We live in a fast-food, throwaway society bent on immediate gratification. Now reports say that many Americans have become obese.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, under the heading of "U.S. Obesity Trends 1985–2007," sounded these warning notes on its Web site: "During the past 20 years there has been a dramatic increase in obesity in the United States . . . In 2007, only one state (Colorado) had a prevalence of obesity less than 20%. Thirty states had a prevalence equal to or greater than 25%; three of these states (Alabama, Mississippi and Tennessee) had a prevalence of obesity equal to or greater than 30%."

What's so remarkable about this is that most Americans believe that many fast food chains are healthy eating establishments. Affluent America remains ignorant, lazy and apathetic about what it eats. Heart disease and cancer have become more prevalent while the medical field still treats the symptoms, not the disease.

There are alternatives. We can eat smarter and better, if we choose. We can also exercise more and get the right amount of rest. Interested readers may also want to request or download our free booklet Making Life Work. (Source: www.cdc.gov.)