World Obesity Day
Once upon a time, being and staying thin was never a problem. Finding enough to eat? Now that was a problem! However, in this day and age obesity is not only a problem for Americans, but is now prevalent in many parts of the world where it never was before. This could be due to the abundance of technological devices that have become a part of so many people’s day-to-day lives. These technologies allow us to connect with others, make appointments and go to meetings without ever needing to leave our chair. While the convenience of information at our fingertips makes our lives so much easier, it has also contributed to a much more sedentary lifestyle.
Couch potatoes
It’s not just the use of home computers and smartphones that has contributed to staying in the house, but the influx of gaming as well. So many children who used to be outside and playing most of the day now stay inside in their gaming chairs instead. Did you know obesity rates have nearly tripled since 1975 and have increased almost five times in children and adolescents? And it’s not just kids on the consoles; more and more grown-ups are working from home AND into whatever game or app is the hottest trend. Not only does sitting in front of screens lead to a lack of exercise, it also contributes to vitamin D deficiency because people are spending so much time indoors and not getting the important vitamin D that sunlight provides.
An ounce of prevention…
Preventing health problems is always better than having to deal with them once they appear. And the thing about obesity is that it leads to a lot of other health problems. March 4th is World Obesity Day, so why not take a few minutes to check in with yourself: Asking yourself important health questions about how you can improve your eating, exercise, screen time and sleep habits. Yes, even a lack of sleep can contribute to weight gain.
It’s not just your weight
Knowing how much you weigh is helpful; but, it isn’t the only thing we need to worry about. It’s important to remember that muscle weighs more than fat; so, if you are exercising more but don’t see any actual weight loss, it could be because you are trading fat for muscle. So don’t get discouraged. Also, knowing your BMI (body mass index) is helpful; but you also need to include your waist circumference and your risk factors. Some, but not all, risk factors include a family history of high blood pressure, high triglycerides, high blood sugar, and heart disease—just to name a few.
On this World Obesity Day, take a few moments to reflect on what you can do to positively impact the rates of obesity in our communities.
