Unhealthy Americans, Young and Old
Look Around You
I’m not a health guru nor am I one of those who measure every bite I eat.
I don’t follow diet fads or adhere to self-appointed online health advisors. I’m not only grateful for modern medicine but am keeping my fingers crossed that enough young people will continue to invest in the future for the sake of my granddaughter by attending medical school. No matter the grueling number of years required or the massive debt they graduate with, a modern society needs these dedicated individuals.
Right now, the outlook is pretty grim.
Not only are doctors and nurses retiring but there aren’t enough young people to replace them. We’re facing a serious shortage in the near future.
So, I hope I made it quite clear that I’m pro-modern medicine and medical research.
However, I’ve been smacked in the face by the realization that Americans, young and old, are looking pretty unhealthy. For all our talk about modern medicine, expanding lifespans, and online cure-alls, something isn’t right.
Lately, I’ve decided that I need to recharge my own personal interest in a healthy lifestyle.
After three years of COVID hibernation, I’ve gained a few unwanted pounds as well as lost some stamina. At age 72, I wasn’t sure how easy it would be to get it back, but I knew that if I didn’t do something, that I’d decline even further.
So, I put a simple plan in place.
I walk at least thirty minutes a day. I’m determined to lose 10% of my total body weight. I stay hydrated. I gave up coffee and alcohol. I already don’t smoke, and drinking has never been a daily activity, not even a monthly activity. The decision I made to give up both coffee and alcohol was based on a recent diagnosis I’ve received.
I feel great!
I still have room for improvement, but my sedentary American lifestyle is no longer the way I choose to live. I want my old life back, pre-covid.
It’s winter so sometimes it’s too cold to walk outdoors.
When that happens, I go to the mall early in the morning where I walk a couple of miles with a lot of other senior citizens. We pass each other and nod. Our shared motto is — use it or lose it.
We know how easy it is to lose it and how hard it is to get it back.
Like I said, my daily health practices aren’t complicated or even very demanding. I believe in moderation in all things. However, I already feel better. I breathe deeper, walk faster, posture has improved, my mental clarity has improved, and I think I look younger.
It’s all in the attitude, I suspect.
Yet, as easy as it has been for me to do this, I’m confronted every day with the sight of people many years younger than me who look to be quite unhealthy. Sure, there are seniors walking with slow steps and feeble mannerisms, but somehow the sight of the many young people in their 20s and 30s shuffling along bothers me so much more.
What is happening?
I’m talking about couples with young children. Both mom and dad are obese and far from peak performance. Was it like that when I was a young parent? I don’t remember. I think there were young people who were living very unhealthy lifestyles, but they didn’t seem to be as numerous.
According to statistics from 2021, America is in 10th place for most obese country in the world.
Furthermore, young people are succumbing to chronic health conditions at a higher rate it appears. What I’m witnessing as I walk the mall isn’t my imagination. We live in a rich country where medical care is the most expensive in the world yet healthy outcomes are debatable.
I know how easy it is to resort back to sedentary behaviors, indulge far too often in poor eating and drinking habits, and experience a measurable decline in health and stamina.
I also know how hard it can be to practice sensible eating and exercise habits.
I’m not talking marathon running. I’m just talking about walking at a moderate pace for 30 minutes a day. The American lifestyle is sedentary by it’s very design. We are totally car dependent. If we don't build a special time into our day specifically for walking, we don’t walk.
It’s as simple as that.
I first witnessed how different it was in other countries 20 years ago when I started wintering in Spain. The neighborhoods are designed for walking. Every neighborhood has everything a person needs within walking distance. Grocery stores, fruit and veggie vendors, drug stores, restaurants, parks, and coffee shops. I literally can walk to everything and manage to this day to live there without a car.
If I need a car, I take the bus or the train instead.
It isn’t necessary to build 30 minutes of walking into my schedule. Walking is naturally built into my everyday activities. Spaniards live longer than Americans. According to the latest WHO data published in 2020 life expectancy in Spain for males is 80.7, females 85.7, and total life expectancy is 83.2.
As I continue to engage in a few more sensible health practices, I feel confident that I’ll reap benefits even at my age.
If I were a lot younger, the rewards would be even greater. I wish good health for our younger generations as well. They deserve to feel good and live their best lives despite a culture that promotes poor health practices.
We all do.
Teresa is an author, world traveler, and professional myth buster. You can find her books on Amazon.
