THE SCALES HAVE TIPPED!

According to a February 2024 study published in the Lancet, more than 1 billion people worldwide are now obese! This accounts for 879 million adults and 159 million children and teens. Obesity is a major risk factor for noncommunicable diseases such as high blood pressure, cancer and diabetes. This is the first time the scales have tipped and obesity is more of a risk than malnutrition!

Where lies the problem? Our health care system is a “sick” system. We only go to the doctor when we are sick. There are so many people with chronic health conditions that it has become the “new normal.” Our doctors and researchers have more knowledge than ever on how to treat sick people. They are experts at it! A lot of the patients I see already have chronic health conditions that could have been prevented by living a healthier lifestyle.

Let’s talk about Covid. In reality, the world did go on lockdown because of the virus. It went on lockdown because of all the people with poor immune systems who could not fight off the virus. Why are our immune systems so poor? This answer is multifactorial – inadequate nutrition, sedentary lifestyle, poor gut health, high stress levels, and inadequate sleep. They all play a role in depressing one’s immune health, increasing obesity and developing chronic health conditions. If we know the answer, then why our the scales tipping in the wrong direction?

I am sure you have all heard the quote by the ancient philosopher Hippocrates, “Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.” This is preventative nutrition. Our government and food industry do not make it easy, with the mass production of ultra processed food and lower prices for these processed foods. Young children and teens are targeted with enticing advertisements on television and social media. I know my daughter wants to get fast food if there is a free toy involved! How about the quote, “We are what we eat.” This has proven to be true since the industrialization of processed foods has increased chronic disease in our country. The research shows this is a fact. They are now stating that children ages 1-10 will have a shorter lifespan – the new Secretary of Health and Human Services spoke about this recently in interviews after Trump announced his selection. The government now wants to address the obesity issues, after we have already tipped the scales.

So what can we as individuals do now? This is the important question. Take responsibility for what you put into your body. Be the example for your children and families. You do not need to change your dietary habits overnight. Take small steps such as adding one new healthy food per day. For example, add blueberries to your oatmeal. Add walnuts as a snack for a food rich in healthy fat, protein and omega 3 fatty acids. Try cooking at home more often. If you are getting takeout or going out to eat three times per week, cut back to two times per week to start. When our dietary intake is insufficient in nutrients, our body’s pathways do not communicate properly and our immune system become delayed. Vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, essential fatty acids, and polyphenols are like the ABC’s. We need them ALL. Do your best to choose fresh fruits and vegetables daily. Choose whole grains over white products. Choose lean animal proteins and fatty fish, but also include plant based proteins such as beans and nuts. And do not forget your healthy fats such as olive oil and avocados.

Another reason for the increase in obesity is that Americans have become more sedentary. During Covid, a lot of individuals stopped working out (others did increase exercise, but they were the minority). People were getting less steps in throughout the day because they stopped going into the office and began working from home remotely. After we came out of the lockdown, many people had a difficult time getting back to their daily routines, including exercise. Some people still work from home. We need to make it a priority to move daily. Think about babies and their development. They learn to sit up, scoot, crawl, walk and then run. They communicate through movement and that should never stop. When we exercise, our immune system actually gets to rest. This helps our immune system stay strong. If you exercise outside in the sunshine, you get the added benefit of Vitamin D, which is also beneficial for our immune health.

There are other ways to help fight obesity (adequate sleep, stress management, improved gut health), but today I am emphasizing making healthier food choices and staying active for you and your family. It does not matter how old you are. Start now! Whether you are 10 years old or 60 years old, improving your nutritional intake now will help prevent or decrease your risk of developing chronic health disease(s) and decrease the growing rate of obesity in our country. Create the healthiest version of you!