Weight-watchers - Vocabulary Booster

Judging from the popularity of books on dieting, one would think an epidemic of obesity is sweeping the nation. Although being fat is not contagious, it is a condition not to be sneered at since it affects one-fourth of all Americans. Without magnifying the problem, professionals concerned with the nation’s health, from chiropractors to medical specialists, agree that being overweight is a major obstacle to good health. They point out that people will readily see the need to ventilate their homes for fresh air to get rid of vermin that may cause disease, but they jeopardize their health by eating the wrong foods or the wrong amount of foods.
Coincidentally, a recent survey of employment agencies showed that obesity has a negative effect on a person’s chances of landing a job. While the job-seeker is asking about salary and pensions, the employer is thinking about the worker’s health- and weight is a vital consideration when it comes to injuries, disease, and absenteeism.
Some municipal jobs, in fact, do require an applicant to be within normal weight range, and one New York bank insists on an oral understanding that applicants will take off excess weight. As the Wall Street Journal put it, “Fat people often find slim pickings in the job market.”

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Epidemic: An epidemic refers to the rapid spread of a disease or illness within a specific population or region. It typically affects a larger number of individuals than what is normally expected.
Obesity: Obesity is a medical condition characterized by excessive body fat accumulation. It is usually caused by a combination of genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors. Obesity can lead to various health problems and is often associated with an increased risk of developing chronic diseases.
Magnify: To magnify means to make something appear larger or more significant. It can be done both physically, by using a magnifying glass or a microscope, and metaphorically, by emphasizing or exaggerating the importance or impact of something.
Chiropractor: A chiropractor is a healthcare professional who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of musculoskeletal disorders, particularly those affecting the spine. They use manual adjustment techniques to alleviate pain, improve mobility, and promote overall well-being.
Obstacle: An obstacle is something that blocks or hinders progress or achievement. It can be a physical barrier, a challenging situation, or a difficulty that needs to be overcome in order to reach a goal.
Ventilate: Ventilate means to provide fresh air or circulation to a space or an enclosed area. It involves the exchange of indoor and outdoor air to improve air quality and remove pollutants or odors.
Jeopardize: Jeopardize means to put something or someone at risk or in danger. It implies the possibility of harm, loss, or negative consequences due to certain actions or circumstances.
Negative: Negative refers to something that is unfavorable, pessimistic, or lacking in positivity. It can also indicate the absence or denial of something.
Pension: A pension is a regular payment made to a retired or disabled person as a form of income support. It is typically provided by an employer or a government agency to ensure financial stability during retirement.
Vital: Vital means essential, crucial, or necessary for the proper functioning or survival of something. It implies the importance and significance of a particular element or factor.
Municipal: Municipal relates to a local government or a municipality. It refers to matters or activities that are under the jurisdiction or control of a city or town.
Oral: Oral refers to anything related to the mouth or spoken communication. It can refer to verbal language, oral hygiene, or medications that are taken through the mouth.
Contagious: Contagious describes a disease or condition that can be easily transmitted or spread from one person to another through direct or indirect contact.
Sneer at: Sneer at means to express contempt, disdain, or mockery towards someone or something through facial expressions, gestures, or sarcastic remarks. It implies a condescending or disrespectful attitude.

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The Contagious Cure: A Symphony of Snacktivism

In the year 2043, New Hope City vibrated with a negative hum. Obesity, once a mere statistic, had mutated into a rampant epidemic, its tendrils suffocating the city’s spirit. Mega-corporations like GlucoCorp peddled sugary solutions, their billboards sneering at thin ideals. Hope, like the air in New Hope’s smoggy alleys, was becoming scarce.

But amidst the despair, a spark ignited. Dr. Eleanor Finch, a chiropractor with a passion for holistic healing, stumbled upon a forgotten medical manuscript. It spoke of a revolutionary oral treatment, a symphony of herbs and spices, its notes promising to magnify vitality and curb cravings. Eleanor, fuelled by a flicker of defiance, knew she had to share this melody with the city’s ailing symphony.

The obstacles were many. GlucoCorp, threatened by Eleanor’s vital concoction, unleashed a smear campaign, painting her as a quack, her clinic a haven for the desperate and delusional. The city council, beholden to corporate sponsors, deemed her treatment “unorthodox,” denying her permits to market it. But Eleanor refused to be silenced.

She turned to the people, her clinic transforming into a community hub. The unemployed became her nurses, and they ostracized her advocates. They started brewing the concoction in large pots, the fragrant steam a banner of rebellion against the city’s malaise. Eleanor called it “Snacktivism,” a symphony of self-care played out in community kitchens, on rooftops, and in backyards.

And the music spread. People traded junk food for herbal mixes, laughter replacing despair. As pounds shed, so did fear and apathy. New Hope City, once suffocating under the weight of obesity, started to ventilate. Parks filled with joggers, once-deserted gyms thrummed with life. GlucoCorp’s billboards mocked them, but their sneers rang hollow against the city’s newfound vibrancy.

The climax arrived when Eleanor, backed by a throng of Snacktivists, stormed the city council, the aroma of their herbal remedy a potent weapon. Her presentation, her voice amplified by the collective will of the community, pierced through the council’s defenses. They couldn’t deny the tangible results, the symphony of health echoing through the streets.

Faced with this groundswell of public support, the council relented. The treatment was approved, Snacktivism granted its municipal stamp of approval. GlucoCorp, its grip on the city loosening, sputtered and retreated. New Hope City, once choked by negativity, bloomed anew, its streets resonating with a healthier, happier rhythm.

Dr. Eleanor Finch, the chiropractor who dared to challenge a corporate giant with a forgotten recipe, became a beacon of hope. Her story, a testament to the power of community and the contagious nature of well-being, resonated far beyond New Hope’s borders. Snacktivism became a global movement, a symphony of self-care rewriting the narrative of health, one spice-infused note at a time.

The epidemic receded, not through pharmaceuticals, but through the collective will of a city that rediscovered its own healing melody. And on the rooftops of New Hope, where laughter mingled with the scent of cinnamon and turmeric, you could almost hear the faint echo of Dr. Finch’s words: “Health is not a product, it’s a song we sing together.”