Obesity and Health-Related Problems in the U.S.

A few weeks ago, while reading the latest issue of Well Being Journal,  I ran across a startling fact.  45% of Americans suffer from one or more of the following:  high blood pressure; high cholesterol; and/or diabetes.  If these individuals were afflicted with H1N1or any other communicable disease, we would stand up and take notice.  Instead, this quiet epidemic is being covered up by experts who push prescription drugs.  In addition,  over half of us are either overweight or obese.  The numbers for overweight and obese children are frightening, as well.  Something is wrong with how we're caring for our bodies and it seems nothing is being done as these statistics are increasing.


Today I sat down and recorded some observations as to why people in the U.S. are experiencing these serious food-related problems.  Most of it seems to stem from mindless eating and convenience.  Here's what came to mind:

1. Eating and watching television
2. Eating and driving
3. Supersized portions
4. Using a microwave to prepare food
5. Artificial sweeteners which actually make us hungry
6. High fructose corn syrup in everything
7. Habitual snacking
8. Fear of wasting food
9. Stress
10. Dehydration due to lack of adequate water intake
11. Temporarily dieting rather than a adopting healthful, permanent lifestyle changes
12. Television and print advertisements for snack, convenience, and fast foods

We need to slow down, savor real food, and eliminate the negative influences in our lives.  Easy to say, sometimes difficult to do, but we need to put ourselves in control of our health.  No one else is going to do that for us and what we're currently doing is literally killing us.  Even worse, as the richest country in the world, we should be the healthiest.  Instead, we often have problems that are comparable to a third world nation.  We must become accountable for our own well being.