Confucius Say...

While we may not be able to rely on our beloved Confucius to solve our obesity troubles, by carefully examining the Chinese and their similar trend towards obesity, we can learn a lot about our own situation.

As I began to look into China's situation, I noticed that they are in somewhat of a transitional period. They are industrializing at an incredible rate, and in doing so, becoming one of the top nations worldwide. China is rising through the ranks, and as it progresses, dietary structure and lifestyles of the average Chinese citizen are beginning to change. As food becomes more readily available, the average citizen is eating more and more each day.

This fact in mind, I then started to think about our own situation here in America. As our standard of living increases, our lives become more and more centered around technology and especially food. With a McDonald's, Burger King, Taco Bell, and Wendy's at just about every major intersection coupled with a disposable income, it's easy to see how fast food has become a major part of our everyday lives.

What is also important to note is that people in both low-income and high-income families are affected by this trend. This seems counterintuitive, but even those in poverty are living sedentary lifestyles coupled with poor nutrition causing obesity to continue to grow.

While Confucius may not be a huge help, the idea of moderation will. While we may not be able to start a gigantic global weight loss clinic, simply practicing moderation can make a huge difference in improving your lifestyle and overall health.

The Trend Begins

While doing some research for my project, I came upon this video, Childhood Obesity Epidemic, which highlights a specific obesity trend observed in children. The video includes a mini interview with an eating disorder specialist, Dr. Polly Rost, who points out that our growing trend of obesity starts at an early age. Lifestyle changes over the years, along with television and other technological advances have created a more sedentary environment.
(video courtesy of YouTube, posted by WCVBtv)

After seeing this video, I felt that it did a great job of outlining the American perspective. I also really liked the "shock factor"; it's hard to believe that there are kids out there today who may weigh twice or even three times what I weighed at their age. Thoughts like those really hit home and make you wonder about the future.

The Obesity Epidemic

A major issue impacting our world today is the growing trend of obesity. Obesity poses both economic and cultural challenges, and as nations continue to grow and progress, obesity becomes more and more prominent. China is an up and coming nation, showing great potential to become one of the world's leading global powers. It would be extremely interesting to compare obesity trends of China with those of the United States from cultural and economic perspectives and determine how it affects each nation. It is also important to consider what triggers a trend towards obesity, and if the success of the nation plays a role in its obesity trend. Also, is there anything that can be done to "fix" this problem? Should anything be done? Does lifestyle or standard of living play a role in determining the relative obesity of a nation?