The results of a decade-long study have just been published and they reaffirm what other studies have shown: caloric restriction in mammals increases lifespan and reduces disease. Here is a direct link to the story:
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2009-07/uow-rdt070609.php
Study after study has shown that the one consistent thing that we can do to thwart diseases and prolong life is to reduce our intake of food. This has proven to be effective in nearly every study done on animals and most scientists now consider this an accepted phenomenon.
It doesn't mean that you should consume merely an apple a day (one's diet must still be healthy and nutritous) but it does mean that we should all rethink about how much food we eat on a daily basis.
As of yet, I don't believe there is any agreement on exactly why caloric restriction works so well. There are theories that by decreasing caloric intake to a low level the body, for lack of better words, turns its thermostat down and this slows down the aging process. Think of a wood fire. What happens when you let it burn at a slow, low rate versus what happens when you pour lighter fluid on it?
Another theory is that an excess amount of calories increases cellular division within the body and also increases not only healthy cell division but also cancerous as well.
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Obesity: America's #1 Killer; Part II
According to a report in the L.A. Times, a new government report shows that spending on healthcare for obese American adults has increased 82% between 2001 and 2006. *
According to the report, in 2001, healthcare expenditures for obese Americans totaled $167 billion. In 2006, the number totaled $303 billion.
In addition, the report concluded that out of all healthcare costs in 2006, thiry-five percent were attributed to obese Americans. From 2001 to 2006, the number of obese Americans have increased from 48 million to 59 million people.
Most people today agree that healthcare has to change but until we break the irrational political correctness and egalitarianism of our culture and say, "Look, you're killing yourself by how you eat and your lack of activity," then things will never change - they will only get exponentially worse. Numbers have consistently shown an explosion in obesity in Western Culture and there have to be some fundamental changes that have to take place in order to stop it and I think it starts with parenting:
1. Grow up and start parenting. Stop ramming ultra-processed, high-calorie, high-
fat food down your childrens' throats. It's your obligation as the parent to oversee what
your children eat. Do you supervise what your kids watch on TV? Well, maybe it's time
put forth some effort into making sure that your child is eating healthy meals. Study after
study has shown that overweight children have a much high propensity to become over-
weight or obese adults. Your eating habits need to be addressed as well - children
inevitably eat what their parents eat, so if you're eating habits are poor (you know who
you are) then it is likely your children's will be as well.
2. Activity: make sure that your children stay active. This doesn't mean forcing them to
participate in activities that they don't enjoy but it does mean that they shouldn't sit like
zombies in front of a TV or computer all day long either. Going to school and sitting all day
for eight hours and then coming home and playing the XBox for another three hours is not
a prescription for health. Get your kids outside and take a walk with them. Go bike
riding. Play basketball. Get involved in martial arts. The list is endless. It really doesn't
matter what you do just as long as you do it.
3. Take Ownership: if your 5 year-old is overweight take ownership of the problem. He/she
didn't get that way by themselves; it required your money, your food choices, to allow
them to get that way. Hormonal issues (i.e., thyroid problems) affect a very small
percentage of the population. Just take ownership and accept that your child's problem is
your issue to deal with. Your Type-2 diabetes? Yes, that's your problem as well. You can
fix it yourself. Your heart disease? Yep. Caused by yourself.
Once you take responsibility and ownership of the problem, you'll realize that you're not
just a pawn without volition but that you can make choices. You can choose to go outside
and take a walk instead of watching TV. I see far too many people who want to blame their
physical problems on someone else or some other factor. And please don't use the excuse,
"I just don't have enough time in the day to exercise or to make my lunch." If that's the
case, get up 30 minutes earlier in the morning. It's really not that hard to do. Also cut
down on the amount of time that you watch TV and instead use that spare time to get
active. Can't break yourself away from the TV? Go to a gym that has exercise equipment
in front of TVs. Buy a used piece of exercise equipment and use it while in front of your
TV.
Western Society faces a whole host of problems and obesity is at the forefront. Where will we be in another ten years? Will the majority of Americans become overweight and obese? The numbers tend to suggest so. I fear that there will come a time when being overweight and obese will become the norm and will no longer be frowned upon.
According to the report, in 2001, healthcare expenditures for obese Americans totaled $167 billion. In 2006, the number totaled $303 billion.
In addition, the report concluded that out of all healthcare costs in 2006, thiry-five percent were attributed to obese Americans. From 2001 to 2006, the number of obese Americans have increased from 48 million to 59 million people.
Most people today agree that healthcare has to change but until we break the irrational political correctness and egalitarianism of our culture and say, "Look, you're killing yourself by how you eat and your lack of activity," then things will never change - they will only get exponentially worse. Numbers have consistently shown an explosion in obesity in Western Culture and there have to be some fundamental changes that have to take place in order to stop it and I think it starts with parenting:
1. Grow up and start parenting. Stop ramming ultra-processed, high-calorie, high-
fat food down your childrens' throats. It's your obligation as the parent to oversee what
your children eat. Do you supervise what your kids watch on TV? Well, maybe it's time
put forth some effort into making sure that your child is eating healthy meals. Study after
study has shown that overweight children have a much high propensity to become over-
weight or obese adults. Your eating habits need to be addressed as well - children
inevitably eat what their parents eat, so if you're eating habits are poor (you know who
you are) then it is likely your children's will be as well.
2. Activity: make sure that your children stay active. This doesn't mean forcing them to
participate in activities that they don't enjoy but it does mean that they shouldn't sit like
zombies in front of a TV or computer all day long either. Going to school and sitting all day
for eight hours and then coming home and playing the XBox for another three hours is not
a prescription for health. Get your kids outside and take a walk with them. Go bike
riding. Play basketball. Get involved in martial arts. The list is endless. It really doesn't
matter what you do just as long as you do it.
3. Take Ownership: if your 5 year-old is overweight take ownership of the problem. He/she
didn't get that way by themselves; it required your money, your food choices, to allow
them to get that way. Hormonal issues (i.e., thyroid problems) affect a very small
percentage of the population. Just take ownership and accept that your child's problem is
your issue to deal with. Your Type-2 diabetes? Yes, that's your problem as well. You can
fix it yourself. Your heart disease? Yep. Caused by yourself.
Once you take responsibility and ownership of the problem, you'll realize that you're not
just a pawn without volition but that you can make choices. You can choose to go outside
and take a walk instead of watching TV. I see far too many people who want to blame their
physical problems on someone else or some other factor. And please don't use the excuse,
"I just don't have enough time in the day to exercise or to make my lunch." If that's the
case, get up 30 minutes earlier in the morning. It's really not that hard to do. Also cut
down on the amount of time that you watch TV and instead use that spare time to get
active. Can't break yourself away from the TV? Go to a gym that has exercise equipment
in front of TVs. Buy a used piece of exercise equipment and use it while in front of your
TV.
Western Society faces a whole host of problems and obesity is at the forefront. Where will we be in another ten years? Will the majority of Americans become overweight and obese? The numbers tend to suggest so. I fear that there will come a time when being overweight and obese will become the norm and will no longer be frowned upon.
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