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To answer why people would push to get so fit, you have to explain the emotion and motivation behind it. Simply saying it's healthy or makes you strong only ext
by spodek 12y ago
To answer why people would push to get so fit, you have to explain the emotion and motivation behind it. Simply saying it's healthy or makes you strong only extends the question.
Partly they do it because of the emotional reward from exhaustion, progressing overcoming challenges, feeling stronger or more capable, approaching an ideal appearance, comparing themselves to others, and maybe a couple others. I believe all of those things make people feel good and want to continue.
You also have to explain why now compared to a few decades ago, though, which the above doesn't explain.
I think the main reason is that the American environments surround us with gluttonous and unhealthy food and behaviors that, if we didn't work to make ourselves healthy, we could too easily slide down a slippery slope and become. The more junk food and labor-saving devices around us, the greater the temptation, therefore the greater need to resist, therefore the greater enthusiasm to work.
In principle you could test this hypothesis. It suggests that in communities with healthy food and active lifestyles, you'd find less extreme fitness and more regular fitness. In communities with unhealthy food and sedentary lifestyles, you'd find the people who pursued fitness would pursue it more extremely.
- mtrimpe 12y agoFWIW When I, as a European, went to a US high school almost 20 years ago one of the big differences that struck me was that people tended to be either overweight at best or morbidly obese at worst or super skinny and super healthy.
- wanderingstan 12y agoThis was my impression too, as an American studying in Europe. I was amazed that everyone seemed to be in "okay" shape, but few people focussed on exercise as in America. They went for walks after meals out of habit, biked places out of convenience, and ate moderately sized meals as normal.
- godzilla82 12y agoI feel what is really wrong with the article is why do people feel the need to get an explanation for the things others do. Do people really stop to ask themselves why they like the things they themselves like. Every time you like something, do you stop to wonder about the evolutionary or genetic reasons behind your feeling good.
- jaredsohn 12y ago> Every time you like something, do you stop to wonder about the evolutionary or genetic reasons behind your feeling good. Yes. Deeper understanding of myself and others pays off in a lot of ways -- it helps me find other things I might like (and avoid things I probably won't), helps me predict the future, and helps me connect more deeply with others.