The rise of obesity in today's world can be attributed to many different things.  The popularization of fast food and video games have together contributed to the decline of fitness.  That being said, there has also been a great increase in the number of fitness clubs.  Some people are trying to [bad word] more physically fit, while others are going in the opposite direction.  Why do you think that some people have [bad word] more interested in physical fitness?

What does healthy living mean to you?  “You are what you eat” is a well-known phrase that stresses the importance of your diet.  Staying away from eating a lot of junk food is important in order to maintain a healthy lifestyle.  If you buy your food at the grocery store, you can look at the list of ingredients and nutritional value on the package to determine if it is healthy.  However, if you eat out a lot, then it will be difficult to determine exactly what you are putting into your body.  Restaurants often use fatty oils in their cooking.  Although tasty, this is not healthy.  In the United States, an organization called the USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) advises people what types of food they should eat to be healthy.  There are 5 food groups listed: Grains, Vegetables, [bad word]  Milk, and Meat/Beans.  Eating many items from each group is important.  By doing this, your body will be healthy. If you nourish your body by eating a variety of healthy foods, then your body will be strong and healthy.  Eating right will also help you to avoid catching a cold or getting a disease.  One's eating habits depend on their goals.  Someone who is looking to gain weight will try to consume a lot of protein and calories (food energy), whereas those looking to lose weight will try to decrease their calorie consumption, usually by choosing foods low in carbohydrates (carbs).

Physical activity is also important in maintaining your health.  Getting a membership to a sport club is a good way to ensure that you regularly work out.  Finding a workout buddy will also help to keep you motivated to work out.  Unfortunately, there are also negative aspects to physical fitness.  Sometimes in their quest for perfection, people lose sight of reality.  Diseases such as anorexia, bulimia, and body dysmorphic disorder are more prevalent today than ever before.

What are some other things that you need to keep in mind in order to be healthy?
Is physical fitness an important part [bad word] culture?  Do you work out?  If so, how often, and what do you do?  What do you look for in a sport club?  What sports do you like to play?  Which sports do you think are the most beneficial?

Obesity = condition in which someone is extremely fat; the state of being REALLY fat. [My sister's friend [bad word] with her obesity – the problem is, she only eats at McDonald's!!] [NOTE:  Obese is the ADJECTIVE form of this noun – “She isn't fat, she's OBESE!”]