There is a certain perception, especially outside the US, that Americans are fat and lazy. Even our own media bombards us with stories of poor eating habits (think cheeseburgers and fries) and inactive lifestyle (think couch potatoes). Then there are alarming statistics on rising rates of obesity, diabetes and heart disease. And you really begin to pay attention, and raise the volume on the TV, if the story is focused on weight problems in children. After all, who would want their children to grow up in poor health?

But is it really that bad? Is it simply an American issue?

Check this out..

This came from a report issued by the WHO Regional Office for Europe following a November 2006 Ministerial Conference held in Istanbul, Turkey.

What’s wrong with this picture? Our media shows us images of slim, healthy-looking Europeans biking to work, eating healthy-looking food and living a stress-free life. On the other hand, the Americans are shown eating junk food, driving to work in gas-guzzling SUV’s and living a hectic stressed-out life. And all this is supported by “facts” and “numbers” with fancy charts and interviews with “experts”.

Now, let us not stop there…here is another interesting fact:

I don’t have anything against the Europeans or the Aussies. In fact, I have many good (and very healthy) friends from both of these continents. And before you get the urge to say that “you got your head in the sand“, let me say that we do need to pay attention to the numbers and make smart nutrition choices for ourselves and our children. After all, that is why I am writing this blog!

As a parent, it is natural to be concerned. Concern leads to caring; caring leads to action; and action leads to results. All I am trying to say is that it is not useful to be alarmed by the so called news in the mainstream media. In this age of short attention spans and low ratings, the media needs a big horn to get the message across. It is up to us to filter the noise, take a deep breath, and look at the data in a calm manner so we can make our own decisions.

It is my intention to help you do exactly that through this blog. Let me know how I am doing.