Stuck in an airport yesterday, I had plenty of time to view the weight problem that is affecting most of the population. According to the statistics, 2/3 of adults are overweight or obese. However, I think that figure is deceiving. First, even for a good number of people with a normal BMI, their body composition is off. Second, most of the non-overweight adults are in the 18 to 30 age bracket. Above age 30, probably 70-75% of adults are overweight. Above age 40, it gets worse. Therefore, even the 2/3 statistic appears suspect to me. If you used different measures, you're looking at almost 80% of the population with weight or body composition problems.
So what's causing all the trouble? The answer was all around me at the airport: processed foods. I attempted to eat a Paleo lunch at the airport, and it was very difficult. Some of these grilled chicken salads have only 2-3 ounces of chicken along with giant pieces of lettuce. And of course, all this for only $8.99!
However, if you were looking for junk food, it was available at least every 100 feet. It was like one giant battle among the junk food peddlers to one-up each other. Soda, candy, flour, chocolate - it was all there for the taking at cheaper prices.
It's become extremely obvious that people just can't handle these modern processed foods. Even with all the gyms and renewed focus on exercise, it's not enough to make a dent in the country's weight problem. You can see this with kids, too. If any particular age group should be resistant to obesity, it should be kids. Kids have the full slate of good hormones and activity on their side, but junk food can even overcome this.
You could say that junk food makers have been successful in creating the world's biggest addiction. If you're counting the number of addicts, then drugs and cigarettes pale in comparison. Junk food has captured probably 80% of the U.S. population, and it is making rapid headway into China and other developing countries.
The junk food industry is winning, and people are losing. It's a sad situation - one that does not have an end in sight.
