Sign of the Times
Topic: Decline of the West
Driving east from Chicago in the Indiana Toll Road last week, I passed a billboard that broadcast the following message: “Obesity: It’s Not a Choice. It’s a Disease”—or words to that effect.
Oh, give me a break!
Now obviously there are people whose obesity results from medical conditions of one kind or another. But in the vast majority of cases, obesity is a choice. What did you have for breakfast this morning? Two jelly donuts and two cups of coffee with cream and sugar? That was your choice. What did you have for lunch? A double bacon cheeseburger with fries on the side and a large Coke? That was your choice. Did your mid-afternoon snack consist of another Coke and a bag of chips? Your choice. What did you have for dinner? Fried chicken with mashed potatoes and gravy, followed by a big chunk of Sarah Lee pound cake with a scoop of chocolate ice cream? No bacteria or virus made you put that stuff in your mouth, my friend. It was your choice.
I suppose by now that I’m sounding like so tiresome left-wing food Nazi—but bear with me. I have nothing against any of the treats mentioned above. Ingested in moderation as part of a balanced diet, they're harmless enough. One jelly donut a week? A couple of double cheeseburgers a month? No problem!
I know this because I used to weigh about 40 pounds more than I do today. What happened was that I was around 20 pounds overweight—then I quit smoking. Food became my substitute for cigarettes and before I knew it, I couldn’t see my toes when I looked down. So my doctor said, try the South Beach Diet. If you follow it—really follow it—you’ll lose weight. I did as he suggested and it worked. Not only did I lose the weight, but I was able to permanently change my eating habits. Nowadays, my diet includes less red meat, bread, potatoes, pasta, cake, pie, ice cream, etc., and lots more fresh fruit, and veggies. It was that simple. And yes, I do continue to consume the odd donut or double cheeseburger.
Now I’m not saying that it was easy to lose weight—rather the reverse! I found it more difficult to shed those 40 pounds than it was to quit smoking. Over a period of eight months, I slimmed down from a portly 215 to a relatively svelte 175. It was a tough slog, requiring severe self-discipline, and there were days when my determination wavered. But with the support and encouragement of my incomparable wife, I got the job done.
Suppose, though, I’d had someone whispering in my ear that my weight problem wasn’t really my fault? “Not to worry, Tom! Obesity isn’t a choice—it’s a disease! You’re just sick!” Maybe I’d have heeded that comforting whisper—and I’d never have seen my toes again.
No doubt the folks responsible for the billboard I saw are brim-full of good intentions: sensitive, caring, nonjudgmental, etc., etc. But the message there’re sending is a big, fat, injurious lie. Instead of encouraging people to assume responsibility for their weight problems, it lets them off the hook. Still fat? Oh, well, it's not your fault that you're sick.
Close your ears to these insidious whispers and repeat after me: Obesity is not a disease—it’s a choice!
Posted by tmg110
at 12:15 PM EDT
