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Chemicals, additives, pollutants etc may cause some illnesses but can not be blamed for making people fat. Furthermore, it is obvious that these external factors are not responsible for people's sedentary life!
Surprisingly they can cause unwanted weight gain. The hormones added to our meat interfere with the body's endocrine system and do cause unwanted fat deposits. You can find many online studies confirming the connection.
I began noticing some years ago that young girls were gaining weight in places that you used to only see on older women - upper arms and shoulders, under the breast line. And I am startled to see the number of thirty-somethings riding scooters in the shopping centers.
I always think the more extra weight you are carrying the more difficult it will be to get the exercise that you need.
While I agree that there are more harmful chemicals, additives in our food/drink and more pollutants, the facts show that american life expectancy has increased over the years
It is clear that better and advanced medical/health care plays a big role in prolonging life, and longer life does not equate to better health condition. However, I think that better understanding and education has contributed to improved health of many people (more pollutant controls, fewer smokers, more emphasis on physical education).
It is also a fact that Americans have become more sedentary and consuming more junk foods. Children programs are filled with ads for sugary cereals, calories rich snacks. Adult programs are loaded with ads for fast foods, beers etc.
One one hand, we have a segment of the population (mostly in big coastal cities) who are very health conscious and do all the right things (don't smoke, drink moderately, eat healthy food, exercise etc.). On the other hand, many people continue to merrily eat and drink their way to obesity while living a sedentary life gluing to their desk/monitor at work and the tube at home!
IMO, the bottom line is that it is still the individual responsibility to take good care of themselves AND their children. It's sad to see fat children of obese people being constantly fed all the sugary/fatty foods and drinks.
Chemicals, additives, pollutants etc may cause some illnesses but can not be blamed for making people fat. Furthermore, it is obvious that these external factors are not responsible for people's sedentary life!
In general, I tend to land on the "personal responsibility" end of things when it comes to health. It drives me insane that being overweight has become so normal in our society.
At the same time, we have been absolutely bombarded with unhealthy foods over the past few decades. And until the last 10 years or so, there was a lot of confusing and contradictory information about which foods were truly healthy. Now we know that a plant based diet with only a little meat an minimal or no processed foods is the way to go.
Nowadays our work environments are a lot more sedentary, too.
The thing they've found about cultures where people live a long time is that people don't actually "try" to b healthy. It's just that their physical and cultural environments support healthy behaviors and habits. i.e. They don't have built environments that force people to drive everywhere for their errands. Their food culture is such that drinking soda or eating junk food is rare or non-existent, etc. These culture rely much less on health care and usually don't need nearly as much as we do in the U.S.
IMO it rather is on topic. Of course we need to treat our bodies well.
My relevant point in my post, above, is that our elders many of whom abused their bodies in so many ways STILL lived to a ripe old age, sure with aches and pains perhaps, but with nowhere near the consciousness we boomers have about health.
What are the real factors that had them living very long lives? Almost all my female friends died of cancer in their 60s! They were educated, smart, and all but one had good diets (organic, etc), social engagement, passions, and physical activity. Why would they die young, while those in my parent's gen tended to live 20 or 30 years beyond whether they wanted to or not?
The only factor I can think of is perhaps regularity in mealtimes - no fast foods (grease), even if it was a baloney sandwich with lettuce on white bread - and a regular routine to the day - going to sleep at a regular time. Much less stress then, such as traffic and too much to do.
This has puzzled me for a long time.
There are studies on the Mediterranean diet and the diet of the Okinawan people to indicate that it has to do with calorie restriction, mainly vegetarian, and clean eating.
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