The Obesity Epidemic
America is in a health care crisis. America has an Obesity Epidemic.
2/3 of Americans are overweight and 1/3 are obese. If you do the math, that equates to 78.6 million Americans who are obese and 157.2 million who are overweight. Wowzahs! I don’t know about you, but that means this country needs a serious focus on weight loss and an overhaul in healthy living.
Reference: CDC Statistics
Why Are So Many Obese?
The increase in obesity is a result of overeating, living a sedentary lifestyle, not eating enough fruits and vegetables, an increase fast food and sugar consumption and eating processed foods that contain GMO’s, pesticides and additives.
Obesity Causes Disease
Obesity is considered one of the most leading causes of disease. Major obesity related conditions include diabetes, cancer and cardiovascular disease.
Being overweight, increases risk for type 2 diabetes which makes the body insulin resistant. According to the World Health Organization, 90% of people with diabetes are type II. Further, obesity puts individuals at risk for heart disease. 1 in 4 deaths every year are a result of heart disease. People who are overweight are at a greater risk for having a heart attack before the age of 45. According to the American Heart Association, being overweight also increases chances of developing cancer by 50%.
Reference: Top 10 Obesity Related Diseases, Obesity & Heart Disease
The Obesity Epidemic Is Costly
Treating the rising epidemic of chronic diseases like diabetes, cancer and cardiovascular disease are driving health care costs higher than ever. According to the CDC, 7 out of 10 deaths are attributed to these diseases. The devastating part is that these diseases are preventable with good nutrition, exercise and healthy lifestyle choices.
The Obesity Epidemic Is Impacting Future Generations
Today there are more overweight children than ever before. The rate of obesity in children has more than doubled than just a generation ago. Another alarming fact is that the next generation of children are not predicted to outlive their parents. Sad, right?
In the U.K., the British Nutritional Foundation interviewed 27,000 children and asked them where specific foods came from. Many thought cheese came from plants, fish sticks came from chickens or pigs, potatoes grew on bushes and tomatoes grew underground. Do we have a problem? I think so!
The fact is many children are addicted to sugar, high carb processed foods which is no different than being addicted to drugs. Why are they addicted? Because they’re cheap, convenient and have vibrant packaging. Do you think kids feel the need to change if they watch their parents eat the same way? Who buys the food? Who prepares the meals? Who sets the example of nutrition for them?
Yes, organic and fresh foods may cost a little more money upfront and take more time to prepare. However, in the long term the toxicity of highly processed convenience foods are the cause of the diseases that are killing so many. The sad thing is the answer to change all that is so close within our reach.
If you’re hard earned money is your ballot, how will you cast it? Will you choose to vote by investing in your health now or pay for it later in life in the form of disease?
Reference: BBC Study
What Can You Do?
Americans are hungry for change and you can be part of the solution by bringing awareness of The Obesity Epidemic to others.
If you need to lose weight, stop putting it off because what you do now will catch up with you later. Living a life of healthy is the most LIBERATING way to live. You will not regret it. Open your heart to it! Find a health coach to help you get started and to keep you accountable (I would love to work with you!).
If you’re an influencer, be a role model. Stop telling people to eat whatever they want to and putting down weight loss. The statistics speak for themselves and they speak volumes. This is an epidemic and you have the power to change it! Be the voice of reason. Speak out. Show others how exciting and magnificent living healthy can be and how simple lifestyle changes can lead to weight loss as a bonus. Be a leader! Lead by example. Your actions speak louder than words. BE THE CHANGE America needs.
How will you be the change?
Linking up today with Amanada for Thinking Out Loud
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As someone in fitness and with a chronic illness, as well as a husband in medicine, I cannot help you emphasize enough how important a healthy weight and heart are.
If there’s one thing that keeps me up at night, it’s this. There’s gotta be more we can do Suz.
you are so right!! awareness is key! and just teaching kids (and parents) how to fuel and move. Simple to some, difficult for others. but it’s all about education, right?
Yes! Unfortunately I’m feeling we as bloggers are not doing enough to send the message. Perhaps I’m sensitive to it because of my personal struggle with weight.
This is exactly why I became a health coach! As a teacher I saw so many unhealthy and overweight kids who just could not learn. I had one kiddo who couldn’t sit still so I asked him what he had for breakfast. He said “Coke and M&Ms.” What!???!? Who lets their 9-year-old son consume that crap before coming to school??? And don’t get me started on school lunches. Did you know that in California pizza is classified as a “vegetable” dish because it contains tomato paste? Ugh! We need some major changes in our food and health care systems.
Wow good for you Stephanie! I have heard that about pizza and some of the other horrors of school foods. Have you been able to do more as a health coach to bring awareness and educate beyond your client base? I keep feeling like there has to be more, on a bigger level that can be done.
I feel like the schools listen to me and know that there needs to be some changes, but lack of funding is a huge issue for them. Healthy foods cost more and a lot of kids are already receiving free or reduced lunches. I’ve been able to reach out to some parents and suggest healthier snack options for their kiddos. Kids who used to snack on a bag of Cheetos are now snacking on baby carrots instead. So it’s a start.
Keep up the work! Even if you’re helping one child, you’re making a huge impact.
YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!
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I have done a lot of work with childhood obesity prevention in schools and other nutrition organizations and it is alarming what foods are considered fruits and veggies in school lunches just because they are fortified with vitamins and minerals. It is appalling to me the amount of time children spend in front of the tv these days. These statistics have to change. Great post.
It’s great to know that people like you are out there trying to change things. How have you been able to get involved in schools and other organizations?
The obesity epidemic is becoming a global problem and is already faced by many countries around the world. The causes are complicated and so is the solution. But as you already pointed out in your post, example can be so powerful!
I’ve struggled with weight, too, and one of the things I say to people who ask me how to lose the weight is that they have to learn to love exercise and cooking! As bloggers, I believe that’s the message we have to communicate.
Congratulations on such an important initiative.
Thank you Helen, I really appreciate that!
THANK you for this… THis has been something I’ve struggled with because I want to help people take care of the body God has made, but I don’t want to be impatient or judgmental AT all.
It’s definitely a fine line. I’ve learned you can only help those who want to be helped.
I LOVE this. As a mom to a toddler, my eyes have been opened to the numerous bad choices and options given to kids. We’ve been very adamant about not giving him amy junk – although ice cream and cookies are fine in our family as treats, there’s no inherent need for a child under 2 to have those things. As a result, he’s a GREAT eater and eats what we do. I get so frustrated when we go out to eat with him and the kids menu literally only had mac and cheese and chicken nuggets. No wonder kids are picky and eat horribly.
I cannot even imagine what it’s like to try to raise a child. Good for you though for being proactive about it!