Unfortunately, many American towns and cities are so spread out with inadequate public transportation if they have any at all, that it is often a challenge to do what one needs without driving.

I wish more of us would wake up to the fact that we'd probably not need to schedule exercise sessions if we simply parked our cars and used bicycles or feet to get us places as much as we can manage.

When I was in graduate school, I typically walked from my apartment to campus and home again, thoroughly enjoying the fresh air and exercise--a distance of about 3.5 miles one way. That's undoubtedly when I was in the best condition of my life since I often logged ten miles or more a day walking about.

It used to astound me when I once lived barely a block and a half from work. People typically would pull over and ask if I'd like a ride there or home. I was frequently tempted to reply "You've GOT to be joking!" but instead politely declined.

I need to get back into that habit now. The three-mile walk to the nearest supermarket would hardly kill me if I built up to it. And since I've a wheeled shopping cart, I wouldn't even have to go there but every other day or so when the weather's chilly enough that refrigerated or frozen foods would survive the walk home.

I wouldn't be surprised but that obesity is a factor in this slight decline. I've sometimes done a count of how many people I see in large stores or malls who are obviously overweight...usually it's at least 2 of every 3 I see. That's appalling!

To be honest, movements that small could be caused by virtually anything.

Dec 11, 2010 -- 3:37PM, Ebon wrote:

To be honest, movements that small could be caused by virtually anything.

Not only "caused" by virtually anything, but actually non-existent, as they fall within the range of statistical uncertainty.

True, true.  Nevertheless, it made the news, so that makes it elegible for Hot Topics. 

But, even it is a meaningless statistic, the fact of America's (and the industrialised world's) growing obesity is always something that should be of great concern to us all.

Dec 12, 2010 -- 2:07PM, LeahOne wrote:

Maybe it's simply a function, rather than obesity, of anxiety over unemployment?

Maybe it's becaues people who are unemployed get depressed and anxious, and eat more -- especially junk food.