I was on Spring Break with my kids recently and we went to such places as the Zoo, the Children's Museum, the parks, and a few other stops. Also this past week, I heard on the nightly news a report stating that obesity rates are on the rise and that researchers are actually finding more people are falling into the obesity category than we had originally thought. We are now going to be factoring in more than the simplistic BMI (body mass index) rankings. A recent study states that total body wellness such as body fat, weight, cholesterol levels, bone density dexa scans and more should now be used to determine which wellness category our bodies fall into. So you mean our obesity issue is becoming more of a pandemic? We should ALL be very concerned! ( You can see that video clip at the end below!)
While on my adventures with my family, I saw that news report first hand out and about in my travels around the city. We are a young family with four children. We go places where young families go. We walk, we run, we play, and we explore. So do many other people our age. This time, these trips were very different for me. I saw young families exploring, too, but I was shocked by the number and number of peoplein the general public forty and under that were noticeably falling into the obesity category.
Sure we've been talking about health and wellness for years. Growing up, we've all heard how to eat from the food pyramid, eat our five a day, drink our water, and get our exercise. But are we really listening? What has happened along the way? I was taken back by not only the vast amounts of overweight and obese people I was seeing, but also the young age of these fellow moms and dads. I realize that many people may be making an effort and that other health concerns may be present, but overall, it really concerns me either way.
The solution to our nation's obesity pandemic (in my opinion) could be written about on many different blog entries. My cry of concern comes from seeing these fellow heads of households with young children in tow setting up a pattern and lifestyle for themselves AND their families at this season in their lives. Really though, no matter your age, it's never too late to turn it around!
I get it. I was there. I am there. Being a parent is one of the hardest things I have ever had to do. The endless responsibilities can wear you out just thinking about it. But that's just it. It has to be a mindset shift to realize that in order to get this parenting job done well to the best of our abilities, we have to get used to and okay with making ourselves a priority inside and out. I'm passionate about that and love to encourage others on the "take care of you" conversation. Go against the flow and realize it's okay to put yourself on the priority list, even at the top!
So what do we do? This issue is layered and won't solve itself overnight. The only way to make a change is to first acknowledge there is a problem and then go after it. I feel that many parents get on autopilot on "just get by" mode and then a substandard lifestyle gets put into action. Before we know it, we're five to ten years down the road, set in our lifestyle patterns and habits, and find ourselves 30, 50, 100 pounds overweight. That part has to stop! Just because more and more people are falling into this category, does NOT mean it's okay! Maybe it's becoming the "norm", but this is not the way we were each created to live.
Something you haven't mentioned which needs to be addressed is the altering of our food supply. Fruits and vegetables have been engineered to be bigger. Meat (chicken, fish, pork, beef, etc.) have all been pumped up with hormones to make them bigger and fatter. When we eat these foods we are also eating the hormones and any other substances that have been used to "enhance" them. No one, meaning our government or the people that produce the food, will talk about the long range effects these hormones and other "enhancements" have on people. My theory is and always will be that anything that makes the chickens or other things bigger also makes us bigger. They saying goes "you are what you eat." Yes, hormone-free meats are available, and natural fruits and vegetable are available, but they are incredibly expensive and most people can't afford them.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comment and I agree! We've essentially lost control of our diets in some manner because we as a country are mass producing so much food. It's become about quantity and less of quality. It's especially concerning when the government backs the institutions that continue the problem. The alternate is to do our best with buying organic, but even at that, it adds up very fast and I don't do that now. Even if we can't afford to buy hormone-free or organic, making a whole-foods choice is a better option than processed and should not be used as an excuse by anyone, regardless of income. I feel it all boils down to lifestyle, education, and habits and it's about altering those to live a better life!
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