Try It: Make Being Healthy Into a Game

Two-thirds of our country is overweight or obese. The current generation is predicted to have a shorter life span than their parents for the first time in recorded history, by up to 10 years. And the greatest killer in our country, the greatest single threat to our lives is not terrorism, but poor health. The situation is totally out of hand. We all know that we have to do something, and it's not like we aren't trying. Last year alone we spent $60 billion trying to lose weight and get healthy only to watch our health and the health of our nation continue to plummet. So, is all hope lost? Not at all! Because, while the problem couldn't be more serious, the solution just might be a game ... literally.

I recently watched a video of a subway station in Stockholm, Sweden. It was noticed that when given the option between stairs and an escalator to get out of the subway the overwhelming majority took the escalator. And trust me, that isn't only happening in Sweden. But why is this the case? It's not like people don't know how to use the stairs, and it's not that people are necessarily opposed to getting a little exercise. Is it because it's easier, or is because we have simply gotten into the habit of taking the escalator?

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