dementia and greenhouse gases

There is little doubt that the population is gaining weight. Being overweight is now so common -in many areas more than half the population is overweight- that normal weight people are starting to look abnormally skinny. It is not hard to find a public establishment such as a bar, coffee shop or restaurant, where everyone is overweight or obese. Apart from college towns, where a large contingent of the clientele consists of students, finding an eatery where most people are of normal weight is almost impossible to do.

Obesity is making inroads into the child-population as well. Most elementary and middle schools are now populated with fat kids and fat teens. Fat children who are driven around by fat parents so they can get home in time to play video games and watch TV. Burning more oil and more coal to keep up that waist line.

Being overweight is linked to all kinds of nasty diseases, but that does not seem to worry the fat. Now however, another health risk was added that may have some think twice -if they still can that is-, dementia. The risk of dementia goes up as people gain weight. And it seems especially well correlated with abdominal fat, or potbellies. The type of fat you get when you don't exercise enough. Given that tens of millions of Americans are predicted to become demented over the next decade, putting an undue burden on their families and the health care system, this should be a wake-up call. It is time to get out of the car.

It is not just our planet that is choking on greenhouse gases. Our bellies are choking on visceral fat. And our brains are going out the window. Idiocracy here we come.

Fortunately, the remedy for potbellies, diabetes, hypertension, a lot of cancers, dementia, and global warming are all the same. Ditch the car, turn off the TV and the video console, bypass the shopping mall, and work up a good sweat.

Don't even think of going to the gym. Gyms are consumer-oriented, energy wasting super-markets, where weight loss and conditioning are as elusive as sweat on the floor. Gyms further consumption. Not to mention that most drive to get there.

If you have been on a quest for elusive happiness through over-consumption and near-zero energy expenditure, guess what? The only way you will ever reach your goal this way is when your brain goes to mush. It now appears that your chances of getting there are actually "better" than once thought, so don't despair.

However, rather than lying around wasting precious resources, maybe you should get up and ride your bicycle. Or go for a run. Don't just save the planet, save yourself.

Today's NY Times article confirms that the runner's high is for real. I can certainly attest to that. It is hard to surpass these moments of intense pleasure and satisfaction. Plus it is good for you.