Evolution, Wedgies, Saddam Hussein, and Obesity

“Survival of the fittest”

You have all heard the term most often attributed to Charles Darwin and his theories on evolutionary biology. The idea is that if one species or subgroup-whether it is a virus, animal, plant or human, has the superior biological make-up that makes it best “fit” for survival, then its competition will not.

Unfortunately this phrase is far too simplistic. It was originally used as a synonym for “natural selection” in a later edition of Darwin’s book On the Origin of Species. While most of us imagine “survival of the fittest” as something that might play out on the playground: Small, physically inept kid gets beaten up and atomic wedgied for his lunch funds by the larger, more physically superior boy.

Not satisfied with the condom's effectiveness

two college freshmen take matters in their own hands

What Darwin really meant was to use this term as a metaphor for “better adapted for [the] immediate, local environment”. The basis to his theory is that living organisms co-evolve with the physical world. If they cannot do this, than they become extinct.

We as humans have survived both because of biological, as well as psychological evolution. We’ve developed means to adapt to our “immediate, local environment.” Our brains have developed in phenomenal ways to distinguish what might be dangerous and prepare a proper course of action. Someone swings a bat at your head and you will duck to avoid the danger rather than catch it with your teeth. We have continued to live and survive because we are not only physically capable, but also, psychologically unique. Over time we’ve become masters at seeing, interpreting, and avoiding immediate danger. Unfortunately this is where we have now encountered problems.

Humans are unique in the animal kingdom because we are the only species that can mentally fathom our past, present, and future. We are capable of planning our actions in the present, to hopefully require a certain outcome in the future. While our brains have developed tremendous capabilities to avoid danger that take physical form, unfortunately we aren’t so good at taking on dangers that come slow and without a name.

The evolution of man?

I first came about this theory sitting in a lecture delivered by a Harvard professor talking about global warming; and human’s inability to perceive it as an immediate threat. We know it’s real; all the science backs it up, yet we aren’t dodging it like the bat to the face. Rather each of us continue reminding ourselves to be more conscious about the environment while we jump into our SUVs, drinking our five dollar lattes, and buying whatever’s advertised on TV even though we know we’ll throw it away in a matter of months, if not days. The problem, the professor described, is that global warming has no physically perceivable form. Global warming has no face, we cannot blame it on one person like the US has blamed terrorism on Osama Bin Laden, or Saddam Hussein. Global warming doesn’t run at us like a hungry bear, rather it creeps on us slowly; gradually gaining momentum hiding behind a four-syllable abstract phrase. “Global warming” sounds like something out of a retirement home brochure. Because of this, we as humans know it’s there, know it will cost lives, but don’t push for immediate change.

Like global warming, another more social problem is costing lives in the same way; and this is where my theory comes into play. Obesity is one of the leading causes of preventable deaths in Canada. Preventable! Yet in 2004 the Canadian Community Health Survey found 23% of Canadians 18 and over were obese, while another staggering 36% were overweight. In total that is 59% (11.3 million people) of the population that is beyond the healthy, acceptable BMI level. (Yes, the study used BMI, while not necessarily the best testing method, it does give us a scary perspective of our country.)

Fat Kid...

...Or Hossein Rezazadeh in his younger years

Just like global warming, obesity is hard to blame on just one factor. There are so many social, psychological, nutritional, and physical issues underlying this epidemic. I’m not trying to oversimplify the problem (there is so much to this issue), but rather, I’m trying to explain why we are so slow to change. Obesity can’t be blamed on some scary, panic-driven, animal flu such as the SWINE or the Avian flu; it cannot be prevented or cured by a simple vaccine. We cannot simply point a finger at an individual and blame him/her for our country’s fatness. If there was some global terrorist hiding in remote caves who had caused this epidemic by bombing us with fat, it would be an entirely different story; in fact, every major TV channel may scream the phrase, “WAR ON FAT.” So, what I’m saying is let’s not wait until our nation in a state of RED, indicating “SEVERE RISK OF FAT ATTACK.”

We know it’s killing us, yet we continue over-consuming fast food, while becoming more and more sedentary. We cry about being fat, making new years resolutions to “finally” change, yet fall off the wagon faster than we can say Big Mac. We witness people around us dying of overweight related health issues such as diabetes, heart disease, and certain types of cancer. We as humans know what we need to do, yet it’s easier said than done. We know we need to be more active and eat better. We know we need to stop eating and severely limit processed fast food. Yet we put it off. Death has disguised itself as a tasty burger with fries, all for just 3.99! Yum!

Unlike you...She could use a couple of these

(insert bad Paris Hilton and meat joke here)

Evolutionary biology has gotten us this far, but we are currently being attacked by a slow gradual killer which is beginning to snowball. We know it’s chasing us, yet we are unable to step out of the way because our biological make-up does not give us the tools to perceive it as an immediate threat. We are in a pot of simmering hot water, which is about to come to a boil, but we are still oblivious to the danger. We are being boiled to death by obesity and most of us don’t have the necessary tools to jump out.

As fitness professionals, and lovers of physical betterment we have the tools to fight this enemy. We know what really needs to be done and it isn’t easy. It doesn’t come in a vaccine; it cannot be picked up at a drive-thru; it doesn’t come in cherry or any other flavour, it cannot be taken with water once-a-day, and it doesn’t tingle to let you know it’s working. It’s hard work, it’s sweat, it’s eating healthy. It takes time, dedication, and persistence; it might truly be the best formula for the “survival of the fittest”.