Editor,
According to a recent CNN report, 60 percent of American adults are seriously overweight. Also, 17 percent of American children are overweight. This is quite evident here in New Mexico. Obesity seems to originate from a lack of physical activity, not from gluttony. Our bodies function like computers - if too much information is saved on one flash drive, there will be an overload. Similarly, if we let our metabolisms slow down, we will overload our bodies with fat.
The home is the foundation of American society, so obesity should be corrected at home. For instance, many children would prefer to stay inside and play Xbox games rather than play football outside with their friends. If children are taught to live a healthy lifestyle at a young age, they will probably be less likely to become overweight as adults.
During much of my childhood, I was a fat, nerdy-looking kid. But when I became more active during high school, I started to slim down. Occasionally, I'll go on a bike ride for the fun of it. I also had to exclude some notoriously greasy foods, such as cream-filled pastries, Twinkies and hamburgers. Albuquerque has one of the most extensive biking systems in the country, so I would encourage anyone who is trying to lose some stubborn weight to try biking.
Gerardo Saenz
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UNM student
