While Americans may feel like today's social climate is now defined by the threat of terrorism, there are many internal problems facing people that are much more likely to affect them.
The Problem of Obesity
It seems that I cannot listen to a single news cast without hearing shocking statistics demonstrating the spread of the epidemic of obesity. Often the headline reads the something clever like The battle of the bulge. The CDC defines obesity as being defined by an excessively high amount of body fat or adipose tissue in relation to lean body mass (NRC p114; Stunkard p14). In other words you don't have to necessarily have a big belly to be considered obese. In fact many people that appear trim have an unhealthy ratio of lean body mass compared with their body fat. And this poses a serious health risk. Aside from the obvious quality of life issues that go along with being out of shape, obesity greatly increase the risk of developing the following conditions (some of which can be fatal): High blood pressure, hypertension, High blood cholesterol, dyslipidemia, Type 2 (non-insulin dependent) diabetes, Insulin resistance, glucose intolerance, Hyperinsulinemia, Coronary heart disease, Angina pectoris, Congestive heart failure, Stroke Gallstones, Cholescystitis and cholelithiasis, Gout Osteoarthritis, Obstructive sleep apnea and respiratory problems, Some types of cancer (such as endometrial, breast, prostate, and colon), Complications of pregnancy, Poor female reproductive health (such as menstrual irregularities, infertility, irregular ovulation), Bladder control problems (such as stress incontinence) Uric acid nephrolithiasis, Psychological disorders (such as depression, and eating disorders.1
In the year 2001 most states in the us had an obesity rate between 15-24%2. Taking those numbers into consideration, that means states had an average of about 20%, or 1 of 5 people. Do you know 1 person affected by terrorism of out 5? Between desk jobs, improvements in technology and the tremendous increase in the average size of portions served at many restaurants, there are infinite reasons that most people will find themselves overweight at some point in their lives.
What is the answer?
Well I don't know about you, but the constant barrage of these stories made me take a look at my own lifestyle. Long story short, I lost 30-40 pounds in 3 months. And I did not go on a diet or join one of the many programs dedicated to a newer thinner you (I'll tell you exactly how a little later).
Leave it to Government officials to use obesity to take away our property and freedom. Ideas such as taxing food that are known to be unhealthy like this one from a New York law maker are reprehensible and unjust. Even more distasteful and dangerous is our judiciary system getting involved by way of the law suits piling up against the manufactures or marketers of unhealthy food like this one. Just think of the can of worms that is opened by legislating lifestyle choices. Aside from the shrinking concept of individual responsibility, this could result in a scenario in which laws are made that treat you (lets assume you like donuts) from being prevented from choosing your own meal or paying a tax on it. On the other hand, we have all seen the many programs and devices ranging from sensible to completely absurd. For morbidly obese individuals, modern medicine has even presented extremes such as surgery to cut the stomach smaller and staple it.
There are fundamental flaws with nearly all of these solutions in my opinion.
A sensible program like Weight Watchers will usually work, if the client can dutifully follow its guidelines. However these programs cost money and involve an advisor or a group. It is my belief that a person is better served by doing things based on their own motivation. This way they will not be handicapped when they find themselves on their own. The biggest problem with programs that focus on a person's diet is that the growing consensus among the medical community is that exercise is more effective than dieting when the goal of a person is losing weight safely and keeping it off. It is very reasonable that a program of physical activity first and sensible diet second would both increase lean body mass and decrease fat (and that is aside from cardiovascular benefits such as healthy heart and lower blood pressure.)
Now let me tell you about some of the more absurd programs that I can remember hearing about, off the top of my head. In Atlanta a company called Body Solutions bombarded radio listeners with advertisements that claim their product melted away the pounds by taking a pill and not eating 3 hours before bed. If false promise to hopeless and desperate overweight adults wasn't bad enough, they screwed all the radio stations they advertised on by filing chapter 11 without paying them. The other ridiculous diet system that comes to mind is the Hollywood 48 Hour miracle diet. I believe this product was an overpriced bottle of fruit juice that served as your primary nourishment for 48 hours, and instantly you could lose up to 10 pounds. I am a little bit conflicted as to how to feel about these companies. On one hand separating stupid people from their money is an important tradition in this country, it sort of keeps everyone in their place. On the other hand, the mere fact that many people ARE this desperate is, in itself, tragic.
So what DOES work? Simple eat less, move more.
Here are some simple guidelines for anyone to follow. Get a heart monitor and ask your doctor to recommend a zone for you heart rate in which you will be getting a good cardio workout but not straining yourself. The heart monitor will tell you exactly how good of a workout you are getting and prevent unnecessary fatigue, injury and strains. With the monitor on, do at least 30-45 minutes of exercise in your target zone at least 3 times a week. If you want to enhance the results and tone your body, do 30 minutes to 1 hour of weights. As to when to do which exercise: do what you hate the most first, thereby assuring you don't'skip' an activity that will provide you a great benefit.
As to your diet, the most important thing here is to understand that your body can only breakdown a certain amount of food at one time, whether that food is garbage or health food. Spread your meals across longer time frames. Example you get a chicken salad sandwich and a cup of gazpacho. Use a calorie calculator like this free one. And time your eating so that you are not eating more than 200-250 per hour. posted by Keith at 5:43 AM
What is the answer?