Is food and exercise a moral issue?

djmauck

It seems that the way we eat and our exercise habits have become a moral issue. Think about it. If we eat unhealthy food, we feel guilty. If we don't go to the gym, we feel guilty. Some people feel that it's OK to judge others and condemn them based on their diet and exercise habits. Unhealthy foods are described as "sinful." Conversely, if we eat well and exercise, that seems to be sufficient reason to feel good about ourselves as people. Martin Luther King Jr. dreamed of a day when we would be judged not by the color of our skin, but by the content of our character. It seems that we're now judged not by the content of our character but by the content of our dinner plates.

Thoughts?

grinch031

Unfortunately it has become a moral issue, but I don't think it is. Most of us have family members and friends that are of high moral character when it comes to everything except food and exercise. To me that raises a red flag.

Udontneedit2

The great MLK spoke for the issue at hand. Racisim. Today, the issue is obesity. No one should be judged on anything but their own character I agree. But Just like MLK speaking about equality and rights... Nowadays since we have evolved as a society, we focus on our health and the epidemic that isnt slowing down.(obesity) Issues can change in time, but there will almost always be an issue.. ya know?

geezer99

Your poor health raises my insurance rates and/or taxes. Now if your health is just a matter of luck then it is reasonable for society to spread the costs. On the other hand, if you choose behaviors which raise your chances of poor health …

grinch031

Your poor health raises my insurance rates and/or taxes. Now if your health is just a matter of luck then it is reasonable for society to spread the costs. On the other hand, if you choose behaviors which raise your chances of poor health …

I would agree with this if obesity was a small problem. But because its a large problem that affects so many people, I think it is far above and beyond moral responsibility of each individual. I think it is a problem of infrastructure. The whole environment is toxic. Our environment has far outpaced evolution. Neither the human mind or body is equipped to overcome the temptations we face each day.

ninerbuff

Well not for me at least. My family sees that I eat all the same foods they do, but don't have weight issues. I workout WAY more than they do and do limit my portions though.

A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

rachelkern

I think grinch031 is pretty right on the money with this one, I'm afraid. Although, I believe that our minds and bodies ARE equipped to fight the temptation but it's only through education and effort. A lot of people are not educated on health matters and some, when they are, are too lazy to put in the effort. It's not impossible.

pa_jorg

Hmmm, not sure how I feel about you entire argument - some of it is simply semantics. Something I do believe very strongly though is that the food industry is raking in the bucks by adding chemicals and hormones to our food. Unless someone eats clean 100% of the time, then they are exposed to things that are not natural for our bodies to digest, which in turn cause disease and obesity.

grinch031

I think grinch031 is pretty right on the money with this one, I'm afraid. Although, I believe that our minds and bodies ARE equipped to fight the temptation but it's only through education and effort. A lot of people are not educated on health matters and some, when they are, are too lazy to put in the effort. It's not impossible.

I know people are going to start throwing in their n=1 experiences to counter my argument, but the reason I say we are not equipped is because statistically we aren't. I think the best solution is a top-down approach that starts at the government. Get the information right, and start changing the environment to promote healthier lifestyles.

10KEyes

Martin Luther King Jr. dreamed of a day when we would be judged not by the color of our skin, but by the content of our character. It seems that we're now judged not by the content of our character but by the content of our dinner plates.

Thoughts?

Couldn't food and exercise be considered outward evidence of one's character?

CrazyTrackLady

I think eating poorly is also a socioeconomic issue. Better quality foods are found at high end stores in middle to high income neighborhoods more often than in inner city, low income neighborhoods. Local inner city stores tend to have lower quality cuts of meat, less fresh veggies (or a smaller selection to choose from) and fewer healthy items to buy.

Organic foods, always more expensive than non-organic, are out of reach for a majority of us (myself included).

I think the issue of childhood obesity needs to be better addressed and discussed. I consider it a form of child abuse or child neglect. When an 8 year old goes to his/her pediatrician, and is on the verge of Type 2 diabetes because he/she is nearing 150 lbs, then it's time to hold the parents accountable. Children should not be given fast food and junk food day in and day out, because mom and/or dad would rather drive through a burger joint than cook a burger at home.

We can't regulate morality in this country. We can, however, do our best to educate each other on proper nutrition and exercise. I teach middle school students, and we just started health. The project I have assigned them already has them rethinking their fast food meal choices. I'm not doing anything other than giving them nutritional information and letting them analyze the data. It's up to them to make their own decisions about proper nutrition. I do feel it is my responsibility as a teacher to "walk the walk" with them. I eat right and exercise so I don't come across as a hypocrite.

Perhaps better role modeling by adults will help children become healthier overall.

dlwyatt82

There are only two viewpoints I could see that put a moral spin on diet and exercise.

One has already been mentioned here, the effects of someone's decisions on health care costs for the rest of the population. While I don't agree with grinch that we're incapable of changing this situation on an individual basis, I do think that it takes a conscious effort to overcome all the processed garbage food and advertising that are making it so easy and convenient to become a 350-pound beach ball of a human being. If that situation were to change, all the advertising / convenient foods became very healthy choices, then I would begin to see a moral dimension for the person who went out of their way to stuff themselves with crap instead.

The other possible angle here is what kind of example you set for your kids. That's why I'm working to change myself this time, because I'm about to become a father, and I don't want my girl to wind up making the same mistakes I did. She'll have a much happier life without all the health issues and low self-esteem that come with being obese. I do see that as a moral issue; it's my responsibility to teach her better, so by the time she is ready to move out on her own, she's already prepared to have an easier time making good decisions about diet and exercise.

BrianSharpe

By extension the same question could be applied to over consumption of alcohol or a host of other "bad behaviours".

On one hand we live in a society where people, by and large, are not expected to accept any responsibility or consequences for their actions. We, knowingly, overindulge on foods that we know are not good nutritional choices and then blame the golden arches for our high blood pressure and diabetes.

On the other, the last 100 years has seen such a radical change in how we live. The whole nature of "work" sees most of us sitting on our butts in sedentary jobs while the human body evolved to be well adapted to hard physical labour. Most of us now live far from our places of work - for many walking or biking to the office is not an option (an urban design failure).

On balance I have to lean towards the idea that we, as individuals, have to take responsibility for our health; whether or not I'd classify it as a moral failure is a different matter. (Some would argue that Gluttony & Sloth are 2 of the deadly sins..........)

I like to think that eating well and exercising makes me feel better but in no way makes me morally superior to anyone else.

uislp07

One other interesting way to look at this question is address by a book I recently read called "Made To Crave." I would review the premise, but I really think it can mean something different to each person, so I don't want to ruin it for you.

djmauck

Couldn't food and exercise be considered outward evidence of one's character?

Two words: The Situation

MostlyWater

I consider taking part of my body A Religious Obligation. That includes eating right and exercising.

isweatglitter

LOL, no.