Is e-commerce assisting in the degradation of Americans’ health?

It can’t be denied that Americans are getting fatter. News about the increase of obesity in America is all over the media. Just go to Times Square in NYC – the famous tourist spot attracts people from all over the country (and world) so you can get a good look at the general population of America only after walking a few blocks. We are just getting bigger! And why?

Well, many factors have lead to the widening of Americans: easy availability and affordability of fast food and junk food; tools to allow us the ability to lead a completely sedentary lifestyle (elevators, cars, good TV, money to pay for gardeners and housekeepers, and computers, among others).

The Internet has offered us many conveniences. We don’t have to visit the library anymore – we can log onto virtual libraries. We don’t have to visit grocery stores anymore – we can order products online and have them delivered right to our doors. We can buy all of our Christmas gifts online instead of braving the holiday mall crowds. We can even order pizza online to have it delivered. We Americans sure are lazy.

According to the CDC, American Heart Association, and American Cancer Society, as reported by www.cnn.com (http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2007/fit.nation/), in one hour, you burn 81 calories by sitting. When you walk slowly (3.5 mph) for one hour, you burn 280 calories. You will burn 200 more calories an hour by walking around a shopping mall than by sitting at your computer, shopping online.

There are 3,500 calories in one pound of fat. If you were to spend three hours a week walking around the mall or grocery store, rather than shopping online for groceries and clothing, you will expend about 600 calories. This means, that in as little as six weeks you will lose a pound. That may not seem like a lot, but add it up. Keep it up and you can lose nine pounds in a year. Just by talking a walk in the mall or local Stop & Shop on the weekends instead of order clothing and food online. Yikes!

Yes, I know that shopping online may save time. You don’t have to get in your car and drive to the mall and can browse many website simultaneously while you can only look in one store at a time at the mall. I support online shopping – to an extent.

Over the past twenty years, Americans’ waistlines have expanded, significantly. Obesity is defined as having a Body Mass Index of 30 or higher. If you look at the data provided to cnn.com by the state health departments’ figures from monthly phone interviews with U.S. adults, you will see that in 1985, the largest percentage of obese individuals in a state was 10 to 14 percent; only eight states reported this percentage. Ten years later, 27 states reported that 20-24 percent of residents were obese. In 2006, 32 states reported that more than 25 percent of residents had a body mass index of 30 or higher.
http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2007/fit.nation/obesity.map/

All of the factors I mentioned above contribute to the increasing number of obese individuals in America. I can’t help but thinking about the significant weight loss or gain one can succumb to by choosing shopping online v. mall shopping, and visa versa. I like shopping online as much as the next person. But just do it occasionally. Having a rough week at work and you need to buy a present for your mother’s birthday. Ok, go to www.1800flowers.com and order her a bouquet. But stop being lazy America. Browse the mall shops; go to the grocery store; pick your own apples. Getting away from your computer for a few hours a week, and running errands like you did in the pre-Internet days may help you drop a dress size and ultimately extend your life.