Overcoming Obesity

My son had a strong craving for Chipotle’s about a week ago. So why not? I got myself three tacos with soy meat and rice with all the fixings like a ton of guacamole, salsa, lettuce, you name it. It probably wasn’t the smartest decision weight wise though because even before that meal extravaganza I felt like I’ve been gaining weight. Don’t know if it is being quarantined in the house with less than structured diet and exercise. But after that lovely decadent dish I felt like my weight was at an all-time high.

Obesity is a disease that is diagnosed when your body mass index (BMI) is 30 or higher. Your waistline may be a clue as to what your weight should be. A healthy waistline should fall below 35 inches for women and less than 40 inches for men. Obesity happens when your caloric intake is more than the energy you burn off daily.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 42.5 percent of adults aged 20 and over were considered obese. In New York State, the percentage of adults who are obese is 27.6 percent. Obesity doesn’t discriminate against kids either. The condition among children and adolescents has tripled over the past three decades. Not only that treating obesity can be expensive. The estimated annual medical cost of obesity in the United States was $147 billion.

Obesity is higher in women than men. The condition is more common among certain ethnic groups compared with others. Non-Hispanic Blacks had the highest age-adjusted prevalence of obesity at 49.6 percent followed by Hispanic adults at 44.8 percent.

There are other issues that may dictate how much weight you gain too. Some weight control factors include family history of obesity, medical conditions like hypothyroidism, medications (some drugs can make you gain weight), psychological concerns (e.g do you eat when you are happy or depressed?) and lifestyle choices (e.g. did you exercise today?).

And of course, a Western diet certainly doesn’t help matters either. Some other factors that may informally lead to expanding waistlines include a changing workforce, rising affluence, and urbanization where it is more convenient for a two-parent working household or even one-parent to purchase ready to eat meals, fast food, and elaborate snacks.

In addition, some studies suggest chronic stress may alter eating patterns. For instance, stress may interfere with self-regulation and executive function skills. Stress may affect behavior by encouraging overeating and consumption of high caloric foods (and decreasing physical activity and sleep) as well as physiological changes such as reward processing in the brain and the gut microbiome. What’s more, stress may stimulate hormones and peptides. All of that adds up to extra weight on your frame.  

Economics may play a role in whether a person is vulnerable to weight gain. Some research indicates the lower the educational attainment, the more likely you are to be obese. The less access you have to health care, the less likely you are to receive information regarding nutritional advice and weight loss regimens. And by now we all aware that poorer neighborhoods tend to have fewer supermarkets and more fast food restaurants per capita.

Being obese may lead to other diseases as well. People who are obese have a higher risk of being diagnosed with a medical condition such as diabetes, osteoarthritis, gallstones, heart disease, and stroke. It is like running uphill with a boulder attached to your foot (and let me clarify obesity, not being overweight is a hard disease).  

So with all these overwhelming stats, what can you do to lose some pounds if necessary? Some steps you can take to control your weight are increasing your physical activity, finding out about nutritious yet tasty alternatives to your favorite foods (emphasis on tasty), finding the right support system, taking medication if advised by your physician, and changing how you feel when you eat.

Finally, weight is a touchy subject for many people and I don’t want to appear cavalier about suggesting to anyone that changing your size and eating habits is simple. It isn’t. It is a long tireless journey that gets tiresome at times. But the first step is up to you. Hopefully, this post will help.

Do you have any thoughts on obesity? What is your personal experience? Let me know in the comments below.