Fast Draw: Trimming The Fat

Watch CBS News Videos Online

One sign a nation's economy is on the rebound, take a look at it's population's waistlines. Josh Landis and Mitch Butler explain.

[wencon]

I was really surprised at how narrow your point was in this piece. There are plenty of ways that a healthful lifestyle will contribute far more to the economy than a sedentary, fast food-based one will.

Going for a walk does not mean that one will stop driving. In fact, traveling to activities (like going to the mountains for a hike) probably uses more fuel than driving to the McDonalds.

Healthful activities frequently involve lots of gear and fees (golf clubs, bicycles, gym memberships, &c..). Not to mention that dropping ten pounds can make a huge difference in one's self image, and (speaking from experience here) can lead to lots of spending on new clothes.

One of the most frequently given contributing factors to obeisity is the relatively low cost of junk food. If more people were buying chicken and vegetables from their grocery stores rather than cheap burgers and burritos, it seems that the economic input would be a wash at minimum. Your piece made it seem that if folks aren't eating junk, they're not eating at all.

I understand that you mean to be tongue-in-cheek, but come on. There are tons more factors at work here, and the last thing we need as a society is another excuse to NOT go for a walk.