Hey, FDA, I'll tell you why we're fat

It's because we, as Americans, have a split personality.

Yup, that's right. All of us. Unless we consciously do something about it.

Here's the thing: we Americans worship at the feet of two gods.  On the one hand, we bow down to the Golden Arches and all that they symbolize, namely convenience, and on the other hand, we sing the praises of the likes of Twiggy.

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This girl is not stuffing her face with McDonald's just because it's convenient, guys.

So let's take a look at this little conundrum, shall we?  Women across the nation are being told they should look like this:

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And yet, they are also being raised in a society of instant gratification...a society of, "I need my food in less than 5 minutes, I can't even wait an hour to develop my pictures so let's make them digital, I don't have time for this, go-go-go."

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Being healthy and fit is not convenient. I hate to break it to you all. We try to tell the people we love who need to get healthier that it is, that it's so easy, but what's easy for someone who has spent her whole life living in the lap of convenience: preparing all her meals ahead of time or just hitting up the drive thru? Which is more convenient: plopping down in front of the TV, or going to the gym and giving it your all?

The solution here is that each and every American must begin to prioritize health over convenience. Something has got to become more important than that almighty god of luxury.  Yes, there are all the familiar scare tactics: diabetes, heart disease, cancer.  It's easy to throw those words around, but really, those threats are years and decades off for most people, easily brushed aside. 

And obesity?  When we continue to flaunt women who are impossibly thin, those whose physiques are quite the opposite can all too easily say, "That's un-maintain-able! It's unhealthy!"  And the truth is: they're right.  So why should they bother?  They'll never attain Twiggy status and truthfully they don't want to, so they will never reach that glossy American ideal.  What motivation, then, do they have to forgo what has become a cultural expectation: quick service, quick food, quick results, everything fast-fast-fast?

Our culture is making us fat. No, The China Study, as much as I want to agree with your message, it's not too much protein and not enough carbs.  It's not meat.  It's not fast food -- not by itself, anyway.

We have become completely reliant upon, and quite possibly addicted to, convenience.  And I just can't see a way out for the masses.