Convenience is a common theme in today's world. Most tasks that used to take hours of effort can now be accomplished with the touch of a button, and a seemingly unlimited source of information can now be accessed by devices people keep in their pockets.

But one of the consequences of this extreme convenience is an expectation for everything to be fast and easy, but that is not always the case, particularly in the area of health. Humans need to eat the right foods and be physically active to stay healthy. But as our lives become more and more "convenient," our habits become increasingly sedentary, contributing to a growing epidemic of obesity across the nation. According to the Centers for Disease Control and prevention, more than one in three American adults and about 17 percent of children and adolescents from the age of 2 to 19 are obese.

But there are some people in America who are doing something about this situation. Recently, the Advocate followed the story of Victoria resident Reuben Ybarra as he competed in the 2012 H-E-B Slim Down Showdown. Over a period of 16 weeks, Ybarra lost 85 pounds and won the Healthy Hero award. His story of determination and finding the drive to push past what was easy to live a better, healthier life is a source of inspiration for others struggling with obesity. Ybarra took this competition as a chance to make a positive change in his life, and with the support of his family and friends, he was able to succeed. We applaud him for his dedication, hard work and the inspiration he gave others by sharing his story with us and our readers.

Ybarra's story also highlights a study done by students at Victoria College involving fast food consumption. The students surveyed 145 Victoria County residents with various education levels ranging from some high school through a college graduate program. The survey revealed that the more educated a person is, the less likely they are to eat fast food. This study connects with Ybarra's success because it shows the importance of people educating themselves on what kinds of foods people should eat to stay healthy, just as Ybarra did in his 16-week challenge.

We applaud these students for taking initiative and doing this study, which highlights how essential it is for people to be knowledgeable about their eating habits in order to improve and maintain their health. We encourage our readers to take inspiration from both Ybarra and the Victoria College study and educate themselves on how to eat healthier foods and start exercising regularly. We may live in a world full of convenience, but to truly live a healthy life, you have to be willing to put forth some effort.

This editorial reflects the views of the Victoria Advocate's editorial board.