Re: Fat or not?

In rec.org.sca on Mon, 01 Dec 2003 07:34:57 -0500
Cynthia Virtue <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> 
> So unless you, say, take a few visual surveys of people at events, and 
> log the results, and then compare them to an average section of the 
> population, you won't know if SCA folk tend to be fatter than the rest 
> of that particular area, or not.


I've heard this "why are they more fat here than elsewhere" at other
groups too....

Some of it can be age - in my local SCA there are a number of people who
have hit "middle age spread", plus they mostly have sedentry whitecollar
jobs.  When I look at other groups with the same demographic, I see the
same spread of bodyshape. 

The big problem is that it's *hard* to get the regular daily activity
that the human body is designed for.  Long commutes from dormitory
suburbs, jobs designed around long periods at a desk (you don't have to
get up to walk to the filing room in the basement no more...), driving
to major malls because there are no local shops, it all adds up.

I *really* notice how much walking I do at Festival every year.  Those
few hundred yards to the showers or the privy or the listfield, the
longer walk to the battlefield, hauling water....  If I was doing that
every day of my life, I'd be very different!  But given the realities of
work and home and time, it's hard to get in the amount of exercise
needed for normal health.

Silfren

-- 
Zebee Johnstone ([EMAIL PROTECTED]), proud holder of
aus.motorcycles Poser Permit #1.
"Motorcycles are like peanuts... who can stop at just one?"