by Petra Peach
Discover the main causes of obesity in America. They are similar to those of many other affluent countries around the globe and relate to lifestyle, evolution of society, and financial freedom. Although, on the surface, they do not sound like problematic issues do they?
In poorer countries, where choice (and food) is limited, obesity is rarely a problem. As incomes improve, so do choice, and the demand for a more varied diet. If we take China as an example, the peasant farmers are giving up their subsistence lifestyle in droves and seeking better incomes in the cities. Along with the change in their financial position comes lifestyle change and as a result China is seeing a surge in obesity levels.
In the US, obesity is not a new problem, but has now reached epidemic levels, with no easy solution in sight. The first step for any individual with a weight issue is to accept that they have a problem. People in denial easily dismiss a few extra pounds, or going up a dress size.
The next step is to educate people regarding their current diet and the calories (energy) it contains. Eat more than your daily requirements and you will gain weight. Current guidelines suggest a daily intake of 2000 calories for women and 2500 for men, but this is subject to activity levels.
With advances in technology and improved health and safety, much of the calorie burning menial work has disappeared, so unless people partake in physical recreational activities those guidelines may be too high for some people.
Portion sizing is another issue in the US; with some maxed meals served in restaurants so calorific, they exceed the total daily-recommended intake on one plate. With infinite choice available it is easy to exceed the recommended daily intake. It is vital to start valuing food on quality not size.
Unfortunately many people are not aware of what their food contains, such as fats (good and bad) sugar, fiber etc. Fast food, convenience food and the growing taste for fat and sugar are all a serious cause for concern.
Obesity is not just a weight issue and many other potentially life-threatening health problems are caused through poor diet. Anyone with weight problems needs to act now, make a commitment to change their lifestyle and improve their dietary habit.
Going on a diet simply does not work for the following reasons:
You lose weight, but gain it all back plus more
You feel starved or cheated on your so-called diet
You are not able to stick to the diet for more than a week
You beat yourself up thinking you are going to be fat forever. Make the commitment to lose weight by changing your lifestyle today!
In poorer countries, where choice (and food) is limited, obesity is rarely a problem. As incomes improve, so do choice, and the demand for a more varied diet. If we take China as an example, the peasant farmers are giving up their subsistence lifestyle in droves and seeking better incomes in the cities. Along with the change in their financial position comes lifestyle change and as a result China is seeing a surge in obesity levels.
In the US, obesity is not a new problem, but has now reached epidemic levels, with no easy solution in sight. The first step for any individual with a weight issue is to accept that they have a problem. People in denial easily dismiss a few extra pounds, or going up a dress size.
The next step is to educate people regarding their current diet and the calories (energy) it contains. Eat more than your daily requirements and you will gain weight. Current guidelines suggest a daily intake of 2000 calories for women and 2500 for men, but this is subject to activity levels.
With advances in technology and improved health and safety, much of the calorie burning menial work has disappeared, so unless people partake in physical recreational activities those guidelines may be too high for some people.
Portion sizing is another issue in the US; with some maxed meals served in restaurants so calorific, they exceed the total daily-recommended intake on one plate. With infinite choice available it is easy to exceed the recommended daily intake. It is vital to start valuing food on quality not size.
Unfortunately many people are not aware of what their food contains, such as fats (good and bad) sugar, fiber etc. Fast food, convenience food and the growing taste for fat and sugar are all a serious cause for concern.
Obesity is not just a weight issue and many other potentially life-threatening health problems are caused through poor diet. Anyone with weight problems needs to act now, make a commitment to change their lifestyle and improve their dietary habit.
Going on a diet simply does not work for the following reasons:
You lose weight, but gain it all back plus more
You feel starved or cheated on your so-called diet
You are not able to stick to the diet for more than a week
You beat yourself up thinking you are going to be fat forever. Make the commitment to lose weight by changing your lifestyle today!
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