While running yesterday morning it came to me – the solution to solve our country’s (and the world’s) most serious health crisis, which, as few want to admit, is obesity. The answer is exactly what the media thrive on and what can be a terrific motivator – the somber four-letter word, FEAR. The media uses fear to sell their wares – TV time, radio talk, print publications.
I’ve seen, for a long time, that obesity, that politically touchy subject, has essentially been ignored by the American Medical Association and the health insurance industry. Why? Well, since obesity leads to a myriad number of diseases, it helps keep the medical community thriving and hospitals full. And, many of these leaders, the physicians and nurses, aren’t in good shape – weight-wise or aerobic-wise. How many of them could run a mile in under ten minutes? Their medical model is two-fold: testing and treatment, both of which involve money. Prevention? No, it doesn’t pay.
If you do a search for the biggest health crisis in America, you’ll get 766 million links. In 2018 the CDC did a press release - https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2018/p1221-2018-year-review.html, which shows American’s life expectancy declining. If you read it, you won’t find any mention of obesity. Though the release did mention the word, “preventable.” Dr. Redfield, the CDC director, does not walk the walk.
I did a search on Google: does obesity affect immune system? I got over 34 million links, all explaining how obesity lowers immunity. That’s right – 34 million. Yet, no one cares. Except perhaps a small percentage of the medical community and an even smaller percentage of the population. Drs. Barnard, McDougal, and Greger seem like voices in the wilderness. I applaud them for not having given up their fight. What would happen if one of them were to take the place of Dr. Fauci or the incredibly obese Robert R. Redfield, MD, director of the CDC? The new AMA president, Dr. Harris, an African-American psychiatrist, lists goals for her term:
Does she mention the obesity crisis? No. Prevention? No. How does she feel about the incidence of obesity in black Americans, which is about 50% - with 14% being morbidly obese? What does she think about the 17% obesity incidence of Asian Americans? Hmmmm. Why are they much healthier? No, Dr. Harris and her colleagues continue to ignore this issue. If dentists followed this model, they would never have pressed for community fluoridation, which has dramatically improved the dental health of millions … and also reduced the need for more dentists.
A few weeks ago four of my grandkids spent the night, giving me the chance to present a mini-stress management seminar. When I mentioned the health crisis of obesity, I asked them why we don’t talk about it. Little Lucy explained, hitting the nail on the head, “Pop, if we tell someone that they’re fat, that hurts their feelings.” How true – from the mouth of a child.
In the year 2000, 30.5% of American adults were obese. That climbed to 35% a few years ago. Now, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that the obesity rate reached 42.4% in 2017-2018. I estimate that the percentage of overweight (not obese) Americans is close to 90-95%. I also predict that we’ll hit 50% in the obesity category within five years. America ranks 38th in life expectancy (was 35th only five years ago) despite spending more on health care per capita than any other developed nation. The leader? Japan.
So, what’s my solution? The Fear Factor. Turn this virus thing into something positive. Blare on the news channels, in newspapers, in social media that overweight and obese people are much more likely to contract the virus … and die … than a fit person – since obesity reduces the body’s defense system. Give them examples: fat people who’ve lost weight. I, myself, was obese in 2005. I made changes, lost weight, and got my bmi to around 20 – and I’ve been able to maintain this for 15 years now. Make it easy for the average Joe and Jane to understand: be able to run a mile in under ten minutes, eat fruits and veggies, avoid saturated fats. Limit fast food. I hate the phrase, “We’re in this together,” since staying healthy is a personal choice. Single. Just me, not us. The media tells us that “we” must wait for the treatment for this virus and for a vaccine. Baloney. They should tell us to lose weight, get our bmi under 25, and increase our VO2max – in simple terms, of course. It’s our choice: lose weight, get healthy or get sick. And, this is a nasty virus, attacking the lungs, requiring a ventilator. Paint the picture gory, scary. Use fear as a weapon to reduce obesity. And stop sugar coating the word, fat. The problem is, as you know, that, as Cicero wrote, misericordia familitatem amat: misery loves company. Since most of the world is fat, being overweight is acceptable. Watch TV commercials. Thin people are almost the exception. The big ad agencies on Wall Street know what their market is.
Yes, there are some who, because of disabilities, won’t be able to exercise vigorously. There are some who have genetic problems with weight. Some are mentally handicapped. However, I’ve seen thin people in wheelchairs, which makes me think that they must eat sensibly.
Now, I’m no scientist, but I’m sure that others, able to use forums much more powerful than this little blog, have similar thoughts. What are they waiting for? And shame on the AMA and the CDC.
I’ve seen, for a long time, that obesity, that politically touchy subject, has essentially been ignored by the American Medical Association and the health insurance industry. Why? Well, since obesity leads to a myriad number of diseases, it helps keep the medical community thriving and hospitals full. And, many of these leaders, the physicians and nurses, aren’t in good shape – weight-wise or aerobic-wise. How many of them could run a mile in under ten minutes? Their medical model is two-fold: testing and treatment, both of which involve money. Prevention? No, it doesn’t pay.
If you do a search for the biggest health crisis in America, you’ll get 766 million links. In 2018 the CDC did a press release - https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2018/p1221-2018-year-review.html, which shows American’s life expectancy declining. If you read it, you won’t find any mention of obesity. Though the release did mention the word, “preventable.” Dr. Redfield, the CDC director, does not walk the walk.
I did a search on Google: does obesity affect immune system? I got over 34 million links, all explaining how obesity lowers immunity. That’s right – 34 million. Yet, no one cares. Except perhaps a small percentage of the medical community and an even smaller percentage of the population. Drs. Barnard, McDougal, and Greger seem like voices in the wilderness. I applaud them for not having given up their fight. What would happen if one of them were to take the place of Dr. Fauci or the incredibly obese Robert R. Redfield, MD, director of the CDC? The new AMA president, Dr. Harris, an African-American psychiatrist, lists goals for her term:
- The potential rollback of the Affordable Care Act and the millions of Americans who lack health care coverage.
- A lack of physicians from underrepresented groups in medicine.
- Physician shortages in rural America.
- The use of e-cigarettes by impressionable young Americans.
- The fact that one in two American adults struggles with chronic conditions such as diabetes and heart disease.
- The rising cost of pharmaceuticals.
Does she mention the obesity crisis? No. Prevention? No. How does she feel about the incidence of obesity in black Americans, which is about 50% - with 14% being morbidly obese? What does she think about the 17% obesity incidence of Asian Americans? Hmmmm. Why are they much healthier? No, Dr. Harris and her colleagues continue to ignore this issue. If dentists followed this model, they would never have pressed for community fluoridation, which has dramatically improved the dental health of millions … and also reduced the need for more dentists.
A few weeks ago four of my grandkids spent the night, giving me the chance to present a mini-stress management seminar. When I mentioned the health crisis of obesity, I asked them why we don’t talk about it. Little Lucy explained, hitting the nail on the head, “Pop, if we tell someone that they’re fat, that hurts their feelings.” How true – from the mouth of a child.
In the year 2000, 30.5% of American adults were obese. That climbed to 35% a few years ago. Now, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that the obesity rate reached 42.4% in 2017-2018. I estimate that the percentage of overweight (not obese) Americans is close to 90-95%. I also predict that we’ll hit 50% in the obesity category within five years. America ranks 38th in life expectancy (was 35th only five years ago) despite spending more on health care per capita than any other developed nation. The leader? Japan.
So, what’s my solution? The Fear Factor. Turn this virus thing into something positive. Blare on the news channels, in newspapers, in social media that overweight and obese people are much more likely to contract the virus … and die … than a fit person – since obesity reduces the body’s defense system. Give them examples: fat people who’ve lost weight. I, myself, was obese in 2005. I made changes, lost weight, and got my bmi to around 20 – and I’ve been able to maintain this for 15 years now. Make it easy for the average Joe and Jane to understand: be able to run a mile in under ten minutes, eat fruits and veggies, avoid saturated fats. Limit fast food. I hate the phrase, “We’re in this together,” since staying healthy is a personal choice. Single. Just me, not us. The media tells us that “we” must wait for the treatment for this virus and for a vaccine. Baloney. They should tell us to lose weight, get our bmi under 25, and increase our VO2max – in simple terms, of course. It’s our choice: lose weight, get healthy or get sick. And, this is a nasty virus, attacking the lungs, requiring a ventilator. Paint the picture gory, scary. Use fear as a weapon to reduce obesity. And stop sugar coating the word, fat. The problem is, as you know, that, as Cicero wrote, misericordia familitatem amat: misery loves company. Since most of the world is fat, being overweight is acceptable. Watch TV commercials. Thin people are almost the exception. The big ad agencies on Wall Street know what their market is.
Yes, there are some who, because of disabilities, won’t be able to exercise vigorously. There are some who have genetic problems with weight. Some are mentally handicapped. However, I’ve seen thin people in wheelchairs, which makes me think that they must eat sensibly.
Now, I’m no scientist, but I’m sure that others, able to use forums much more powerful than this little blog, have similar thoughts. What are they waiting for? And shame on the AMA and the CDC.
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