Higher Obesity Rates For Americans

Being seriously overweight is not caused by one single factor. However, what we eat, how much we eat, and what's in the food itself has an important impact on obesity in America today. There's an old saying, "You are what you eat."

First, let's just assume the food we eat has all of the nutrients, vitamins, minerals, phytonutrients, and antioxidants we need, and does not have chemicals of any type in them. Let's just assume. In this perfect scenario, we would just balance our food intake among the four food groups; Meat, Dairy, Vegetable, Fruit - With our output; that is caloric intake with physical exercise.

This is not possible because we know our food does not have the vitamins, minerals, phytonutrients, or antioxidants it should have due to soil and mineral depletion, fertilizers, and pesticides. Our food has many chemicals and additives in them that have a detrimental effect on our health and weight. Much of our food is highly processed making it detrimentally align to our body. A video ABC News called "Obesity Rate on the Rise", was a new study about obesity rates skyrocketing in our world today. Another on WCCO Minneapolis, claimed 1 in 4 people in Minnesota are obese.

No matter how much Americans try, everyone is getting larger. Obesity rates have risen even higher in some 28 states over the past year. More than 32 of the 50 states now have adult obesity rates above 25 percent, ranging from 33.8 percent down. Not so many years ago there wasn't one state that had obesity rates in adults over 20 percent.

The answer to what is going on, is find a solution we as individuals have control over. Obese adults generally begin their unhealthy eating and overall lifestyle habits as children. As adults, parents should be giving the best possible example of what to eat, how much to eat, and how to exercise to our children. Children look to and mimic the parent, thus the parent should be giving their children the best possible healthy lifestyle as an example.

This is vital in predetermining the health of a child's future lifestyle decisions. As of 2005, the total number of obese children in the United States was about 9 million. That was just over 17 percent then, now the percentage has risen to close to 26 percent. What kind of example are parents setting for their children today? What kind of example will these children provide to their children? We must do something to turn this statistic around.

The chance that an overweight child will grow up to be an obese adult, and carry the health risks that go with the territory, are about 70 percent. Once the pattern of an obese lifestyle begins, the habits simply do not change over the course of a lifetime. The health risk associated with this type of lifestyle include, but are not limited to; stroke, heart disease, cardiovascular disease, aneurysm, diabetes, sleep apnea, high blood pressure, arthritis, and cancer. No matter what the quality of life of the child, this will have been reduced as a result of the psychological effects associated with being obese.

Shouldn't we want to give our children every advantage possible to have an extra ordinary, enriched, fulfilling and rewarding life? The lifestyle of obesity will ultimately lead to a shorter life expectancy for any child born to an obese family.

We all know that health care in America is out of hand and going to get worse with the Government putting its fingers in the mix. Obesity has an extreme effect on our health. Some of the causes of obesity are: chemicals in our food, processing it into unknown forms-unrecognized by the body, and the lack of absorbable-bioavailable nutrients, have an even greater effect on our citizens poor health.

There is no question; we as adults must step up to the plate and provide the very best example we can in reference to living a healthy lifstyle. Let's examine the problem and come up with a viable solution.

Let's re-examine; What are some of the causes of weight gain and obesity?
1) Poor quality ingredients in the foods we choose to eat.
2) Eating too large a helping of food at meals
3) No exercise program.
4) Not developing an adequate nutritional supplementation program.
* And allowing our children to do the same.

Now what kind of effect will this type of lifestyle have on our children?
We will see weight gain in them.
We will see them start performing poorly in school.
We will start having behavioral problems with them.
We will see them start developing adult diseases at a much younger age.
We will see them develop a lack of overall confidence.
We will see them becoming lazy and low in energy.
We will see them fall into depression.

The first thing you as a parent need to do to address this national emergency is to obtain of copy of "Ending the Food Fight" by Dr. David Ludwig, MD, PhD, at Harvard Medical School. The next thing you can do is go to www.heydrmac.com and review all he has on children's snacks. They are all loaded with nutrition.

Study the ingredients of these products and compare to the ingredients of what you now allow your children to eat. On the back label of cereal, cookies, chips, crackers, and candy look for protein. Protein helps quench hunger, the lack of protein can increase hunger and cause you to eat more. On the back label of fruit drinks, soda, and energy drinks look for vitamins, minerals and omega-3 fatty acids. Now you are a lot closer to helping your children now and for the rest of their life.

There is one more thing; reading the label, exercising restraint while eating, and following some of what you learn in the book you need to read and at www.heydrmac.com will help you address these.

Now, let's look at you, the adult. You must set and maintain the example. Start researching what you are eating. You say; what choice do I have, it's all in the market? Stop letting radio and television advertisements sway you. Take the time to prepare the right meals. Take the time to learn what it is that you are putting in your body. Just focus on this fact; dropping as little as 10% of your body weight can reduce risk of disease significantly. Many people report better blood sugar control, lower cholesterol, lower blood pressure, less joint pain, improved energy, better self-esteem, and greater confidence...and in every case, a smile!

You will find help for yourself at; www.heydrmac.com .He will offer many options. Just keep in mind that processed food is alien to your body. Keep in mind most all processed foods have additives in them that cause you to remain hungry, eat more and gain weight. Some of those additives you may want to avoid are;
Monosodium Glutamate; (Read "Excitotoxins: The Taste That Kills, Russell L. Blaylock, M.D., Health Press, Santa Fe, NM, 1977)
Aspartame; (Read "Aspartame: Is it Safe, H>J. Roberts, M.D., Kindle Edition, 1990)
High Fructose Corn Syrup.
Hydrogenated Oil or Partially Hydrogenated Oil.
Processed Sugar.
Natural and Artificial Flavors; (A catch all for manmade chemicals).
Spices; (Another catch all for deadly chemicals).
Artificial Color; (Chemicals).
Palm Oil.
Dextrose, Sucrose, Fructose.
Sucrulose-Splenda.
Enriched Bleached Wheat Flour, and Enriched Bleached White Flower.
Soy Protein Isolate (Petroleum solvent product is used to process the soy protein. This residue is BAD.

Keep in mind most foods are lacking in nutrition. Let's just point out the minerals that should be in your food, but aren't, that will contribute to obesity when they are not in your system, (Review; "Disease Prevention with Minerals in Mammals");
Calcium (Ca).
Sulfur (S).
Iron (Fe).
Zinc (Zn).
Copper (Cu).
Chromium (Cr).
Selenium (Se).
Germanium (Ge).
Vanadium (V).
Gold (Au)
Molybdenum (Mo).
Boron (B).
Iodine (I).
Potaseum (K).
Magnesium (Mg).

Don't forget lots of water, clean water. There is no replacement for water. It nourishes and carries nutrients and waists to and from. It flushes toxins and waists out. Distilled water is much better than tap water. Chlorine and fluoride ARE NOT your friend, as the Government would have you believe.

Play a Weight Loss Video, ride a bike, lose weight. Walking a brisk pace for 30 to 60 minutes a day is a great way to exercise your muscles and your cardiovascular system. There are a multitude of exercise programs out there. Keep in mind that you want to increase your heart rate, increase your blood circulation, increase your respiratory rate, and work your muscles.

A minimum of three times per week is a good start (every other day). Walking will do all that....and more, so get started for a better life. Take charge of your life and future today. DON"T count on someone else to do it for you.

Mike Fusco

1. Prev:Obesity Discrimination Statistics
2. Next:Child Obesity Problem And Solution