By Alita Byrd
(November 24, 2004)
Take a walk around Paris. Meander along the River Seine and watch the tourist-heavy boats glide past. Roam through the hundreds of galleries in the Louvre and get lost among the mummies. Sweat in a long line to see the inside of the Notre Dame. Trudge up the iron steps of Eiffel Tower and snap pictures to remember the breathtaking Parisienne view.
These are the most famous sights in Paris. And they all have one thing in common: hordes of American tourists. How can you tell they are American?
Simple: They are fatter than everyone else. Swarming onto the tourist boats, huffing and puffing through the Louvre, talking loudly in the elevator at the Eiffel Tower, their bellies stick out from T-shirts and sun dresses. They are all complaining about how hot it is and how tired their feet are. They stand out. They can’t help it.
Or can they?
Americans have a worldwide reputation for fatness. Obviously I’m not saying all Americans are fat, but there are enough overweight ones—both in America and traipsing around Europe, mostly—to give us a well-deserved name. If Europeans see a really fat person, they automatically think "American." When Europeans come back from holidays in Florida or New York, they tell friends and relatives about all the huge bodies they saw. America, home of fast food and shopping malls, big cars and Coca-Cola, superhighways, and the Super Bowl, is a Super-Sized country.
I’ve been trying to figure this out for a few years now. I’m sure there are many factors involved and there are differences between the diets and exercise habits of the French and Americans (French people don’t eat their whole portion of French fries, for one thing).
But I think the number one general reason that Americans are fatter than Europeans is that Americans simply don’t walk. Americans tend to drive to work, drive to the grocery store, drive home, and collapse on the couch for some Prime Time. The most walking they get is the steps between the front door and the driveway and between two favorite shops in the mall.
When Americans visit major European cities, they cannot believe the walking involved.
"Can’t we take a bus or a taxi or something?" a friend visiting me in London begged.
"Well we could," I said slowly. "But that would mean walking the other direction to get to the bus stop, then changing busses. It would be faster to walk!"
In towns and villages all over the world, people walk to the post office, walk to work, walk to see friends, walk to the shops, and carry their groceries home. They walk because it’s easier. They walk because they don’t have a car. They walk because that’s the only way to get there. They walk without thinking.
In America, people get in their cars and drive even when they don’t need to.
Seventh-day Adventists were way ahead of their time when they began pushing a health message. The early church advocated a healthy diet and regular exercise. It encouraged vegetarianism when such a diet was practically unheard of. Many health professionals considered it foolhardy and even unsafe. The health message has been vindicated over the years. We should be proud of our heritage. Now you can walk into a restaurant anywhere in the world and order vegetarian food. (Well, almost anywhere. A waiter in Spain a few years ago was shocked when I said I didn’t want any sort of meat. "But have you tried it?" he asked incredulously.)
Adventists were famous for their sanitariums, and now we have one of the best hospital systems anywhere. We have anti-smoking programs and meat substitutes. Students in Adventist colleges study health as part of the curriculum.
But are U.S. Adventists any healthier than your average American? If there are any statistics, I would like to see them. Because the American health standards are not much to compete against, Adventists in the United States should unquestionably be healthier, thinner, and living longer.
I’m not suggesting that we should all aspire to the stick-thinness of Gwyneth Paltrow or Courteney Cox Arquette. We come in different shapes and sizes, and that is part of what makes us unique and special. But each person should use whatever means he has at his disposal to keep his body as fit as possible.
Living a healthy life is a witness to people around us. I’m certainly not suggesting that salvation is contingent on a healthy diet and exercise regimen. But I’m certain it makes God happy to see people healthy and happy. And there are so many other benefits to exercise: in addition to making your body feel better and your heart stronger, your mind feels more clear and peaceful with regular exercise. "Physical activity improves mood and self-esteem and diminishes stress, anxiety and depression," according to Runner’s World. "Just a ten-minute run provides a bump in mood."
Do the little things. Take stairs instead of elevators. Park in the faraway spot instead of driving in circles waiting for someone parked near the door to pull out. Walk to the corner store instead of driving. Eat rice cakes and carrots instead of chips and chocolate bars. Plan a walk with friends instead of a trip to the movies. Try a sport you never tried before. Help a neighbor carry in groceries.
But you know all this already. It’s just a matter of putting it into practice.
Wouldn’t it be wonderful if all Adventists—including those from the United States—had a reputation around the world for health? When those of us from the United States take a trip to Paris no one will know we are Americans—until we open our mouths.
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