Articles
The Obesity Epidemic – Part 1
The very first point we want to get across is that obesity is not the "cut and dry" issue many make it out to be. Obesity is a much deeper issue than a lack of self control or bad parenting. It has roots branching out past eating habits and poor food choices to environmental toxicity, stresses, hormone imbalances and even government subsidies. At home, this disease has its grasp on one in three American adults, a number that ignores many millions who are overweight.
Obesity is the symptom of much deeper physical, mental, emotional and spiritual stressors within the body. In a way, it is the body crying out to the individual that something is not right. Each person has a unique set of stressors that are causing this transformation. Sure, some individuals are overeaters, but there is more to this than just a lack of self control. The answer to this issue lies within each individual, we just need to find it, which is becoming more and more vital every day.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that "obesity is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease, certain types of cancer and type II diabetes. Studies have found that obesity related illnesses kill between 112,000 and 400,000 people every year. The World Health Organization says that a total of 200 million Americans are overweight. This number is a striking 1.6 billion internationally and is projected to reach 2.3 billion by 2015. That’s 2.3 billion people with MAJOR risk factors for certain cancers, type II diabetes and cardiovascular disease. How many people do you know that could stand to lose a couple pounds? The crazy thing is that between 1960 and 1962 just 13.4% of American adults between the ages of 20 and 74 were obese…13%! Today in the same age range, 35.1% are obese (67% overweight).
This trend is outrageous and must stop, but how can it? Many studies are coming out linking things like fluoride and bromide to thyroid issues. In addition, aspartame and msg are widely used despite being placed in a category of additives called excitotoxins, because they "may" have adverse affects on the brain. Last, but not least, fast food chains are doing great, kicking out an entire cheeseburger or chicken sandwich for only $1! They have successfully implemented factory philosophy at every level of production, turning out low quality, low price mush which is flavored and colored then shaped like food. It’s convenient, cheap and better yet, super-sized.
Governmental sources "do their part" by banning ridiculously dangerous food additives, but only when it gets to the point that they would need to start publishing the side effects on them. They even help everyone by subsidizing the production of corn, right? As great as that idea may seem, the subsidized, and usually genetically modified, corn has four major purposes (from a food standpoint).
It is shipped to 3rd world countries at very low costs, putting their local farmers out of business and thereby building those countries dependence on the United States. Food manufacturers use it to produce a great deal of food additives like high fructose corn syrup which has been found to contribute to the diabetes epidemic. Much of the corn is fed to animals at farm factories, most of which do not eat it otherwise. This has given birth to new strands of bacteria including E. coli O157:H7 which is resistant to traditional methods of elimination and has been publicized for related deaths in recent years. The corn in turn makes the cattle put on disproportionate amounts of Omega 6 based fat, which only adds to our midsections, butts and thighs. Finally, feeding our cattle this mass produced corn is creating unnatural environments for the cows which usually live on grass. A cow’s stomach is designed to get all its energy and nutrition from grass alone. Feeding cattle corn in order to fatten them up and increase profits, sabotages their digestive tract, creating mucous blockages and over acidic conditions. This in turn forces the farmers to load their cattle up with antibiotics to prolong their life, just long enough to get them fat for slaughter. Clearly this is unhealthy for the animals, and for Americans who consume this meat.
These subsidies have driven down prices industry wide, making those burgers, chicken sandwiches and grocery store meats cheaper. As a result, our country has developed an unmatched hunger for meat, routinely devouring disproportionate servings in excess of 1/2 pound. This is simply too much fat laden protein to be consuming, given our relatively sedentary lifestyles. This overindulgence is bad for the body and bad for the environment.
What are the implications of these trends? In addition to the diseases mentioned earlier, overweight individuals present economic problems. Overweight and obesity has been linked to low workplace productivity, more sick days, absenteeism and higher insurance costs. The last CDC study (1998) of the economic consequences related to obesity found that medical expenditures related to obesity alone accounted for 9.1 percent of total U.S. medical spending. This figure translates to over $227 billion in total costs based on 2009 spending! That was over 10 years ago and doesnt take into account the growth in the overweight and obese population. As a result, being overweight is dangerous for the individual’s health as well as the economy.
Big business and government sources cite lack of exercise as the primary underlying cause of obesity. This has some merit, but we believe there is so much more. Our eating habits have worsened, our food has been degraded, our environment has become polluted and our bodies have become toxic. Thus, no matter how much we exercise, no matter how few calories we consume, most will not be able to achieve the much needed, sustained weight loss and related health benefits.
The stage is set and the mission is clear. These are just some of the issues at hand. Can you imagine if today’s generation could get a handle on this catastrophic problem? We are dedicated to providing the education that will curb this and the many other health issues plaguing our world. If you seek answers, you may just find them.
Again, thank you.
The Rejuvenation Institute of Natural Health
