Even before the pandemic hit, the obesity epidemic was already a massive issue in our world. Through the influence of large fast-food corporations such as McDonald’s, first-world countries like the United States gained massive amounts of weight in recent years, and with the advent of the pandemic, obesity has become even more prevalent.
With lockdowns across the world occurring, and with nothing to do at home, people have little to do but to binge-watch television with a tub of ice cream. Even before COVID hit, false advertising by fast-food chains coupled with the accessibility/price of fast food allowed people to feel secure in the fact that they were eating cheap, tasty food. It is only through this false advertising that fast-food companies can ever feel secure in themselves. This type of fraudulent activity is one that, when actively employed by companies, allows customers to be tricked into believing them. Fraudulent advertising is one of the main reasons why customers are cheated into this.
During the pandemic, there is literally nothing to do but sit at home. This is one of the leading factors that cause obesity (a sedentary lifestyle) – and it is this that will cause our civilization to eventually become larger and larger. It is only through the pandemic that some of us have grown in weight due to the fact that our lives are now on screens, with people staying inside. Some, of course, might make an effort to get out to exercise- many of them may live by the motto “carpe diem”- but others, like myself, make no concerted effort to actually stay in shape. By the time the lockdown ends – we’ll all be larger.
With the obesity epidemic starting years before 2019, the added burden of the pandemic causes a lot of us to lose sight of what life was like before COVID. It’s important that we all maintain our critical thinking skills, to think through our purchases every time we go shopping- just as it’s important to maintain our physical and mental health during the lockdown. Take the time in lockdown to reduce the effect the obesity epidemic has on you- exercise once in a while. Go outside. We can all do just that- stay healthy.