Forty years ago, who
would have predicted that obesity would become a critical global health issue,
along with malnutrition and starvation? The World Health Organization coined
the term “globesity” to describe the current phenomenon.
Today, the total
number of overweight people (1.3 billion) surpasses the number of hungry by
several hundred million, according to Gary Stix in his September 2007
Scientific American article “A Question of Sustenance.” Mr. Stix paints a bleak
picture and believes that “. . . few good solutions exist to deal with the
emerging epidemic.”
Unlike Mr. Stix, I
am a little more optimistic, especially when I read about efforts under way to
shift our thinking so that we will change our eating habits. For some interesting
reading on first-hand perspectives of people who are trying to make a
difference on the frontline battle against obesity, you might want to look at
Perspectives in Health Magazine. Its articles are both informative and
encouraging.
I’m not in a position
to tackle this worldwide problem, but that doesn’t mean I have to sit idly by.
First, I can set a good example. Second, I can use my talents and resources to
highlight the importance of addressing this issue among my neighbors, family,
friends, and readers.
"We are at the very beginning of time for the human race. It is not unreasonable that we grapple with problems. But there are tens of thousands of years in our future. Our responsibility is to do what we can, learn what we can, improve the solutions, and pass them on." Richard Feynman
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