President Trump recently called for the reinstatement of the Presidential Fitness Test and it couldn't come at a better time.
Myths abound today about the importance of fitness among our populace. In terms of national defense, we clearly need fit recruits.
Clearing the Air
When successful anti-smoking campaigns were introduced years ago, following the discovery that second-hand smoke was harmful, people responded well.
Most athletes, pregnant women, the elderly, and those with lung or vascular problems stayed away from second-hand smoke.
Similarly, the notion about being fit and fat has been re-examined. Today’s youth, as many as one in three, are in jeopardy health-wise and a lack of fitness could well be at the root of the problem.
An unfit child, too often, leads to an unfit adult, weight gain, and associated issues.
Certainly, you can ascend stairs if you're overweight and even excel at various sports.
You cannot, however, overcome the long term effects of gravity. If you’re overweight, as more than 73% of Americans are, gravity pulls on your organs as it does with everyone else.
Except in your case, over many years the strain might prove to be too much.
The health and morbidity risks related to being overweight or obese are extraordinary. For every 10 pounds that people are overweight, they exert 40 pounds of pressure when in motion, certainly for running and working out but even for non-vigorous walking.
By age 30, and definitely by age 40, to weigh 400 pounds was once a death sentence. Today, due to miracle pharmaceuticals, 350, 400, and even 450 pound individuals are living longer than their counterparts of one generation ago.
On the Road to Acceptance?
Amidst other dubious social developments, the fat acceptance movement is gaining a foothold.
Some fat acceptance groups insist that airlines reconfigure their cabin seating to enable large people to be more comfortable. Some airlines object, some try to accommodate. Traditionally airlines issued a seat belt extender so that the obese can be safely seated.
Many airlines request that obese people purchase two adjoining seats to accommodate their girth. If you're an average weight person, being seated next to the obese is no small issue. If you've ever sat in the middle seat between two highly overweight passengers, be it for one hour or across the ocean, you’re likely to experience an uncomfortable flight.
When you an encounter arguments advocating for fat acceptance, read the comments following the articles, where respondents are frank and sometimes unkind. Comments will say “lose weight,” “go by car,” “pay for a charter flight,” “buy a first class seat,” or “fly at odd hours when planes are almost empty.”
As fit versus fat issues unfold over the next several years, we certainly should be reasonably accommodating to people who have a weight problem and recognize their humanity. At the same time, our rights need to be considered.
The Social Impact of Self-Induced Affliction
For years, marijuana advocates asserted that smoking pot or using other light drugs was a self-induced affliction and did not impact others. Now we know that marijuana, particularly today's strains, is the gateway to stronger chemicals and drugs.
We know as well that the impact on families, communities, and society in general is significant and sometimes devastating.
The same goes for increasing numbers of individuals becoming overweight. Great masses of people do nothing or next to nothing to maintain their weight, fitness level, and overall health. They eat what they want, whenever they want.
They exhibit low regard for the caloric and nutritional content of what they ingest. They seem oblivious to sodium content, added sugars, additives, and preservatives.
Such individuals might have little or no regimen for maintaining their health. Then, regardless of the financial and social cost, they want society to accommodate them. From a practical standpoint we cannot re-engineer tens of thousands of city bus seats, train seats, and airplane seats.
Beyond economics, a lack of fitness sends a poor message to young children and to young adults. In any case, over-eating and under-exercising is an affliction that impacts many others.
Solutions, Not Accommodation
Moving forward, let’s focus on viable solutions such as committing to weight reduction, fitness, diet modification, and behavioral changes. More than anything else, this focus will help people become healthier as opposed to being merely accepted which, in many instances, means barely tolerated. Especially for those who were once fit and let themselves go, MYGA! Make yourself great again.
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