We're Eating Ourselves to Death

This is a fascinating discussion about nutrition, obesity their links to chronic health conditions.

We have been seeing a rise in the percentage of American adults and now kids that can be classified as obese. Some voices in the media and academia have been telling us that obesity is merely a genetic affliction. Yet for the majority of our history, obesity rates have been rather low. Only in recent history do we have a caloric overabundance and the majority of our food is composed of sugars and processed grains. This often-overlooked fact suggests that nutrition and exercise plays a larger role in our overall BMI than does genetics.

What's worse, obesity itself is causing devastating consequences to our overall health and our healthcare system. Obesity has been linked to diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, mental illness and increased all-cause mortality. Some sources would say that many of the conditions for which Americans seek healthcare are directly linked to nutrition, exercise, and obesity. https://www.cdc.gov/healthyweight/effects/index.html

So, what can we do?

1. Get educated.

Listen to podcasts like this. Check out resources at the CDC. - https://www.cdc.gov/obesity/index.html

2. Change starts at home.

Start working on improving your 4 pillars of wellness (Nutrition, movement, sleep and chronic stress management). Learn about nutrition. There are tons of books and online resources out there. But it all comes down to eating high quality whole foods and consuming fewer calories than you burn. On the exercise front, get active. This is one reason that I publish post-workout pictures on the Facebook page. But as you think through exercise, don't get hung up in analysis paralysis or a fear that your workout routine isn't some high intensity program that you see others doing online. Start with walking. 30 minutes per day, 5 days per week will begin to pay massive dividends. Then make sure you get adequate sleep. Burning the candle at both ends doesn't help you. It only exacerbates your health problems.

3. Encourage others to follow your example.

In the clinics or on the wards, encourage patients toward improving their nutrition and fitness. Encourage your friends. Find friends who will continue to encourage you! There is a huge industry of fitness and biometric trackers. Find one you like and share your data with your friends. Use it as an opportunity of encouragement and accountability.

Get After It!