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| Why is America Overweight? | |
by Renee Kennedy
We know that being overweight causes many health
problems. It increases the risk of fatal diseases like
diabetes, heart disease, and cancer. But what is at
the root of the obesity problem in America?
There are two basic causes for becoming overweight
or obese: too much food and too little exercise. It
sounds like an issue based on an individual person's
willpower. However, when you realize that today
65% of Americans are overweight, you may begin
to understand that this is a real problem that all
Americans need to be aware of.
Problem #1 - Food:
From fast food restaurants to processed white
bread, we are ingesting foods that make us fat.
Research is beginning to show that it's not just a
willpower issue, it's an issue that must be addressed
by food manufacturers and possibly stricter
government regulations.
While writing this article, Kraft announced a new
campaign to reduce portion sizes and to cut back
on sugar and fat in their processed foods. Why?
Because processed foods are contributing to obesity
in America. There are three reasons why this is so:
1. Over the past 30 years, Americans have
increased consumption of high-fructose corn syrup
(found in processed food - cookies, cakes, cereal,
soda, etc.) from 5.5 pounds per person per year to
62.4 pounds per person per year. Recent studies
have proven that while regular table sugar raises
blood insulin levels that will lead to a sense of feeling
full, fructose corn syrup does not.
2. We are also consuming more fat than we were
30 years ago. Again, processed foods (snack foods,
baked goods, etc.) contain a high percentage of fats.
Harmful partially hydrogenated oils (chemically altered
oils or trans-fatty acids) are also found in practically
every snack food and baked good on the market
(including white bread). If you need more information
on fat, read What Kind of Fat Can You Eat? at
http://www.nutricounter.com/articles/fat.htm
3. We are consuming about half the amount of fiber
recommended by the American Dietetic association. If you
are filling yourself with processed food, you are not getting
the needed fiber in your diet.
Problem #2 - Exercise:
To complicate the issue further, 30 years ago people were
getting exercise just in their daily routines. Today,
technology has made our lives easier, but it's also made us
lazier. Practically every American household has washers,
dryers, TV's with remotes, vacuum cleaners, dishwashers,
and cars. To put it simply, the more technology you have to
make your life easier, the less exercise you are going to get.
Getting the proper amount of exercise now costs us money
and time that we feel we don't have.
How can we each do our part to combat obesity?
1. Examine your diet. Are there ways you can eat healthier?
Use your NutriCounter to help you determine eating patterns.
2. Choose unprocessed foods, lean meats, fish, vegetables,
fruits, eggs, whole grains.
3. If you must buy processed foods, learn to read the backs
of packages and food labels. Sometimes, if a package says
"low-fat" that doesn't necessarily mean healthy. Know what
you are putting into your body by educating yourself.
4. Get exercise every day. Examine your schedule and make
the time for it.
Come and visit the NutriCounter web site at
http://www.nutricounter.com/news.htm
for an extensive selection of articles on health, nutrition and exercise.
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