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NewsMax.com's George Putnam E-mail Newsletter September 28, 2001 "One Reporter's Opinion" It is this reporter's opinion that whether it be on television, radio or the local mall, wherever everyone looks, you'll see America overweight. Not just a few pounds, but 100 pounds! You find 25% of all Americans under twenty being obese has doubled over the last 30 years. Authorities on the subject consider this to be a global health issue with us in the western hemisphere leading the parade. We live in a wondrously permissive world of abundance where gluttony has become a way of life. At a time when we find ourselves in the midst of a new kind of war, we're challenged to find enough physically fit to face a World War I or II or Vietnam or even Desert Storm. Push-button warfare is not going to do the full job. The soldier with a rifle is still the key to taking and holding ground. Our young America is growing up on three meals and snacks loaded with grease, refined flour and sugar. Our kids have been taught that this is the diet and that cleaning the plate with seconds is the way to go. All of this leads to severe medical consequences -- diabetes, coronary heart disease, a variety of degenerative bone conditions and eventually non-resistance to disease - all of this, coupled with non-activity on the part of "couch potatoes" who meander from the cradle to the grave glued to a television set. Turn around, America! Take another look at what we're doing to ourselves and our children in perpetuating obesity -- gluttony, self-indulgence -- it all comes down to one word: GREED. Push yourself away from the table! That's the place to begin. Embarrassment won't do it! Try self-control. |