The Obesity Epidemic

  Obesity is Contagious

Obesity is a national epidemic in the United States and throughout the western world.  Over 40% of 350 million people or roughly 100 million people are classified as obese including over 20% of children. 

 Obesity is measured as having a Body Mass Index or BMI over 30 which is calculated using your height and weight. And while the calculations don't capture the various exceptions they provide a good guideline for determining an important health factor.  Besides the BMI number, we individually know if  we are overweight and need to lose a few pounds, but the interesting and even fascinating finding is that obesity is actually contagious.  See the report from the Journal of American Medical Assosciation (JAMA)

https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapediatrics/fullarticle/2668504

 Wow. So we not only responsible for our own health and well being but for those in our families.  And the greatest thing we can do for our children is to be an example of good health. Balancing life, work, family, and our health can be a daunting challenge.  One of the great pleasures of life is food and eating. Our significant life events from weddings, graduations, promotions,  and anniversaries involves dinners and even a type of feasting.  And who doesn't enjoy a good meal! 

One of the biggest challenges with obesity and weight gain is Emotional Eating.  Since food and eating trigger the release of the feel good hormone dopamine, no wonder we love eating.  The challenge for all of us is to balance our eating with our nutritional needs, and to incorporate exercise into our daily lives. 

Obesity is insidious. The excess pounds can lead to high blood pressure, diabetes, cancer, and heart disease. But anything can be overcome, and everything starts with an idea or thought. My declaration is that I am healthy, I am fit, and I am at my ideal weight. Start with the idea when you write it down it becomes real. 

If necessary, find a person that can help you regain your health.  Try adding one healthy food to your daily eating and simply walking or just standing for an extended period each day. Try eliminating sugar where you can, when you think of sugar as the poison that it is you can shift your thinking. Your health and the health of your loved ones is in your hands. 

And you can do this. 

Here is a BMI caclcualtor link:

https://www.cdc.gov/healthyweight/assessing/bmi/adult_bmi/english_bmi_calculator/bmi_calculator.html

To Your Health,

Coach K