Obesity: America’s New Health Obsession
By Rachel Stockton
“Barbara”, a forty-something art history instructor at a large university, says that her doctor is “diplomatic” and doesn’t tell her that she needs to lose weight. “I probably could stand to lose at least 50 pounds, but [her doctor] is gracious and doesn’t dwell on that. We both know that the trouble I’m having with my knee as well as the fact that I’m borderline diabetic has to do with the fact that I need to lose weight. She doesn’t insult my intelligence my emphasizing that every time I come in.”
Barbara’s doctor isn’t alone; a CDC survey in 2005 revealed that only 40% of obese patients are told by their physicians that they need to lose weight.
According to pundits around the nation, we are at the cusp of a national health crisis because 30% of our population is obese. Chronic diseases, as well as numerous cancers thrive on obesity, and the current health care dilemma can, at least in part, be attributed to the high cost of being overweight.
Some metropolitan areas have tried ratifying legislation that will help citizens become more knowledgeable about their food choices. New York requires fast food restaurants to clearly display nutritional information next to their menus. The Los Angeles City Council approved a moratorium on new fast food restaurants in one of the most economically depressed areas of the city, as a way to counteract the fact that minorities are more likely to be overweight and obese, compared to high income constituents.
The jury is still out on whether or not any of this will actually work, as far as encouraging the public to eat healthier fare. Some critics of the LA legislation claim that the problem isn’t the per capita number of fast food chains in the poorer areas that are the problem, but rather the lack of markets providing fresh fruits, vegetables and other health food options.
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It's not that Barbara's doctor doesn't want to dwell of the fact that Barbara needs to lose weight. It's that Barbara's doctor is not educated adequately to advise Barbara on what she needs to do to lose weight. The fact of the matte is that, if her doctor does give advice on how to lose weight there is a 99% chance that she will be given the wrong things to do and the wrong things to eat and drink.
Matt Stone at: 180degreehealth.com has done extensive research into why two thirds of our population are overweight and a very large percentage of that group are considered overweight. Which, as Barbara pointed out, contributes heavily to Diabetes Type 2 and in acutality most of our other alarming health trends; such as cancer, heart disease, etc.
We have too many medical doctors, who by virtue of their skill and training to help their patients get better or ease symptoms once they are already sick, are intent on being cast as "health and nutrition" experts, and they are not. They really only know what they read in the last issue of "The New Endland Journal of Medicine" or the literature which was given to them by their pharma sales persons, etc.
I not diminishing the great advances in medicine or the medical profession. But, we've got a big problem in this country and there are answers in how to lose weight in a totally healthful manner with lasting results. And, its not about dieting (calorie limiting), or burning more calories while starving yourself. Don't we already know this does not work long term?
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