I went swimming at a local city pool this afternoon and had a very eye-opening experience concerning obesity. The number of people I saw today who clearly do not care about their body, nor the shape that it is in, was quite disturbing. It is one thing to be slightly overweight, or curvy (after all, curvy is much more healthy than being stick-thin in my opinion), or have low metabolism that makes staying fit harder, or to have health problems that prevent you from being in shape. However, it is another if you simple do not take care of the one body you have been given, as was clearly seen today. Do most people not understand that you are given ONE body your whole life? You never get a chance to have another one... not even through plastic surgery (which, in my opinion does more damage).
Anyhow, it was not mainly the number of obese people that confounded me, but more specifically the number of obese children. What has gotten into parents heads that its okay to allow your twelve year old daughter to look like she is pregnant, and in a bikini strutting it no less (I saw this several times this afternoon in a matter of minutes)? What parent in their right mind would allow this? Every time I looked up I saw yet another child who was very much so overweight or obese. Georgia (my state) has one of the highest rates for childhood obesity... that fact is terrible. American families need to work together to get rid of the high statistics of childhood obesity and obesity in general.
During a pageant interview a few months ago I was asked, "who's fault is the high obesity rates in children: schools or parents?" My answer? The parents, hands down. It is the parents job to raise their children. It is the parents job to make sure their children are making good choices, or at least train them to make the right choices and when they are old enough pray they do just that. It is the parents duty to make sure their children eat healthy - and not snack on junk food, soda drinks, carb-loaded, high-sugar foods 24/7, or better yet, to not have fast food for breakfast, lunch and dinner. It is the parents job to make sure their child is having a lifestyle that promotes being active to stay healthy. It is the parents job, not the government. Sure, school needs to help out by not putting vending machines packed with junk food and sodas in the cafeteria or teaching them of ways to stay healthy, but ultimately mom and dad need to show Tommy and Suzy how to make and live out healthy choices. Unfortunately, Americans have not done a good job with this at all. I love my state, but I am ashamed that it is completely acceptable to be obese... actually, that it is perfectly normal to be obese.
Please keep in mind that I am not seeking to offend anyone by saying all this, although someone will always be offended no matter what I say. I am merely speaking my thoughts (or rather, venting) on a topic that needs to be addressed. It is okay to occasionally enjoy a coke, or to occasionally enjoy a yummy food. While I love eating healthy and trying to stay fit, I will on occasion indulge in dessert or one of those awesome foods you see on Culinary Porn. The key words to the two statements above is occasion. And it is combined with having an active lifestyle. Try walking every day at least. Try taking the stairs instead of the elevator. Park just a little further away from the entrance. You've heard all these simple things for a while.... so put them into action. There is SO much more I could say about this topic but I guess I will end my venting on that note.
xoxo, SLR
