Why We Are Getting Fatter

Our obesity problem is growing. Since it is my field of expertise, I feel we are losing the battle. Even though there has been some progress, like the bill to outlaw advertising junk food to kids (for example), our nation is still getting fatter.

There is so much information out there about how to lose weight that if you truly want to educate yourself and lose weight, you can. You can determine the cause of your weight issue and attack it, whether it is emotional, lack of information, thyroid issues, hormonal imbalances, insulin resistance or just plain eating too many calories. All these issues are treatable and workable if you choose to do the work.

Here is one of the reasons we are getting fatter. My husband and I went to the bookstore last week and I wrote down a list of the lead articles on the covers of women's magazines and health and fitness magazines. Here is what you will find on the newsstands right now:

"Get a Firm Body in One Week Without Exercise"
"Amazing Abs in Just 28 Days"
"Lose 6 lbs. in 7 Days"
"Get Fit Fast"
"Fast Food That Won't Make You Fat"
"Drop a Size Without Dieting"
"Bikini Body Now"

That is just a small sample of what is on the cover of our latest magazines. What this tells me is that these types of bogus articles sell magazines. People still want to believe they can lose weight immediately without any effort. Who wants to buy a magazine with a lead article that says, "Weight Loss is Hard and Takes a Really Long Time."

I read this list to my obesity support group and one of the women was very honest and said, "Even though I know none of those articles are true, I still buy those magazines. I still want all that to be true." I don't think she's alone or none of these magazines would still be in business.

Keep in mind, that to lose a pound of fat, you have to burn 3,500 calories. This is over and above the calories you need to maintain your current weight. That is not easy to do. You can lose water weight quickly, but it comes right back when you go back to eating your normal diet. Weight loss is hard, and it takes a long time, but it is so worth the work.

If you have already lost weight and would like to participate in the research for Irene's new book about the process of weight loss, please take the survey.

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