It's time to ditch poor choices and start focusing on fitness!
The United States has one of the highest obesity rates globally, which has led to numerous health issues, including:
· Type II Diabetes
· Heart disease
· Hypertension
· Arthritis
· Gout
· Depression
· Sleep apnea
· Osteo arthritis
Fast Food Nation
The increasing number of fast-food restaurants and the availability of junk food in grocery stores are contributing to chronic obesity and the diseases that come with it. Let's face it: junk food is tempting, delicious and affordable. In many cases, it's much more convenient and cheaper than buying healthy whole-food ingredients from the local supermarket. However, this option may not be cost-effective in the long run, especially considering that the United States is currently facing an obesity crisis.
Shockingly, 1 in 5 children in the country has been diagnosed with morbid obesity, putting them at risk of developing diseases that can be financially crippling for our healthcare system. These diseases can be just as devastating as the pandemic we recently faced.
In short, the burger you consume today may lead to the heart attack you pay for later in life.
Packing on Pounds during the Pandemic.
Now that we have overcome the worst part of the COVID-19 pandemic, people face another crisis caused by the weight gained during the lockdown months. Many individuals suffered from depression due to loneliness or excessive stress caused by job or income loss and turned to alcohol and food as a coping mechanism. This overindulgence in alcohol and food has contributed to the obesity epidemic in our country, which only worsened during the pandemic.
Has technology played a negative role?
With the never-ending technological advances, many people, especially children, have become more sedentary due to their constant screen time. Furthermore, gym memberships can be expensive, time-consuming, tedious, and face it, less fun or entertaining than TikTok when you’re a 12-year-old.
So now what?
The good news is that it's never too late to start fresh and work towards a healthier lifestyle. While it may be a challenge, it's far from impossible.
Some diets might work for a while if followed strictly, but are they practical to stick to? Let’s pick on Keto. Everyone doesn't need to follow the Keto diet, and not all restaurants offer Keto selections. Moreover, whether it is even healthy is debatable. So, instead of following a diet with complex boundaries, it's better and more accessible to switch to a healthier lifestyle change.
Noom is one great example of such a program that provides excellent lifestyle choices for eating a balanced, healthy diet and incorporating some form of exercise into your daily routine, which is fun and affordable. Noom helps users make healthier choices for lasting weight loss without sacrificing indulgences.
Technology can play a positive role, too!
YouTube is a goldmine of exercise information. One can find Yoga, Pilates, Tae Chi, Zumba, and other forms of exercise on YouTube and stream them right into your living room!
Regular daily activities like walking are a great way to exercise and don't require costly gym memberships. On top of that, activities like cleaning your house, playing with your dog, chasing your kids or grandkids, mowing the grass or gardening, swimming, and riding your bicycle, playing ball and rollerblading can all be fun ways to burn calories without the expense of a gym membership and without even knowing you’re doing it!
In Conclusion
If you're worried about potential health problems due to obesity or poor health, there is hope and a way forward. With commitment, self-control, and persistence, anyone can achieve good health, shed off excess weight, and secure a brighter, happier future with fewer visits to the hospital and more money in the bank!
References
7. https://connect.mayoclinic.org/blog/weight-management-1/newsfeed-post/pros-and-cons-of-a-keto-diet/
Assessed and Endorsed by the MedReport Medical Review Board