Yesterday we saw that people have a quite poor understanding of some nutritional facts, in that instance about trans fats. Now another study has found that most Americans know how to manage weight gain but do not make the effort to implement changes.
A new study, published by market researcher AC Nielsen, reveals that 82 percent of American adults acknowledged an individual’s responsibility in weight gain, while only 2 percent placed the biggest blame on food companies, and 6 percent on fast food restaurants.
However, despite knowing the role of personal responsibility, consumers tend not to implement their own knowledge. Some 65 percent of respondents to AC Nielsen’s LifeChoices study agreed that reducing junk food consumption would help in weight control, while 61 percent thought the same held true for substituting sugary drinks with water. Disappointingly however, few consumers said they actually followed this advice.
Only the two most commonly tried weight control activities, eating junk food less frequently and reducing meal size, tried by 64 percent and 58 percent of consumers, have trial rates that come close to matching perceived effectiveness. "Tried" may be the operative word here. It appears clear to me that people lack perseverance and self-discipline and will foolishly go down the path of their own destruction.
According to the study, a major factor in consumers’ unwillingness to follow through with healthy lifestyle changes could be the modern “convenience culture’. Nearly one-fifth of US consumers surveyed said that the main factor leading to weight gain is that modern life is too easy for people to make an effort toward healthy living. This cause was beaten out only by lack of exercise (29 percent) and the vast availability of junk food (19 percent). It is important to have this stark data but I don’t think it really tells us anything new. It’s saying nicely that Americans have become a nation of lazy slobs. Did we need a survey to learn this? Only if we walk around with our eyes closed.
“Messages about healthy eating and exercise are sinking in, yet consumers aren’t taking enough action. This study shows that many consumers consider the lifestyle changes they associate with weight control to be too inconvenient to follow,†said ACNielsen’s chief marketing officer, Tom Markert. In short, people know what to do, they just won’t do it.
Being overweight is a massive threat to health and wellbeing. In at least 99% of cases I consider overweight and obesity to be identical to smoking. Both are lethal and both rib wellness well before they kill. Equally, both constitute self-inflicted harm and exact ultimate personal responsibility, no matter who else one may try to blame. If you smoke, stop immediately. Never smoke again. If you are overweight, obese or heading in this direction then change your diet and lifestyle starting today; there’s no time to lose.
To learn exactly how to rescue yourself with inner cleansing, a truly healthy diet and a healthy lifestyle, read the new 2 volume set called Safe Colon Cleansing (really, much more than the title suggests) available in late November 2006.
