Are We a Couch Potato Nation?
According
to a recent study published in Mayo Clinic Proceedings, exercise data reveals
that America
has become “a couch potato nation.” Edward C. Archer, a nutrition researcher at
the University of Alabama at Birmingham ,
states that “we’ve engineered physical activity out of our daily lives; and
that’s causing the health disparities that we have in this country.” He goes on
to say, “How you spend your day determines whether you store your food as fat,
or store your food in your muscles, healthfully.”
The results
of the study were discouraging. Obese women “averaged about 11 seconds a day at
vigorous exercise, while men and women of normal weight exercised vigorously
(e.g. as a jog or uphill hike) for less than two minutes a day.” If moderate
exercise, like yoga or golf, were included, the non-obese logged about 2-4
hours weekly; this, in part, is “good news” since it fits the recommended
average workout.
Still, the
fact remains that too many folks are spending long hours and days in sedentary
behavior, especially those who are overweight or obese. As I look back to the
50s era, in my college days, heavy and inactive people were sparse. Ambition
and hard work were the order of the day. Something has happened to us as a
culture, where people are getting bigger, while cars are getting smaller. We
used to blame malfunctioning “hormones” and “metabolism” for obesity, but the
present problem is more complex. While not discounting genuine medical
conditions, other contributing factors need to be addressed.
Compared to
third world nations, our country has been so abundantly blessed with resources.
Some folks in Africa , for instance, live next
to the city dump, just waiting for the next garbage delivery containing some morsel
of food. These folks don’t have need of a gym or spa, for they’re in survival
mode. The average American has abundance, even those on Welfare. While the
economy may be floundering, there are still jobs for those willing to work.
Creating more “jobs” is no guarantee that folks will “get off the couch” to
fill them.
The study
confirms that the obese “are stuck in a ‘vicious cycle’ of inactivity and
weight gain.” The welfare entitlement system doesn’t help the situation, for it
further promotes laziness and lack of personal ambition. This in turn may
facilitate food addiction, attempting to “comfort” and ease personal pain.
After all, over-eating is one of the more acceptable “addictions.”
But we are talking about more than
a physical malady or weight problem. I believe there’s a deeper sense of
hopelessness that triggers obsession with food, as in any other addiction.
Working with drug addicts has verified this fact. One overcome with any
substance abuse, including food, feels hopeless, with no way out of the dark.
Thus, the “couch” becomes a personal “refuge” or escape from reality. Instead
of normal eating and rest, these become an end in themselves, leading to
over-indulgence.
It’s only
fair to say that our modern food processing has contributed to this major
problem. The whole food production industry has changed drastically over the
years, and eating “healthy” is not as easy as it was. Even with “food stamps”,
it’s still possible to avoid fatty and sugar-laden foods, but that would take
self-discipline. Obesity is a symptom of a lack of self-control, as in any addiction.
But the liberating hope comes by seeking a relationship with the One who made
us, thus finding out who we are and why we’re here.
Eating and sleeping are essential
to our vocation, but never an end in themselves. The spiritual, mental and
emotional component cannot be ignored. We must find that God-given balance in
life. Work is part of the plan, which ultimately justifies eating. Although
easier said than done, its time to face the issue; let’s get “off the couch” and
start moving in the right direction!
