http://www.healthsentinel.com/org_news.php?event=org_news_print_list_item&id=036
Roman Bystrianyk, "Disney World - It's a Large World After All",
Health Sentinel, April 21, 2005,
I recently went on a daytrip to Epcot Center at Walt Disney World in
Florida. In true Disney fashion, they made the experience quite a
memorable one. The rides and presentations were a mix of entertainment,
excitement, and education. From the exhibits and rides in 'Future
World' to the walk through the 'World Showcase' I simply had a
wonderful time.
But there was one thing I noticed early on - just how large people
were.
Many were not overweight by a few pounds, but where significantly
overweight. Both young and old seemed not to have escaped this
ever-increasing epidemic. Large numbers of people were morbidly obese
- clearly weighing 200, 300, or more pounds. Some even required
electric scooters to be able to make it around the park.
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), in the United
States, obesity has risen at an epidemic rate during the past 20 years.
"In 1991, four states had obesity prevalence rates of 15-19 percent
and no states had rates at or above 20 percent. In 2003, 15 states had
obesity prevalence rates of 15-19 percent; 31 states had rates of
20-24 percent; and 4 states had rates more than 25 percent."
And according to the World Health Organization (WHO), an escalating
global epidemic of overweight and obesity is occurring that they have
termed "globesity". "In 1995, there were an estimated 200 million
obese adults worldwide and another 18 million under-five children
classified as overweight. As of 2000, the number of obese adults has
increased to over 300 million."
The American Heart Association recently issued a strong warning about
childhood obesity. In a scientific statement, they declared that
childhood obesity is such a critical public health problem that it
threatens to reverse the last 50 years of progress against heart
disease and death.
Environmental factors, not genetics, are the number one cause of
obesity. Throughout the world people are eating high fat, high sugar,
high calorie foods - putting taste and convenience ahead of
nutrition. The large number of fast food outlets and junk food vending
machines, the huge increase in portion sizes at restaurants, the
decline in school physical education programs, lack of exercise, the
many hours spent on the Internet and playing video games, and watching
television are all contributing to the obesity pandemic.
According to Dr. Marion Nestle, Professor and Chair of the Department
of Nutrition and Food Studies at New York University, "Americans are
consuming more calories than ever before, but certainly are not
compensating with increased physical activity."
Near the end of my visit to Epcot I attended a show called the American
Experience. It is a mixture of film and near lifelike animatronics that
covers a good deal of American history in an entertaining and
interesting way.
At the end of the magnificent presentation the Mark Twain character
recited the prophetic and cautionary, but mostly unheeded, words of
John Steinbeck. He stated that, "We now face the danger, which in the
past has been the most destructive to the humans: Success, plenty,
comfort, and ever-increasing leisure. No dynamic people has ever
survived these dangers."
With obesity at an epidemic level it is time for all to pay attention
to those profound words.