Fat America
About three years ago I got my first digital camera. I still have my first digital camera, a very very very basic 3 mp Kodak eASYSHARE DX3700.
I took pictures of everything. Right after Sept. 11, 2001, I took pictures of the American flags that were flying everywhere - especially the ones attached to motorists car windows. Remember those? You could see them sprinkled across any Wal-Mart parking lot. Lately I have not seen as many car window flags flying.
Another subject matter I enjoyed photographing was Fat America. I know. This might sound grotesque. maybe even mean-spirited. But I assure you, my intent was and is purely documentary and curious in nature. For example, I took a lot of pictures of things like restaurant signs touting bigger sizes, value meals, and all-you-can-eat slogans. A few pictures I have are of obese people eating large sized portions. Like I said. Documentary.
Now, about the same time I started taking these pictures and thinking about all this, my mom died. She died from diabetes, congestive heart failure, obesity and depression, and probably complicated related conditions all told. (There may have been a specific COD but we didn't opt for an autopsy) I stopped my photo documentary about that time, because I suppose I figured, see, I knew it. Or something.
But.... (everyone I know has a big but).... then in the next few months there was talking and writing and there were ideas and theories all over the place about obesity rates and the unbelievable rise in childhood obesity in America. Yes. This all started buzzing in the beginning of 2002, at least in a serious way.
I am not going to go back and do the timeline research about when all the buzz seriously began, not right this minute... The point is, I was obviously not the only one thinking about this subject matter. I was not the only one noticing the unhealthy habits, and above all the frightening marketing messages. But I will do the research. Say tuned.
Things seem to have gotten better recently. I mean, there are products in stores now marketed as "low carb," even though the average intelligent person will see through it, and opt for raw fruits and vegetables and whole grain Vasa over "low carb" ice cream. Maybe. Ha Ha!! I say if you are going to eat ice cream, just eat regular full cream ice cream instead of some kind of science lab altered version of ice cream. Same thing with sugar.
There is also a big push to label stuff with the trans fat content. I think it is a law now, or soon will be. Any kind of hydrogenated oil hokus pokus is worse than naturally derived saturated fat. Its true.
I propose this:
Manufacturers can STOP producing crud, and replce all their items with counterparts made with healthy ingredients. They can do this and not call attention to it in obvious ways. For example, make yogurt with low sugar and don't say it except on the nutrition label. One day there will be 5 grams of sugar per serving vs. 25 grams. Easy.
Start building bike and pedestrian trails in cities all over the country. Some palces already have that one figured out.
And: Start investing heavily in bicycle manufacturing companies!
There.
How ironic.
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