"The obesity epidemic" is a term that you probably hear every day. In spite of ceaseless media attention, we have yet to succeed at stalling the momentum of this great American health crisis. But as we look deeper into its causes, we're learning that this problem is deep-seeded and has been growing slowly, for a long period of time.
Obesity certainly isn't tied to just one of our cultural practices. Unfortunately, the complicated causes behind it don't make the trend easy to reverse. According to The Big Fat Health and Fitness Lie, healthcare costs of Americans adults with obesity already amount to $100 billion.
It is best defined by Body Mass Index - a formula that takes height and weight into account to determine a numerical rating known as BMI. A person with a BMI of 18.5-24.9 is considered normal, while anyone with a BMI over 30 is considered obese.
Let's look at why obesity is affecting one third of Americans today, and how we can turn the tide.
Where Does it Start?
Is obesity written into our genes? Research is underway that may indeed confirm that weight runs in our family bloodline. Add that to the possibility that obesity is linked to increased fertility, and the obesity epidemic could continue to grow. However there may be hidden factors, like shared eating habits, that link our weight to that of our relatives in a much more influential way. Eating and drinking habits habits, specifically overeating, binge eating, binge drinking and making unhealthy food choices, may all contribute to obesity. Trauma, emotional stress, prescription medications and lack of sleep also affect obesity, as does a sedentary lifestyle.
Over the past several decades, we as a society have moved to eating fast-paced, convenient meals more often, while turning to food as a form of comfort. And the wide variety of processed and chemical-laden foods offered in the grocery store make healthy food choices increasingly difficult and often the more elaborate, time-consuming food option. Fast-food just fits easily into our hectic lifestyles.
Changing the Future
To combat obesity, we need to reassess the role that food plays in our lives. Meals have always been social gatherings and that need not change, but we must examine our calorie intake during meals. Calorie consumed should be relative to the calories expended daily.
Making time for physical activity and turning workouts into social gatherings is one easy way to target weight gain without isolating ourselves. It's also important to rethink the convenience of fast food and weigh its harmful effects against the positive effects of a healthy diet.
If proper diet is not something that was learned from family members, investing in the services of a health or nutrition counselor who can create specific meal plans is a valuable option. In order to prevent the obesity epidemic from causing a true national healthcare crisis, preventative change in our relationship with food is a must. Nutrition education, in schools, medical offices and community centers, is essential. We must realize now that diet and exercise habits can be altered, while many resulting health conditions cannot.
