As I write this, I am sitting on the beach in Jamaica staring out at the ocean. The moon is just above the horizon and is about half full and a burnt orange color. It shines off the ocean and provides the perfect tranquil setting. I just finished a Red Stripe beer, as is my tradition when I visit Jamaica, and I’ve been having a conversation with one of the locals about USANi Bolt, who is now a Jamaican and world icon.

This is life, eh? I love visiting other countries and interacting with people from those countries. I am intrigued with the way others live their lives and what we can learn from them.

In the first days here, I was struck with how fat Americans visiting Jamaica are. If I see a fat Jamaican or fat European it is a surprise and the exception, but I have yet to meet an American here who is not fat. In fact, sadly I can tell the Americans from the Europeans by who is fat. I am not talking about the extra five to 10 pounds we all struggle to keep under control. I am talking about really fat. I am also not talking one or two people. I am talking about the vast majority of Americans here in Jamaica. It is embarrassing.

I often forget when I am in the states how fat Americans are becoming. I think because we are surrounded by obesity in the states, we become tolerant and almost complacent. But when I travel and see my fellow Americans outside of the states, our problem with obesity becomes so much more apparent. It makes me wonder why we have allowed ourselves as a nation to become so morbidly obese and be ok with it.

The irony is Americans live in the most abundant nation on earth (part of the problem) with access to the healthiest diets available and the best nutritional supplements money can buy. Despite that, we are a nation of excess fat. We have decided that if a little is good, a lot must be better. If I can Super Size for only 39 cents more, why wouldn’t I?

I find it interesting that we worry about our young girls looking at magazine covers and thinking they have to obtain the perfect body. While that may be a minor problem, the opposite is a much bigger problem. We now accept being fat as if it were normal.

When I was young, the fat kid in school was the exception, usually about one per class of 30 kids. Now, when I go to my kids activities at school, it is almost the norm. Everyone seems ok with it. There are many who think this may be the first generation where the life expectancy decreases instead of increasing because of obesity.

If there is one thing Americans are good at, it is solving a crisis. Well this is a huge crisis, and we seem to be ignoring it. We are debating health care reform at the highest levels, but we may be missing the most important part of all…the necessity to teach our nation about having a health lifestyle. Steven Covey describes this as cutting at the branches of the problem while ignoring the roots.

Obesity may be the number one cause of health problems in the United States. It increases rates of diabetes, cancer, back problems, heart attacks, and stomach problems, in addition to a myriad of social and psychological problems.

So what can we do about it? I have a few ideas that might help.

1. Take control of your own life.
Decide that you will not fall victim to our culture of over consumption. Formulate a Health Plan for Life. I am in the process of writing a book on this very subject, but don’t wait for the book. Look back at some of my previous advice on eating healthy (85/15 rule, health plan for life). Educate yourself on nutrition including exercise, healthy eating, supplements, and good health practices.

2. Teach your children health practices as well.
If you have an obese child, help them now. Meet with your pediatrician or other trusted provider and create a plan for them. Remember you are the parent; it is your responsibility to teach them to be healthy.

3. Get involved!
Become an active part of your communities and your schools to make sure the things they serve at school and social events at least offer a healthy alternative. Can you improve what they are teaching in schools or add some teaching? Encourage schools to increase the amount of physical activity our kids get every day.

4. Contact your representative.
Let your public servants know you are concerned about having health initiatives in health care legislation. We need to let Congress and the Senate know we are not just interested in who pays when we are sick, but we are also interested in developing national programs to keep us heatlhy.

Ok, my rant is over. I am going to get back to enjoying my time on the beach. The sun is actually up now and the first of the bikinis are out. Wow, some of them need to put on some clothes!

Author's Bio: 

Dr. Tim Reynolds founded Living Every Minute in 2009 to allow him to share his passion for finding success in every minute with others. He dedicates countless hours each week to helping other people change their lives through mentoring, life building, giving inspirational talks and writing for his free weekly newsletter.

Life wasn't always the picture of perfection it is now for Dr. Tim. In fact, he was the first member of his family to graduate high school. He joined the military shortly after graduation, where he graduated from the Special Forces Q-course in July of 1982. He served as a Green Beret medic on an A-Team, as the Battalion medic and eventually as a Special Forces Battalion Surgeon for the 19th Special Forces Group (Airborne). He served both enlisted and as an officer for 17 years.

After getting out of the military, Dr. Tim decided he wanted to go to college to be a doctor. His guidance counselor told him he was too old. He would be 32 before he finished his degree. He told her, "I'm going to be 32 either way." He went on to graduate college with honors.

It was his passion for helping people that inspired him to become a medical doctor, and in 1993 he graduated Summa Cum Laude with an MD degree from the University of Utah. He completed his Emergency Medicine residency at Texas A&M Scott and White in 1996 and is board certified in emergency medicine. He is the managing partner for HealthCARE Express, a group of urgent care clinics rapidly expanding across the United States.

Prior to starting HealthCARE Express in 2006, Dr. Tim held numerous positions across the medical field, including: medical director of the Wadley Regional Medical Center Emergency Department and level II trauma center; president of E-Med Services, LLP and of E-Med Billing Solutions, LLP; associate clinical professor for the Area Health Education Center at the University of Arkansas; and founding member of the Greater People’s Clinic of Texarkana Board of Directors.

In addition to his medical experience, Dr. Tim is also an entrepreneur and successful businessman. He is currently the chief executive officer of TL Reynolds Properties, LLP, a real estate investment company; and he is a managing partner of JJET Developments Ltd., a real estate development company.

Dr. Tim has served on numerous other committees and boards throughout both the medical and business communities and is published in various journals and publications. He is sought after as a presenter at many national conferences.

In his leisure time, Dr. Tim enjoys spending time on his Ranch in Atlanta, Texas, where he lives with his beautiful wife, Pam, and their five amazing children. He holds a black belt in Tae Kwon Do, is a SCUBA rescue diver, and a pilot. He also enjoys body building, golf, and hiking.

Dr. Tim is a world traveler, having visited over 40 countries on six of the seven continents. He is a firm believer in Living Every Minute of life and teaching others to do the same.

Learn more at www.LivingEveryMinute.com