How Much is Really Necessary?

We all know that soda is bad for you, when consumed in large amounts.  Everyone I know who has lost a significant amount of weight by dieting has claimed success by switching to diet or no soda at all.  So clearly, soda consumption leads to larger waistlines.  It only makes sense that reducing soda consumption leads to smaller waistlines.

Childhood obesity is on a rise.  Children aren't active enough and drink way too much juice, soda and sugary drinks.  Just think, what do your kids order when eating out?  I'm very proud to say that when my 5 year old daughter was offered a Coke recently, she had no idea what it was.  When eating out we give our kids 2-3 options for beverages.  They choose from milk, chocolate milk or lemonade.  Not that the latter are any less sugary, but the point is that they haven't had the opportunity to drink much soda.  In fact, when they have, they usually don't like it because of the carbonation.  I'm proud of that!  

Adult obesity has become an epidemic in this country.  Adults are under active, too busy to find time to exercise or participate in active lifestyles.  Poor diets and soda consumption contribute to the obesity problem.  Ultimately, obese citizens have more health problems, requiring more medical care.  The more medical care you require, the higher the insurance rates become.  And that affects all of us!  Sure you could blame the insurance companies, the medical doctors or even the hospitals for charging way too much.  You might even go as far as blaming the pharmaceutical companies.  But, what ever happened to personal responsibility and accountability for ones own actions?  Unless there is some underlying medical condition, if you are obese it's because you don't make the right choices.  You choose not to be active, you choose to eat unhealthy foods and drink sugary drinks.  There's no one else to blame for that but you; not even McDonald's super-sized meals!  You chose to order it!  

So when I read articles like this one in the Washington Post, I'm happy that someone is trying to find a solution to the obesity problem.  For those that can't exhibit self control in ordering a 16 oz. soda instead of a 64 oz. soda, this restriction might benefit them.  But, it also saddens me that we are always so quick to blame someone else for our bad decisions.  There is no personal accountability for one's own problems.  While I do believe that restricting beverage containers to 16 oz. at fast food restaurants will help limit how much a person can consume at one time, I do not think it will end the obesity problem in America. Until we're ready to step up and take responsibility for our own poor decisions in life, obesity will always be a problem, and one that will continue on throughout the lives of our children.  They learn by example.  And what kind of example are we setting for them?  The only way we can overcome obesity is by making healthier lifestyle choices, one person at a time.