Obesity, Whats The Big Deal

Nowadays, so much of the public is obese (fat) that it is the "norm". So much so, that we are starting to ignore this epidemic.

Thankfully, the Surgeon General has issued a warning about the plague of obesity that has been considered to be as significant or moreso than the warning issued about the hazards of cigarette smoke.

As long as you are carrying extra weight (beyond the acceptable upper limits of body fat), you increase your risks for a variety of health complaints. These complaints and risks include conditions such as diabetes, heart attack, stroke, high blood pressure, osteoarthritis, and more.

Definition of Obesity and Overweight

Obesity has been defined as an abnormal accumulation of body fat in proportion to body size. Overweight persons, although still technically obese, will have a body-fat proportion that is intermediate between normal and obese. (1)

Some Common Excuses for Being Obese

This section will probably ruffle the feathers of some people who read it. It is not meant to be demeaning or belittling. Rather it is meant to shed light on some of the "unhealthy" thought patterns that contribute to obesity, its consequences, and other conditions.

A lot of people will say to themselves and others something like "Yeah, I'm a bit overweight but I feel okay about it" or "Maybe I'm carrying a few extra pounds, but so is everyone else" or even "I might be fat, but I can lose it anytime I want". Other things that you might hear someone else say are things like "Jeez, you look pretty good ?" "for someone who just had a baby" or ? "for someone who has had three kids" (my wife absolutely hates hearing those 'compliments') or ? "for someone who hasn't played hockey in ten years."

Then of course there are the "medical" excuses. "I've got metabolic syndrome", "ever since my surgery, I've had no energy", "my knees hurt", "I have arthritis", "It's hereditary", "I've got asthma" ?

All of the above probably have a seed of truth in them for many people. However, more often than not, these excuses are a way to avoid doing something that you don't want to do, such as getting more exercise, or controlling your eating habits.

Why does this occur? Because we are in D.E.N.I.A.L. (an addictions counselor/mental health worker told me that it stood for Don't Even (k)no(w) I Am Lying).

Lifestyle Factors

Today's life is, no doubt, incredibly hectic and seems to be getting moreso every passing year. Gone are the days when most people in our society must do heavy physical labour every day just to survive. Automation has created many labour saving devices. This in turn has created a largely sedentary, inactive society.

Look at the kids today. Instead of being outside playing shinny or a game of pick-up basketball, or any of thousands of other outdoor activities, they are inside playing video games or getting mesmerized by the T.V.

Patricia Markham Risica (2) writes that ?

The number of people affected by obesity continues to rise along with the prevalence of comorbid diseases that result from this condition. What could be considered the modern-day plague, caused by higher consumption and less expenditure of energy, has been broken down into its economic components by Eric Finkelstein.[1,2] The likely economic culprits for the marked increases observed in the 1980s and '90s include the increased availability of higher-calorie-dense foods, increased portion sizes, and lower overall costs of food along with increased exposure to television advertising of the same products. These trends are coupled with the earlier trends from the '60s and '70s of lower energy expenditure at work, more women in the workforce, and not making family meals at home. The increased prevalence of obesity carries a parallel increased demand for economic resources; 5% to 7% of total medical expenditures are already being devoted to this very costly condition.[1,3,4]

And she further writes that ?

Obesity and overweight (the term preferred by the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and other organizations when referring to children and adolescents due to the potential negative connotations associated with "obesity")[5] represent a challenge of vast dimensions to the public health community, with causes of the epidemic permeating American society. Americans are surrounded by facilitators of an eat-more/expend-less society -- from the individual and family; to the food producers, processors, sellers, and advertisers; to the city planners of our neighborhoods; to the business organizations that demand our time during the day and the media that entertain us in the evening. Clinicians generally are not equipped to control this epidemic that greets them every day. Behavioral change counseling is not in their repertoire and effective treatments are not readily available; in fact, even when they are available, such programs are usually not reimbursed by third-party payers.

-----

In today's society, the cost of eating in a healthy fashion is more often than not, much more expensive than eating all of the garbage that is available. Additionally, in virtually all processed foods, there is some sort of additive which will increase hunger and cravings. (reminds me of a line from "So I Married An Axe Murderer" with Mike Myers were his father was discussing "the Colonel" and how he puts an addictive chemical in his chicken to "make you crave it fortnightly!") Nowadays the home vegetable garden plot is fast disappearing which again will limit the availability of wholesome produce at a lower cost.

Look at artificial sweeteners. They have the ability to artificially increase your hunger. Not only that, but when they break down in your body, some very harmful chemicals can appear. One particular artificial sweetener is in over 2000 products! Think of the impact on society. Try finding chewing gum without it.

All of the above can contribute in some small or even in some large way to increase the increasingly present burden of obesity.

Until next time?

Yours in Health,

Dr. M. Montgomery @ www.healthyunderstanding.com

References 1. Obesity. Jonathan Q. Purnell, M.D., Medscape.com 2. Prevention of Overweight and Obesity: Focus on Children and Adolescents. Patricia Markham Risica, Dr.PH, RD, Medscape.com

Disclaimer: As always, check with your health care provider to see if this information applies to you. Due diligence is your responsibility. This information is meant to supplement your knowledge, not to replace your own decision making process or take the place of your health care provider.

This newsletter is provided for free by HealthyUnderstanding.com This newsletter may be distributed in its entirety without alteration.

Dr. Marshal Montgomery is a practising chiropractor in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada and is the creator of http://www.healthyunderstanding.com. He has practised in Canada and Australia.

cheap limo service Lombard .. Lockport Chicago limo O’Hare
In The News:

Recent reports show many common passwords can be cracked in literally seconds. Kurt the CyberGuy explains how to strengthen your passwords.
Stay up to date on the latest AI technology advancements and learn about the challenges and opportunities AI presents now and for the future.
Iron, a robot that stands 5 feet, 8 inches tall and weighs 154 pounds, combines advanced artificial intelligence with human-like movement and exceptional vision.
Hertz, the rental car giant, recently confirmed that customer information was exposed through a cyberattack on one of its software vendors.
There are a number of features with AirPods you may or may not know about to take your listening experience to the next level. Kurt the CyberGuy explains.
These 35 Chrome extensions have privacy and security concerns. Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson says to delete them now.
Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson says 329,000 mph fusion rocket promises to be fast, disruptive and enable deep-space missions.
Stay up to date on the latest AI technology advancements and learn about the challenges and opportunities AI presents now and for the future.
Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson says a new autonomous AI is a game changer that also raises privacy risks. Is your data safe?
Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson says robots and drones are revolutionizing fruit farming with faster picking and smarter handling.
Landmark Admin revises May 2024 cyberattack scope to show twice as many people were affected. Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson gives tips to help stay safe from an insurance data breach.
Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson talks about how Yamaha’s hydrogen outboard motor could revolutionize boating with zero emissions.
Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson reveals how to memorialize or remove a deceased loved one’s Facebook account and protect their digital legacy from misuse or scams.
Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson says an Apple Watch saved psychiatrist Amanda Faulkner by detecting deadly leukemia early.
Scammers and fraudsters are increasingly targeting the most vulnerable, especially nursing homes and the personal data of their residents. Kurt the CyberGuy has safety tips.
Infected USB flash drives can spread malware among multiple organizations in ways that can easily bypass traditional security systems.
With a fully automated warehouse system and AI-powered robots, Ocado's Hive picks, packs and delivers grocery store orders in just a few minutes.
Stay up to date on the latest AI technology advancements and learn about the challenges and opportunities AI presents now and for the future.
Recycling robots are using artificial intelligence to learn how to sort recyclables by recognizing patterns in colors, textures, shapes and logos.
The Reachy 2 robot is designed to be friendly and approachable, inviting natural interaction and is perfect for research, education and experimenting with embodied AI.
Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson shares several easy ways to keep your credit cards safe from digital thieves while you're traveling this summer.
Arcturus sets up cameras around the edges of baseball stadiums to capture real-time action and generate a 3D digital clone of the game.
Stay up to date on the latest AI technology advancements and learn about the challenges and opportunities AI presents now and for the future.
The CyberGuy explains why healthcare organizations are vulnerable to hackers after there have been a half dozen data breaches this year.
Developed at two California universities, the innovative technology combines brain-computer interfaces with advanced AI to decode neural activity into audible speech.

Empowerment and Self-Control - What it Really Takes to get Control of your Weight

Chant the following each day, several times. They are mantras... Read More

When a Parent has WLS: What to Tell Our Chubby Children

We know that children are becoming obese at an alarming... Read More

The Truth About Losing Fat On Your Stomach

Do you know anybody who does not wish to get... Read More

Say No To Obesity

Obesity still remains one of the commonest avoidable causes of... Read More

Weight Loss and Exercising Staying Power ? Three Magic Words!

My name is Greg Ryan. I am a best selling... Read More

How Not To Lose Weight

Who really wants to lose weight? None of us, right?... Read More

Making the Food Pyramid Work After Weight Loss Surgery

A "normal-tummy" looks at the food pyramid from the bottom... Read More

No Low Carb Diet Progress? Sleep In To Get Thin!

If your low carb diet is going nowhere, maybe its... Read More

Diets Dont Work

Any doctor worth their salt will tell you diets don't... Read More

Dieting Effects ? Diet Pills

When it comes to our weight and the appearance of... Read More

Weight Loss Problems ? Or is it a Self Image Problem?

Some of you will not like what I have to... Read More

3 Fast Weight Loss Tips That Work

Looking to lose some pounds quickly? Fast and safe weight... Read More

How To Get Slim With Healthy Eating Habits

Many women want to be slim. Maybe you're one of... Read More

To Lose Weight, Feed Your Brains

When was the last time you focused so much on... Read More

Water and Weight Loss

Water is useful when we are trying for losing weight.... Read More

Weight Loss : Keep It Simple

An increasing trend over the last few years has been... Read More

Gastric Bypass Surgery, an Overview

With the number of people suffering from obesity rising so... Read More

The Importance and Confusion of Fat in Your Diet

Fats are always looked at as a negative in a... Read More

Weight Loss And Nutrition Myths ? What You Need To Know! Part 1

MYTH: Fad diets work for permanent weight loss.FACT: Fad diets... Read More

11 Steps to Guarantee Weight Loss and Fitness Success

1. Persistence!Violate this step and you'll never achieve permanent results.... Read More

Fidgeting: The Natural Weight Loss Diet

It's now official. The simple act of fidgeting can mean... Read More

Weight Loss, Fitness, and a Peace of Mind for Life! The Secret is NOT in the Charts!

I am Greg Ryan, a high profile fitness expert with... Read More

Why Do You Say You Want To Lose Weight?

How many of your New Year's resolution start out with... Read More

The Simplest Diet Plan Ever - 3 Easy Steps to Healthy Living

You've heard the popular advice on weight loss diets. Cut... Read More

Close Kept Secrets to Weight Loss Lesson #2

Welcome to lesson #2. First of all, I believe that... Read More

limo O'Hare Glen Ellyn ..