There is no doubt about it, we are getting bigger and fatter. The rates of people who are overweight or obese has grown steadily over the last 20 years. If it continues it will soon reach epidemic proportions which will cause huge implications to the health service and future generations.
So why are we becoming fatter? There are many answers to that question. However, it has been a combination of many factors that have compounded the problem we have today. One of those main causes is that we live a more sedentary lifestyle today than any other generation before us. Since the end of the Second World War there has been a profound change to the way we live and this has happened in a relative short period of time.
Why we lead more sedentary life styles is also the cause of many factors. One of the key changes is the way we work. Before computer technology the vast majority jobs for both men and women were manual and physical labour. This meant that people were able to burn off plenty of calories during the day, no matter what they ate. Today is a completely different story as most people work in jobs that are not physically demanding and require very little energy expenditure.
Another factor, is that many people in the post war years did not have a car because they were not readily available as they are today or they could not afford them. This meant that people had to walk more to get to their work or to do their shopping and daily activities. Before the popularity of TV most people got involved in past time activities that involved more physical action.
This change has also affected our children. Years ago the streets use to be filled with kids playing and running around. Today, the streets are nearly deserted. Parents are afraid to let their kids run free because the roads are too busy or the risk of stranger danger which is pumped through the media on a regular basis.
If you want to lose weight you have to take a serious look at the way your lifestyle is having an impact on your life. You need to make the commitment to lead a more active lifestyle and eat a healthy diet. This has proven to be the most effective way to lose weight.