Labour-saving devices

Throughout history, mankind has invested in labour-saving devices. From the first flint axes extending the power of the human arm to cut and smash, the wheel to carry heavy items, there's been a continual number of inventions which either make life easier for people or make them more productive (or more destructive in the case of weapons). In many parts of the world, farming productivity is still dependent on the horse, donkey or ox to drag a plough or cart.

Since electricity was discovered in a useable form, we've had domestic appliances which alleviate the drudgery of chores (washing machines, dishwashers, blenders, food mixers etc). The internal combustion engine has provided motive force for vehicles making journeys almost effortless, and with the alternator provides electricity to power in car entertainment so that a journey can be almost as comfortable and pleasant as sitting at home!

Productivity in farming means there's sufficient food for everyone. The problem of food shortages in the world is a problem of distribution, with localised famines often being turned into disasters by a combination of lack of transport, governmental incompetence, and governenmental corruption.

In relatively recent history, there has been a proliferation of exercise machinery, some simple, some complex devices intended to make it easy for people to put their otherwise unused muscles to work, to make them fitter, stronger and more healthy by reducing excess fat. These machines are usually costly, and yet many people who buy them only use them for a short period of time before abandoning them in their spare rooms or garages; some equipment is bought and never used, or even is never unpacked.

There are also companies which operate places called gymnasiums, gyms for short, where people can pay go to use premium quality exercise machines and get coaching on how to use them more effectively. Many people who use these gyms drive there in their labour-saving devices called cars, to get the exercise they would have achieved had they walked, run or bicycled there.

And yet people are getting fat, to the point where in the western world one third of the population are obese, ie. so far they are unhealthy and at risk of shortening their lives significantly.

Am I the only one to see the irony in this?