The biggest threat

OK, so it's Wednesday? Big whoop. Wanna fight about it?

It’s not terrorism, AIDs or even atheism. The greatest threat to America – according to an “expert panel” (whatever that means) – is obesity. Some of us can now issue a sigh of relief.

Two-thirds of adults and one-third of all children are considered overweight or obese. That’s mind boggling, even as I sit here in one of the fattest states in country.

You can blame America with its overindulgent attitude. Or restaurants making portions more than twice the proper size. Or even TV programming and addictive video games that keep everyone indoors instead of out being active.

But the real culprit is Walmart.

Yep, the same people who save you money every Saturday. But that’s the problem. Ever notice what the cheapest items are? Hostess and Little Debbie snacks are pretty cheap. You can get $1 frozen pizzas with absolutely no nutrition. Or one of my favorites – blue box mac and cheese – are what, 64 cents? But what about fruits and vegetables? Whole grains? Any food made without preservatives and additives? Cha ching! Better bust out your big pocketbook.

Of course, I have to touch on fast food restaurants as part of the problem, but not in the way you’d think. Dollar menus are all the rage right now in this tough economic climate. You now can get a burger, fries and a Coke for $3, but a salad with no sides or drinks will run you about $5 at the same place. Where is the motivation to make the wise choice when you’re faced with doing fast food that meal? And most of the time, the salads are pretty sub-par.

Americans aren’t encouraged to eat well when there’s no immediate monetary gain. Yes, you’ll likely spend less money in medical bills if you maintain a healthy lifestyle and weight, but that’s not immediate enough for us short-sided folk.

Now, I’m not proposing we tax junk food, but they should make real, whole food more appealing by dropping the price. Offer coupons for natural food that is easy to prepare and versatile enough to satisfy our need for variety, and you might see us Americans buying – and eating – healthier.