The history of obesity in this country
In the late nineteenth century this country was entering the age of the automobile. Industrialization was gaining ground. Families had similar stories. There were very few wealthy people; rather most were working people with modest lifestyles. The country was largely agrarian with most living in rural areas. The environment was untamed and still pristine in the vast majority of the country. People ate good food that was grown just as it had been for eons.
Virtually every family at one time or another had a photograph taken of the family. One family's story illustrates the way things were and tracing that family gives us great insight into how obesity took over this country.
Virtually every family at one time or another had a photograph taken of the family. One family's story illustrates the way things were and tracing that family gives us great insight into how obesity took over this country.
This is a photograph of a 1960 3rd grade class in Mesa, Arizona. One student is a grandson of the original two people. Note not one child is overweight nor is the teacher. Back then children had recess and played physical games. Parents encouraged them to be outside in the fresh air. All of them had chores to do.
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This is a picture of a 4th grade class in Mesa, Arizona in 1961. You see not a single fat or overweight child and the teacher is also not overweight. One child is the grandson of the first two people. In those times food was fresh, the air was clean, and water was good. Pollution was not a severe problem. The population was healthier. Junk food was not so prevalent because most families cooked their own food and most families were relatively frugal.
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By 1995, people had forgotten the way things used to be. The organic movement was relegated to hippies and counterculture types. Health food stores were not the favored shopping experience. The society was subsisting on processed food. Fast food outlets were everywhere. Most children had no idea where food came from. The children of this era grew up on video games, television, and were more sedentary.
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