Before I continue with my travelogue in the Land of Deep-Fried Cauliflower, a side note. Today the Trust for America's Health released its 2009 "F is for Fat" report (you can see it here) and things are not looking up. 2/3 of Americans are obese or overweight. Adult obesity rates increased in 23 states and decresed in none. But what is alarming it the rate of childhood obesity, which has more than tripled since 1980. Mississippi has the highest rate of obese and overweight children at 44.4 percent, a number that seems incredible to me.
As a cycling enthusiast, my answer to this is that kids won't exercise unless they find it fun and cycling is enjoyable. But with fewer children walking or cycling to school, this outlet is being cut off, and good habits that they might develop in childhood will not be carried over into their adult lives. Couple this with bad dietary habits (such as mine during the GAP trail trip) and it is no wonder the numbers look so bad. Canada's rate of obesity is apparently one-third less than the U.S. one but still nothing to be particularly proud about.
Of course, who could resist this?
New Wearable Feedbags Let Americans Eat More, Move Less
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