The Health of a Nation

I typed this up for my local newspaper, and since it hasn't gotten any air time, I decided I would post it up online because I think it's an important issue, even though the writing may be a little sketch :) Hopefully you enjoy!

The Health of a Nation

While conversing with a fellow fitness enthusiast (thanks Stephanie!), I was reminded of the country’s poor state of health. As you may know, two-thirds of our population is overweight or obese. Of private sector workers, those in the US take 11 sick days a year on average (private sector, larger companies). The UK on average had about 6 sick days a year (private sector). Similarly, Germany averaged about 7
sick days. Oddly enough, we are the only industrialized nation that does not have a law for minimum employment leave from work, seemingly because each person is already sick often enough throughout the year to get plenty of leave from work.

These numbers are boring and not necessarily a true representation, so I’ll get back to health. One of the most fascinating things about eating healthy foods is the way they make you feel. Accompany that with some daily activity and you’ll feel like a new person. Guaranteed.

Now I’m not sure if you’re aware of this fact, but the country is having a bit of a health crisis. [Sorry, a warning label should be required for sarcasm that heavy.] Everybody is concerned with how our money is being spent. Health care is expensive for a country this big. So what do we do?

The answer is simple: educate. If our youth actually learned something about being healthy (smart stuff, not the garbage that’s being taught now in grade schools and colleges), can you begin to imagine the improvements we could make? The productivity each person could experience? The money companies would stop losing because of sick days? The money each family wouldn’t have to spend on obesity- related sickness?

Did you know that type II diabetes, one of the most common diseases in the country, is completely preventable and sometimes even reversible? Other preventable diseases are stroke, heart disease, cardiovascular disease, lung disease, and, to a lesser extent, cancer. What would you rather do: live sickly and spend your extra money on insulin and visits to the doctor’s office, or live healthy and spend your extra money on real food?

Sorry for ranting and blowing your freaking minds. It’s just some food for thought (pun totally intended). Now I have to wonder… can anybody make this happen?