The good die young:
Young Canadians now at risk for cardiovascular disease
By Chance McAllister, Editor-In-Chief
Issue date: 2/4/10 Section: Editorial
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It has become such a problem that the HSFC have placed young adults aged 20-39 as an "at risk" group for cardiovascular disease. Alas, it is no longer only those fresh out of adolescence that experience heartbreak. That being said, those that are crying over the loss of a boyfriend/girlfriend are likely not dropping dead or in a hospital bed recovering from a heart attack.
The decision was made to place young adults on the "at risk" list for cardiovascular disease as a reaction to the foundation's annual report card on the heart health of Canadians. Apparently, about 3 million young adults (aged 20-34) consider themselves physically inactive, 2.5 are obese, 2 million are smokers and 66,000 possess type 2 diabetes. It is also important to note that the obesity numbers were determined by self-reported weight estimates, which can hardly be considered accurate. One can imagine several people mentally losing ten to fifteen pounds for the survey.
I should also note that the report included the rise of new ethnic groups living in Canada, who are genetically more prone to cardiovascular disease, as a factor in the "at risk" category. However, such a factor is not necessarily the fault of those who are a part of the applicable ethnic groups so I won't focus too much on it.
Treating fast food items like crackers and living a life of utter idleness, however, is the fault of many Canadians.
Or is it?
We are undeniably a society addicted to convenience. Indeed, we look at the possibility of convenience as a crack addict probably looks at the possibility of acquiring a sizable collection of crack: with love, happiness and relief. We want and often demand everything to be faster, stronger and in larger quantities. Increasingly, that is the reality of our culture, which provides a breeding ground for unhealthy, inactive and obese individuals.
Personally, I am currently in a fierce battle with a fast-food addiction. However, I am as healthy as one with such an addiction can be. I exercise regularly and keep as fit as possible, but I recognize there are obvious problems with this lifestyle. For example, yesterday, I left a fierce two hour gym session only to pick up a Burger King meal on the way home. The obvious question is: why the hell would I do that? I did it because it was the most convenient way to acquire food. I had two papers, this article and other miscellaneous projects to work on. It seemed like a logical and tasty decision on my part, neither of which are true. Convenience often influences my decisions, which is stupid, irresponsible and in this case, dangerous.
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