The United States has long been mocked as an obese nation where according to a 2016 survey, only 2.7% of Adults live a completely healthy lifestyle. This healthy lifestyle is defined as a good amount of exercise, a healthy diet, no smoking, and a body fat percentage of less than 20% for men and less than 30% for Women. Contributing to the American health crisis is the abundance of heavily processed food. As a result, 47% of the US population is considered obese by the CDC.
Our bodies have become accustomed to poor hygiene and it shows in our hearts. According to a new study published by the American Heart Association, only one out of every five Americans has optimal heart health. The study looks into eight different factors including diet, physical activity, sleep duration, body mass index, blood lipids, blood glucose, and blood pressure. They surveyed 23,400 adults and children representing the US population by age, gender, and ethnicity. None of the participants had any pre-existing form of cardiovascular disease. This study is one of many that showcases the American decline in health.
Concerningly, the decrease in American health has profound impacts with even the US military saying that 71% of men ages 17-24 would not qualify for military service. Men in their prime have long been regarded as the fittest in society so when that group is also seen as a massive decrease in health, we should be concerned. Although the reasons listed also include other factors such as physical appearance and education levels, it provides a warning that if we allow this health crisis to continue, our national security and workforce could be threatened.
This trend in American health does not appear to translate to the rest of the world. The United States is reported as dead last in obesity among affluent nations. While some claim that the US healthcare system and the rise in processed foods bear most of the responsibility, the real reason may pertain to technology.
Counter to the argument that our obesity problem is the result of smoking and processed foods is the fact that Smoking rates have decreased in the past two decades while the consumption of farm produce has increased. If these factors that are said to be majorly responsible are decreasing whilst obesity is not, what is causing the US to fall so far behind in health? The answer is the lack of exercise.
Before the advancement in technology that led to a rise in computers and cars, people had to walk and exercise more to achieve their goals. When they had time for leisure, the television was not an option and instead had to get up and take a walk or engage in a sport. All of which contributed to their exercise routine. Nowadays, exercise has also become more technologically dependent with gyms having advanced workout machines and at-home video routines for those who choose to engage with them. Despite these options, a study found that people now are getting a half-hour less exercise than they did two centuries ago.
The decrease in exercise due to technology is especially prevalent when you compare generations. Recent studies have concluded that teenagers get as much exercise as 60-year-olds. The newer generations are more acclimated to technology and spend less time exercising as a result. Less tech-savvy generations do not spend large amounts of time on computers or their phones so they instead are used to moving around and are only limited out of necessity whereas for teenagers it is a choice.
Indeed, when compared to Europe and other affluent countries, Americans spend a greater amount of time per day looking at a screen, an average of 7 hours a day. This coupled with the processed food diet has dramatically increased the US decline in health.
There is no apparent solution to this crisis but just recognizing the problem so that we may all individually take the best steps for ourselves is a great start.
This blog post is part of the CIMA Law Group blog. If you are located in Arizona and are seeking legal services, CIMA Law Group specializes in Immigration Law, Criminal Defense, Personal Injury, and Government Relations.
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