Monday, March 15, 2004


what the gov't doesn't see

everyone has heard how obesity is an epidemic among the wealthier countries, not just the u.s.a, but all over the world. the u.s. gov't is launching yet another expensive and ineffective program to hector americans into watching what they eat.

as if they don't know who americans are? oh please. long-time readers no doubt know what i'm going to say: the gov't should give up the nanny finger-wagging and instead encourage exercise, such as yoga.

i mean, actually encourage it, with tax incentives for starting exercise, or for businesses to offer fitness programs in the workplaces. in the meantime, the gov't natters on about regulating food labels. as if most americans read them?

the problem is, most americans don't understand calories. the packages say, 500 calories out of a recommended 2,500 a day. which leads people to believe they can eat 2,500! (that's like 4 fast food burgers a day or something!) when in fact, most shouldn't eat that much unless they are in aerobics class every day.

but who wants to go to the ear-pounding pick-up joint that is the modern gym, with its snobbism about body types and fancy workout clothing? thus, yoga.

americans continue to flock to yoga -- now an estimated 20 million, or said to be about 1 in 12 adults, do yoga. yoga will do the body thing, gradually over time, with ease. it's less stressful than the gym, and it has mental and emotional benefits that make people stick with it when they won't stick with a boring, repetitive spinning class. . .

posted by fortune | 11:03 AM | top | link to this | email this: | | | 0 comments