Recently a former White House physician publicly expressed her concern over the bulky physique of Governor Chris Christie of New Jersey. She described him as a time bomb that may likely die in office due to his size and unhealthy lifestyle. Governor Christie was understandably offended by the physician’s remark especially since she apparently diagnosed him from the remote state of Arizona. His response however was interesting claiming he is the “healthiest fat guy you’ve ever seen in your life” as he snacked on a doughnut and reminded listeners of the incredible stress of his job.
It isn’t unusual that someone with obesity coupled with stress turns to a number of excuses to justify his or her behavior. It is a well-known fact that obesity leads to numerous health conditions including diabetes, heart disease, liver disease, degenerative joint disease, and many other chronic diseases. Excusing the obvious is equivalent to sticking one’s head in the sand and pretending everything is fine! Let me put things in a different perspective. If an individual were to weigh approximately 330 pounds, this would calculate to an estimated Body Mass Index (BMI) of 46. A BMI greater than 30 is considered obese.
Obesity is an epidemic in America today with an estimated 35.7% of the population in this category. Alarmingly, nearly 70% of Americans are considered overweight or obese! What is even more scary is that 31.8% of children and adolescents are obese according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).
There are many reasons for this epidemic including fast foods, sedentary lifestyles, stressful jobs, poor eating habits, lack of exercise, etc. but the good news is that obesity is reversible! Today’s diet is filled with sugar, fats, and a multitude of preservatives, fillers, and chemicals. Many of these foods including high fructose corn syrup actually create a craving in the body to consume more of the same. Our fast-paced lifestyle almost guarantees that most people won’t have time to eat healthy and will usually resort to grabbing a quick burger and fries on their way home from work.
The good news is that good health can be achieved by using our heads and doing a little reading, research, and patronizing a grocery store that carries healthy alternatives to the standard fare. An easy way to jump start a healthy diet is to begin juicing with green vegetables and fruits and drinking at least one quart a day. Green Smoothies have become a way of life for me and I look forward to my glass every morning and evening. These nutritious drinks ensure that I receive my daily servings of fruit and vegetables. Green Smoothies give me more energy throughout the day. I can’t skip a day without feeling like I am missing something. Along with the increase in energy, Green Smoothies aid in weight loss by changing you physiology from an acidic to an alkaline environment. Fat cells are sequestered in the face of an acidic physiology.
Obese individuals have the potential to be walking time bombs and should take a seriously look at making a change to their diet, fitness and overall health. We are in the midst of an ever-worsening health crisis within our society. We must become more proactive. The cost of health care is skyrocketing and is not likely to decrease. Improving ones health is the only real defense against the rising costs. Obesity must be tackled head-on. Improving ones fitness and diet are the front lines of this fight because the game is always on!
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