By Shelly Williams/editor-in-chief
My Concepts of Physical Education instructor quoted an idea from a story on my first day of class.
“America is digging their graves with their teeth,” he said.
As gruesome an image as that may be, it has a serious point.
In our own state, two towns have been named by Men’s Health magazine as the nation’s worst when it comes to obesity.
Corpus Christi was declared the country’s fattest city in June.
Arlington was declared America’s Fast-Food Capital on Aug. 18.
Something is wrong with that.
Obesity can cause high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, cancer and even death.
As much as obesity is mentioned in the media, that’s about as far as the effort to prevent it goes.
All talk.
All of the time.
More than 25 percent of U.S. adults are overweight, according to a 2009 report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Twenty-eight percent of Texans were overweight, the report said.
It seems more of an effort should be taken than simply raising awareness.
Chris Barrows, a Corpus Christi resident, swam 10 miles this summer and pulled 100,000 pounds in boats, according to an article written by yours truly for the Corpus Christi Caller-Times.
Granted, this was fitness to an extreme, but the reason he said he did it was to inspire others to do any kind of exercise.
Weight is sometimes hard to lose, but even if it’s just a little effort like eating a salad instead of a Big Mac, it still helps.
Start simple and work upward.
“That’s kind of my goal, to not really think of things as impossible, but think of how it can be possible,” Barrows said. “I think the main thing is to get the frame of mind that you can do it.”
Students at TCC have health and fitness facilities available to them throughout the campuses.
Gyms have free workout equipment open for use throughout the day, and nurses and cafeteria facilities can help students learn how to maintain healthy diets.
Take advantage of these opportunities.
The only one who can do anything about obesity is you.
