A number of years in the past, my husband was invited to offer a lecture in Paris. As a supportive spouse, I accompanied him. (I hope you notice my attendance on that journey had nothing to do with help however all the things to do with the French style and cultural scene.)
Through the day whereas he was spending time in some drab lecture corridor, I used to be roaming across the metropolis buying, consuming at native bistros, and studying leisurely within the park. I totally loved “individuals watching” and noting cultural variations between the U.S. and France.
Essentially the most notable distinction was how a lot bigger People had been in comparison with Europeans. My husband and I might stroll round choosing out the individuals who had been clearly from the states. The garments in Parisian outlets appeared to be tailor-made to suit a narrower body. I recall an occasion the place my husband was discouraged from coming into a clothes retailer as a result of the worker appeared him up and down and simply shook his head no. There was no political correctness in Paris.
So, what makes us so completely different from different international locations like France and Sweden? These nations’ residents eat their justifiable share of sweets akin to chocolate, and drink modest quantities of wine. I used to be astonished on the variety of croissants and the quantity of cheese eaten at breakfast day by day. As an illustration, one morning whereas at breakfast, I noticed a gentleman with six to eight pastries on his plate. But, he was extraordinarily skinny.
Nevertheless, a key distinction I observed was the quantity of day by day motion most Parisians carried out. They walked in every single place: to the native market, to work, and to their varied leisure actions. You additionally observed a whole lot of bike riders. Lots of people additionally used public transportation, which required strolling to varied bus and prepare stations.
Now, let’s examine that tradition to ours. We barely stroll across the block. We attempt to discover the closest parking area to the door. As a substitute of taking our youngsters to the park on a gorgeous Sunday afternoon, we prop them in entrance of the TV to allow them to play on the most recent digital gadget they obtained for Christmas.
As a substitute of encouraging the bike riders in our metropolis, we complain they take driving lanes away to accommodate bicycles. Some communities don’t have bike lanes in any respect, particularly neighborhoods which can be predominantly minority.
We have now additionally created communities that make it harder to stroll to native eating places and grocery shops. We’re a tradition of comfort, and our waistlines are increasing due to it.
Minority communities typically lack inexperienced areas or, in the event that they do exist, they’re plagued with gun violence. Due to this fact, these areas go unused resulting from concern of hurt.
Tradition change doesn’t happen by magic. It should be deliberate and intentional. If we don’t wish to see future generations with worse well being outcomes than its predecessor, we should alter the course now. This implies shifting extra. It means attending native ward conferences and discussing with native authorities, crime in and round our parks. Lastly, it means selecting wholesome choices over comfort.
Denise Hooks-Anderson, M.D., FAAFP is SLUCare Household Drugs interim assistant dean of Range, Fairness, and Inclusion and an affiliate Professor
