Has anyone noticed lately  the increase in newspapers and television regarding society and obesity. There are so many public opioions now regarding this topic. Obesity has hit explosive levels.

To tell you the truth many groups have been formed to investigate, study, search, target, take society samples and etc that I am really sick of hearing it. In the end all of these really accomplish nothing, and no solutions are found. We read about peoples BMI, behaviors in correlation to foods, we blame the children, the parents, the teachers, the schools,  the fast food establishments and anyone we can think of for the current trends toward obesity. We blame anything and everyone except ourselves. Why is this happening? And, what can be done about it?

I remember talking with a nursing friend and co-worker years ago when we had just gotten our first nursing job. She was reading an interesting book about obesity in society, and this was around 1970! She was telling me that obesity was on the upswing and was going to get much worse and the book related that investigators had found that it WAS a Communist Plot to over take America. I remember laughing and saying to her, "And, what are the Communists waiting for? For us to get so FAT we cannot fight to defend ourselves"?

So, as I look back, this trend has been in the making for many many years. Has it gotten worse? Yes, I for one believe it has. I also believe that our eating habits have greatly changed due to our ever present fast paced schedules.  We can no longer enjoy the laid back simplicity of Mayberry RFD or sit down and enjoy one of Aunt Bee's well balanced meals, at the same time conversing about the day's events and taking time to chew and swallow.

The majority of us eat on the run weather it be in the car or on the way home after picking up a prepared meal somewhere or relying on fast food to fill us and our families as quick as we can.

 I think that good nutrition has taken a back seat to our other less important priorities. People in general do not really know how to prioritize the most important things in life anymore. Why? I thnk that the demands that are put on us in our jobs and the time we no longer seem to have is a big reason. I don't think that the younger generation know or care what a balanced meal is. I think that the evolution of our electronic age of computers, cell phones and etc.,which is supposed to simplify life is making cause for concern, and are spinning us out of control.

As a quick example: My last job gave me 8 hours to do my work with 1/2 hour for lunch and two 15 minute breaks. What my boss expected was for me to find out how I could fit 12 hours of work into a 7 hour shift, or get a write up. (I was not written up) however was exhaused beyond belief every day. Each week my boss would find at least two more things that I needed to add to my already impossible task. I could not run this rat race anymore and it was affecting my health, so I was fortunate to be able to retire. I know for a fact that 30 years ago the race was not as intense as it is in society today for most of our population.

I believe that many, many compaines are doing this to their employees. One reason is downsizing of companies and added work load schedules to those left. This is affecting most of us to the point that we are losing a grip on the important things in life. Parents need to take control of themselves and their children and if you are not a parent then you need to take control of yourself, change your behaviors and find out what is really important in your life, and do something about it.