When I look at old pictures I cannot help to notice how skinny kids were, myself included. My childhood life was a lot of play and activities.
Overweight Chinese kids
Where I go in China there's very little poverty, I go to cities much bigger than the Norwegian capital.When I travel around in China I can't help to notice that kids are rather heavy set, even more so than in my home country. These are kids with parents who can afford good food, and good food is important in Chinese culture. However it's probably not the good food that is responsible for the weight gain, but rather the unhealthy fast foods and snacks. Even more so to blame is the lack of exercise. In the old days it was not a problem because the kids took part in the farm work and house work, but nowadays the only form of exercise is walking, and the Chinese like others have cars and buses. The only form of organized exercise you see in China is the old people performing Tai-chi in the parks.
In China the kids are still pushed hard to perform well in school. From the first grade they start competing with classmates being ranked among their classmates, and you have to be among the best to get into the schools that means something. Corporal punishment is still normal with parents granting permission to teachers to physically punish the kids. They would even ask to punish a little extra. However parents are generally not at home because of long work hours and when they are back focus on what is most important, the homework. On the other hand the "one-child" policy have created an "only-child" society of spoiled kids, and no surprise Chinese kids just like Norwegian kids like computer games and social networking.
Universal problem
Having seen a lot of the world, I can safely say that obesity is no longer just an american phenomena. Statistically too, the European countries are just as bad as america and the fattest people are found in the rich middle eastern countries such as Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. The contributing factors are...
- unhealthy food taste good and is cheaper and easier
- hard physical work no longer exists, neither at the farm or at the house
- computer games are fun
- social networking is addictive
- the bus is more comfortable than walking, the car even more so
The american dream is the suburban life-style with big houses, large yards and a pickup truck. In Europe and Asia people seems to prefer city life. In cities it's harder to get to the outdoor activities, although city people walk more because car is difficult. On the other hand the suburban life centers around the car, but they have more outdoor activity opportunities.
The caveman's curse
Its been called the caveman's curse that the human genetics have no feedback to the brain that you need to diet. For the Darwin's "survival of the fittest" it meant "survival of the fattest". The fatter the better since the caveman could be going months without anything to eat. This is a curse for the modern man who has plenty of available food.
Sacrifice comfort
How to deal with it? Generally speaking one has to sacrifice the comfort choice.
- eat healthy rather than fast and tempting
- choose the healthy foods, good for those who actually loves the vegetables
- no snacks
- get fresh ingredients and take the time to make good food
- eat less
- use any chance to get exercise, may even save time
- take the stairs instead of elevator
- walk instead of taking bus
- use bicycle for short trips
- spend time on exercise
- gym, swim, sports
- get out, travel, walk trips, hiking
- physical work, gardening, building projects
