Life is precious...
An article in the MARCH 17TH, 2005 New England Journal of Medicine calls attention to the Obesity Epidemic in America and its consequences.
Olshansky et al.1 estimate that the current life expectancy at birth in the United States would be one third to three quarters of a year higher if all overweight adults were to attain their ideal weight.
Now that doesn't sound like much time but if you multiply that one half year average by the number of Obese Americans...it adds up to a lot of "people power" being lost to this deadly epidemic.
I can't help but also think of the lost opportunities. How many of these people will lose the opportunity to see their child graduate from high school? The birth of their first grand child? Or perhaps lose the opportunity to write the Great American Novel or even cure a dreaded disease...all because their life has been shortened by obesity?
The thing is---just 100 excess calories a day...over time will earn you a diagnosis of obesity. If you choose to work your body enough to burn off that extra fuel you will maintain your weight. If you eat a little less and exercise a little more...you can lose weight. Until that magic pill is invented...that's the way things work.
It's a real balancing act. But once we understand what is at stake...know the rules and make a commitment to follow them...we can regain our health and earn more time to enjoy life.
Body for Life works, if you work Body for Life.
Olshansky et al.1 estimate that the current life expectancy at birth in the United States would be one third to three quarters of a year higher if all overweight adults were to attain their ideal weight.
Now that doesn't sound like much time but if you multiply that one half year average by the number of Obese Americans...it adds up to a lot of "people power" being lost to this deadly epidemic.
I can't help but also think of the lost opportunities. How many of these people will lose the opportunity to see their child graduate from high school? The birth of their first grand child? Or perhaps lose the opportunity to write the Great American Novel or even cure a dreaded disease...all because their life has been shortened by obesity?
The thing is---just 100 excess calories a day...over time will earn you a diagnosis of obesity. If you choose to work your body enough to burn off that extra fuel you will maintain your weight. If you eat a little less and exercise a little more...you can lose weight. Until that magic pill is invented...that's the way things work.
It's a real balancing act. But once we understand what is at stake...know the rules and make a commitment to follow them...we can regain our health and earn more time to enjoy life.
Body for Life works, if you work Body for Life.
posted by M. | 10:25 AM
1 Comments:
... And then imagine the improved quality of life that would result from a more healthful lifestyle if we attacked America's obesity problem.
... I've been reading your blog and related news items. We're having to 'super-size' our furniture; 'super-size' bus, train, plane, and toilet seats; 'super-size' hospital beds; etc., etc. Obese folks surely don't get out and about and the burden on our medical services has forced insurance costs thru the roof!
... I'm wondering why our President hasn't made this a national priority. Do you have any ideas or opinions on this matter? Hmmmm ... Do politicians not want to offend folks? ... Yes, this is a potentially weighty (pun intended) subject. You'd think folks would pay attention to this as a root cause to increased Medicare and Medicade costs.
... What ever happened to Bill Phillips' GREAT AMERICAN TRANSFORMATION?
My 2-cents of ranting. Take care my friend and keep up the thought provoking BLOG comments both here and on the BFL web-site.
JL
Post a Comment
<< Home