(Thanks, D, for Facebooking this.)
This is great. Why don’t we have commercials to encourage healthy lifestyles like daily exercise? It would drastically cut down on our healthcare costs.
By the way, an interesting aside–a friend and I were discussing the most recent episode of Shark Tank where a woman was selling a higher end clothing line for plus size women. Kevin O’Leary mentioned the possibility that heavier women might not care about fashion as much as thin women. My friend said he disagreed with this, that he felt plus size women might even care more about fashion. The problem he saw was that most of the 60% of women who are overweight make less money than the rich women, and therefore many might not have the money to buy the higher end plus sized clothes. Rich people, he said, are typically thinner because they can afford personal trainers and Stairmasters.
Thoughts?
I think it would be great if the U.S. government were to buy ad space promoting a healthy lifestyle. Enough 30 second ads might have a noticeable difference on people’s lifestyles. Of course, we might have to improve prosperity at the same time…
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But here is an...
I agree with everything you said. About #1…I think...
Some people buy designer clothing just because it’s more expensive. Unfortunately, obesity is more common among the lower middle class and the poor.
But then you have some women in denial who try to wear clothing too small for them, especially shoes and high heels.
I think a 30 second TV commercial promoting a healthy lifestyle will fall on deaf ears. They do exist, I’ve seen one or two of them for NYC. Most people ignore commercials unless it features humor, or attractive people. And the unhealthy among the TV audience spend the commercial break in the kitchen microwaving more Hot-Pockets.
Answer to your rhetorical questions: Money. Perhaps insurance companies should pay for gym memberships. Or at least give you a break for hiring a personal trainer.
Thoughts on your other issue – fat people and designer clothes:
1.) I hate generalizing.
2.) There is value in generalizing, or else it would be obsolete.
3.) People who are sucessful are busy and do not have time to eat Doritos while watching American Idol or play Tour of Duty.
4.) There are sucessful people who are overweight and it is not because they eat too much.
5.) Overweight people are marginalized and do not always land the better paying jobs.
There is a really smart lady I know. She’s plus sized. She may be three times bigger than me, but she is 30X smarter than me. She should be paid at least three times more than me, but she is marginalized.
Here’s the White House’s response to your blog post:
First Lady Michelle Obama and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack challenged the nation’s middle schools and high schools on Wednesday to provide healthier meals and more time for exercise and physical activity for their students.
http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/10/21/the-first-ladys-hoops/
Good deal.
By the way, I think Michelle Obama is doing an awesome job at First Lady. She’s definitely very fit herself.
I also agree that overweight people are marginalized. It’s ironic, but just being in shape can help one’s earning power.
My daughter’s school does daily morning exercise for about five minutes. Pledge, announcements, then exercise. Everyone gets up and does some jumping jacks and toe touches and what not. Then, they get to work. I know that studies suggest exercise before studying actually improves performance. The school she attends also has PE, but only once a week. That should tell you why we need more physical activity in America.
I definitely think more clearly when I exercise. It’s funny because I would think I would be more tired after exercising, but I’ve found the opposite to be true.
My rgandparents still do calisthetics every morning even thought they are both close to 90! They can’t to push-ups or sit-ups, but they stretch, twist, rotate their hands and feet and generally get the blood flowing in their bodies every morning for about 10 minutes, outside in the yard with some fresh air.
When I was in China, it was awesome to see the students excercise every morning. Since schools don’t have the “funding” to do such, maybe families should excercise a little together ebfore heading off to work and school.