Do you know what has become an epidemic that no one is openly talking about? Obesity. Yes, obesity has been considered an epidemic since 1999. If you have a BMI of 30 or greater you are classified as obese. This is the reason it seems so many people set out to lose weight each New Year and why we are inundated with weight loss commercials through January. America’s Health Rankings[i], using data from the CDC, states that in 2019, 32.1% of U.S. adult females and 30.6 % of adult males were obese. A graph from 1990 to the present shows a steady increase in the number of people in the United States in the obese category. For those of us living in Ohio (if you live in another state it is easy to go online and find your state’s rate), in 2018, the rate for adults was 33.8%. In 2019 Ohio’s youth rate, ages 10-17, was 17.1%. Add to this the fact that 2/3 of Americans are overweight. Do you realize then that most of the general population is overweight? When you look around it appears to be “normal” because everyone’s outward appearance is the same. Those that are maintaining an optimal body weight are the ones who appear “abnormal” since they are in the minority.
Most people know that they should lose weight because it will make them healthier, but what really are the side effects of too much weight? Here is what you will not find on the back of the potato chip bag or the McDonald’s carton.
Side Effects of Obesity:
*Greater cognitive decline as you age compared to people of optimal weight[i]
*Heart disease
*Kidney disease
*Diabetes
*Autoimmune diseases
*Immune system damage
*Fewer white blood cells (resulting in a weaker immune system)
*Decrease effectiveness of flu vaccine
*Increase risk of severe flu
*Covid 19[ii]
*Lack of stamina/energy
*Poor self- esteem; depression
With covid 19 on the minds of many this year, it is important to note that several of these side effects are associated with an increased risk of severe illness. Excess weight, without any other health issues, may also be a factor in contracting and developing a more severe case of covid 19. Also be aware that even if you have a “clean bill of health” it is still important to address your weight sooner than later because one or more of the side effects may be in development and not yet detected.
The real question becomes how you respond to this information. The typical way many people do is to begin the new year by planning to limit daily calories or choosing a popular/commercial diet to begin. The goal is to lose weight and no matter how you limit calories you will initially lose that weight. However, the diet is hard to maintain, you hit a plateau, etc. and you give up and the weight returns. Through all of this you may still be putting your health in harm’s way because of the food choices you are making even though the pounds are coming off. The new way I advocate to respond to this information is to focus on health instead of weight loss. By doing this you will get a 2 for 1 investment- permanent weight loss and true health. This new focus is based upon research and experience of using a whole food plant- based diet that includes positive lifestyle changes. By eating the right fuel for your body, the excess fat cells will disappear, and you have a greater chance of clearing or avoiding disease.
This is just the beginning of the “conversation” of health and not weight loss. The next step is to get in touch with me or enroll in my upcoming Weight Loss class and come away with motivation to develop habits for sustainable weight loss and true health.
Now is the time…… to live every day!
[i] Singh-Manouz A, Elbaz A, et al. “Obesity phenotypes in midlife and cognition in early old age: The Whitehall II cohort study.” Neurology. 2012; 79: 755-762.
[ii] Sudre C, Murray B, et al. “Attributes and predictors of Long-COVID: analysis of COVID cases and their symptoms collected by the Covid Symptoms Study App.” MedRXIV. December 19, 2020.
[i] www.americashealthrankings.org