The Daily Egyptian is published by the students of SIU at Carbondale. Except during vacations and exam weeks, The Daily Egyptian is published Monday through Friday during the fall and spring semesters and TWThF during the summer semester."

Americans have earned the title of 'fattest nation on Earth'

There are many Americans who have medical conditions or diseases which cause them to be overweight or obese. Such diseases and conditions may affect the thyroid or other functions in the mind or body and cause the person to uncontrollably gain weight. I have nothing but sympathy for these Americans and their conditions.

However, this article is not directed at the Americans with unpreventable circumstances, but at the 58 million Americans that, by choice, make us the fattest country in the world. Although there have been countless studies done by reputable government and private agencies alike, Americans seem to ignore the healthy standards based on science and research and create their own.

In America, smoking is shunned for good reason. Since it is the leading cause of death, it is an issue that has great emphasis placed on its condemnation. While obesity falls in the second bracket, it is treated with a very sympathetic approach. Many believe the theory that it cannot be changed, so we must sympathize. The world "fat" now has sensitive connotations and is not considered politically correct. However, being called a "smoker" is still openly accepted. In comparison, smoking and obesity can both be changed through will power and work. While one is treated with sympathy, the other is treated with a sneer and detest.

Anyone can see the standard we set for ourselves by walking into a Hardee's restaurant. For $5.49, one can indulge like a glutton with the newest edition to the Hardee's menu, the Monster Thickburger. Weighing a hefty two-thirds of a pound, this mammoth has 1,420 calories and 107 grams of fat and sits between two buttered buns. When a burger is ordered, especially at a fast food chain, it is not considered that the burger being consumed constitutes almost four servings, according to the governmental standard. The Center for Nutritional Policy and Promotion pushes a standard of caloric intake starting at 1,600 calories. After eating this Thickburger, a person only has 180 more calories to fulfill the requirement, which would leave the 610 calories in Hardee's fries putting you way over the daily limit.

Growing up, the Big Mac was the burger to stay away from, but at 600 calories, it becomes the David to Hardee's 1,420 calorie Goliath. Seats on airplanes and movie theaters are expanding to accommodate the new breed of larger Americans. While office jobs lack physical exertion, Americans are getting fatter and lazier. Although Americans may require extra napkins because they break a sweat when eating these fast food meals of titanic proportions, this does not constitute a sufficient daily workout regimen.

Around the world, many families do not have any food to eat, while we eat too much. In India, 18 percent of the children are underweight, yet we will not consider eating healthy or reasonably. Some Americans have tried to sue fast food chains with the belief that it was not their fault that they have gotten fat.

More and more Americans are turning to fad diets to drop the pounds. I lost more than 55 pounds in about a year, so I know it can be done. I didn't lose the weight by taking magic pills that will help you "burn fat while you sleep" and allow me to eat whatever fatty foods I wanted. I didn't go on low-carb diets, which actually hurt your body. It wasn't a Subway diet that required eating hoagies, or a diet that had the word "South Beach" in it. It was a revolutionary diet that many have never heard of before. It's called "eating right and exercising," and it works.

As Americans, we need to look past the fads and the lights on the drive-thru menus and focus on the facts and the standards that are proven instead of making our own.

John is president of the SIU College Republicans. Right On appears every Wednesday. These views do not necessarily reflect those of the DAILY EGYPTIAN.

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