Been a while since I did a Fatman Diary. Just to let y'all know I'm no longer fat, I'm on my P90x still (almost done with my second tour of duty) But I wanted to touch on this subject that affects many of us.

Earlier this week, I did a story on the proposed soda taxes and fees. San Francisco is talking about charging grocers a fee to sell soda, while Congress is considering  nationwide One-Cent-Per-Tax Soda Sin tax to fund the health care bill. Both are aimed at curbing obesity. Lord knows we need to curb obesity. Two-thirds of America is considered fat, although I don’t agree with the current Body Mass Index System. Being an ex-fat myself, I know not everyone has the will power, control, or desire to not get fat. Yet when you could barely breather, your clothes barely fit, and the opposite sex looks at you in disgust, you start wishing you were skinny, and wish you had some sort of intervention.

While doing the story, I interviewed a spokesperson from the American Heart Association. One thing that came up, and I actually talked about in my story was the fact culture plays a role in America’s fatty problem.

The spokesperson, citing studies, told me the average immigrant could gain 10-20 pounds within the their first five years in America. The reason: in some countries food is a luxury, and in the U.S. it’s abundantly cheap. You know what, it’s true.

Although I’ve never been back…I hear in the Philippines sugary treats and mainstream American foods such as McDonalds are food for the rich. Only the wealthy could afford to eat at those places we take for granted in America.

What ends up happening is when an immigrant gets to America, they’re delightfully surprised that Double Cheeseburgers are a buck, and Wendy’s has a whole wall of 99 cent tasties. The low prices cause new immigrants often overindulge.

Sorry to bust your bubble my fellow immigrants, but 99 cents is peanuts compared to the money you’ll spend for the rest of your life on lipo, gym memberships, and fat burning pills.

It is a sad realization of the disproportionate wealth of the world. In America, what’s a quick fix is a back breaking, majestic luxury item in another part of the world.

Filipinos and other third world countries have a fondness for fat kids. Of course, it’s cute in a Michelin Baby sort of way. It’s also a sign of wealth. In a country with millions of starving kids, fat kids are considered wealthy because they appear as if they could afford to eat. There’s no such thing as average to Filipinos. The fatter you are, the happier you are. We all know that’s bull.

I’ve actually been getting flack from some viewers, some close friends, others random strangers, that I’m getting to skinny. They miss the BA Boy (baby=pig in tagalog and the initials BA stands for Balitang America, the show I work for) Even my parents are freaking out that I’m getting too skinny. I know it my seem unnatural to those who are familiar with me, hell even I’m freaked out at times, but the truth is, I’m healthier. I’m now down to 160, it’s where I’m suppose to be. It’s hard to imagine I’ve been lugging around an extra 80 pounds. But I do feel healthier, I feel better, and just ask my basketball, flag football, and tennis buddies, while everyone’s slowed down, yup at 27 we’re getting old, I’ve actually sped up. I’m no longer a lineman, I’m more like a scat running back like Darren Sproles of the Chargers. The more I lost weight, the easier it became to work out. I’m kinda just on a roll right now.

I admit, sure maybe I was more loveable and cuddly back then…

But, it’s a health thing. Look at all the Hollywood hotties that are considered hot, Hugh Jackman, matthew mcconaughey, Justin Timberlake, are all pretty slim, so I don’t think fat is considered sexy.

Religion, which can be considered part of culture also plays a role. My mom a hardcore devout Catholic use to tell us that any leftover food equals one extra stone in purgatory. Hell, when you’re eight years old, you’d be scared as hell and eat all you rice too no matter how full you are.

Immigrant stress could be a factor too, the World’s Fattest Man, Manuel Uribe came from Mexico, normal sized dude, but the stress of a new culture away from home, triggered heavy eating. I watched the show a few times, and you gotta feel bad for the guy.

My final conclusion, obesity is sometimes prodded by culture. It’s fueled by the worldwide hunger crisis, it’s a status symbol. The crazy marketing and abundance in America, makes it easier to achieve that status quo. However, American pop culture dictates what’s acceptable, what’s cool, and what mold you should fit. If you flip it on to MTV, it's not fat.

Whether you’re poor, rich, got a eating problem, or no matter what country you’re from, fat is fat. At the end of the day, the more unhealthy your diet and lifestyle are, the bigger the risk of diabetes, strokes, and cardiac arrests.

Technology and entrepreneurship has fueled the skyrocketing obesity rates. I don’t think there was ever a chunky Spartan. They died from Persian Arrow Attacks and not Heat Attacks.

America is a melting pot full of yummies and confusion, mixed with many different ideas of fitness and wealth. America is also continuing to crank out fatty foods, not making it any easier to fight tradition. And now health care reform wants to reverse it, and criminalize the industry that has helped fuel the likes of Colonel Sander and Wendy and clog the hearts its unknowing victims. It's confusing, and a struggle, but at the end of the day, after a series of bad choices, I chose to pick what’s better for my body.