A Few Disclaimers

1. I’m not so arrogant as to think that I’m the only one speaking the truth. But I am arrogant enough to think that I am a rational human being who can make correct deductions about the actual state of things. The “actual state of things” is also known as reality.
2. I have been actively seeking to up the athletic readership of Fit True. Although this particular post may be more general in it’s subject matter it still fits – I think – in the category of information for the high performers.
3. I’m not a doctor, scientist, sociologist, or psychologist. I am a real world practitioner with 25+ years in the fitness world and 10+ years in the fitness industry.

The #1 Reason Americans Are Getting More and More Obese

News Flash: Americans are continuing to get fatter. Shocking I know. With all that we now know about nutrition, with all that we now know about diet plans, with all of the supplements available to us, and all of the information available to us, we’re still getting fatter.

At the outset, can I suggest we reframe the original claim that Americans are becoming more obese? I want us – myself and you the Fit True readership – to stop saying “We/Americans are becoming more Fat/Obese.” Instead let’s say,

“WE ARE BECOMING LESS FIT.”

OK, now that that’s out of the way let me say one more thing before I talk about the #1 reason why we’re becoming less and less fit. #1 means that is the primary reason. The main reason. It does not mean that it’s the only reason.

This post is driven by the idea that is pushed around that the #1 reason is not the #1 reason. It is a distant 2nd to whatever people want to peddle on you or whatever ax they feel they have to grind. Sometimes the #1 reason is pretty much left out as a non-reason altogether.

With all of that being said,

The #1 reason that Americans are becoming less fit is due to A LACK OF ACTIVITY.

You Call That a News Flash?

Yup, and I call it controversial. I call it controversial because it is front and center. It is #1. It is the elephant in the room. Here’s where I’m about to make enemies. Americas obesity problem (and 90% of her other ailments) IS NOT ultimately due to:

- The fluoride in the drinking water
- The pesticide residue on the vegetables
- Gluten
- The portion sizes at Micky Ds or anywhere else
- Second hand smoke
- FIRST HAND smoke (I’m gonna pay for that one)
- Non-organically grown foods
- Steroids in the cattle
- Vaccines
- Not eliminating sugar
- Not eliminating salt
- Caged grain fed chickens
- Failing to eat like a cave man
- Big Pharma
- Government subsidized anything
- Failing to eat breakfast
- Failing to not eat breakfast (Hello, intermittent fasting people. You’re suspect too)
- Estrogen raising chemicals in our plastics
- Any other potential or imagined reason.

We are becoming less and less fit BECAUSE WE ARE LESS AND LESS ACTIVE. That is the #1 reason. Some of the others may be #s 2 through 1000, but LACK OF ACTIVITY IS THE #1 REASON.

Let’s take a little rabbit trail. I read a trainer promoting his, I’m sure viable, weight loss program where he claimed that 90% of Americans eat breakfast immediately upon rising and then implied that that was why we’re getting more and more obese.

I think the claim that 90% of Americans eat breakfast immediately upon rising is ABSOLUTELY FALSE. In my experience with people I’d put the number closer to 25%. . . if that. But he’s got a program to sell and people would rather hear and believe that 90% eat breakfast immediately upon rising. I’d say 90% think they should. 90% lie about eating breakfast. But no way does 90%. No way.

A Bold Challenge to Doctors

It seems about once week every week I hear some doctor somewhere say they have improved their clients’ _____________ (fill in the blank with high blood pressure, depression, obesity, or whatever general ailment now is a trumped up as a pandemic in our society) by dealing with one of those less than #1 issues I listed above.

Almost never do I hear them mention exercise.

So my challenge to the doctors:

The next time one of you doctors has got an itch that this or that besides exercise is what’s making us less fit and you decide to do one of your so called “studies” I CHALLENGE YOU to have me train a group over and above your control group. I’ll bet I get the same or better results with my group working out and continuing to ignore your proposed new culprit.

In short, I AM ACCUSING YOU OF FIDDLING WHILE ROME BURNS and stepping over dollars trying to find another dime.

So What, Tim? Now What?

Good questions. What does this have to do with non-doctors? Just this. Before you get on the this or that band wagon ask yourself one question first, “Have I gotten my fat biscuits off the couch yet?”

I’m all about living a healthy lifestyle. I think good balanced nutrition is very important. I don’t think organic is. I don’t think estro-whatevers in the tupperware is. I don’t think sulphates in the shampoo is. I have never met one person who has achieved anything of athletic/performance/physique significance by micro managing any of these non-exercise issues.

So in short:
1. Periodize your workouts.
2. Practice a sensible nutrition program.
3. Stay the course.

Let the hating begin. Comment below. Feel free to pass this along to someone you think it will make angry.