles and nearly everything else, let's see if we can't get them to emulate our propensity for personal responsibility as far as having good health habits.

It is little comfort to learn that America is not the only country whose people are getting fatter -- this is a global phenomenon. Every nation has the same problem, though there is one difference between the US and poorer countries: in America, obesity is more prominent among the poor, while in underdeveloped countries, the affluent are more likely to be fat. Obesity is not entirely our responsibility, though we have set a poor example. Scientists say that the two major reasons for girth growth worldwide are high-calorie diets and sedentary lifestyles. The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and the World Health Organization (WHO) are only the latest sources of reports in the past month predicting dreadful consequences of a financial as well as health nature from this epidemic. One Heart Association expert even used the term "catastrophe." Thus, while fat may seem a fashion statement to some, it is not viewed as anything but bad news by others with a more in-depth perspective than the typical Swedish lumberjack, Malaysian highway laborer, Chinese motorist or African native.

One of the first symptoms of the coming international disaster is the rise in diabetes. Within fifteen years, the number of cases could grow to 320 million, according to OECD and WHO. Diabetes, of course, is a precursor for all manner of additional ills, including heart disease, blindness, kidney failure and amputations. By itself, it is very costly to manage.

What's to be done? The French are giving away fruit in the schools and installing more water fountains. This is being done to reduce junk food and soda pop consumption. That's a modest start. In Singapore, the military adds six weeks to basic training if recruits show up fat! Hmmm. Don't expect too much from THAT initiative. The Aussies and Brits are going back to required school nutrition and exercise classes. This could help things a bit.

How about an international effort to promote wellness concepts, principles and related advances? Steps are already underway to initiate the usual prevention programs about the hazards of obesity. Unfortunately, these usual and customary motivational efforts have proven relatively ineffective in this country. Maybe a more positive, wellness-like focus should be tried elsewhere.

Be well, and always look on the bright side of life.

(Note: This essay will be filed in the archives in the PHYSICAL DOMAIN under the skill area of nutrition. Additional articles related to this theme may be found there.)

(Ed. Note: Views expressed in this and other columns are those of the author and not necessarily those of the SeekWellness Editorial Board.)

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