OBESITY: The Physical, Emotional and Financial Costs

This is a difficult subject to write about because it involves subject areas that are politically sensitive. I will attempt to convey this sensitive material factually while attempting to be respectful.  This is a very important topic that affects better than 30 percent of the adult population and approximately 18-25 percent of children. If we include the category “overweight”, the adult percentage shoots up to approximately 70 percent and the child/adolescent increases to approximately 33 percent.

A BRIEF HISTORY:

What changes have occurred over the decades that have lead to this current epidemic?  From the 1950’s to the 1970’s food accessibility and selection was very different.  We had significantly less fast food and less processed food.  There were significantly less households with both parents employed full time.  There was significantly more outdoor activity time and schools had more hours devoted to physical education.

Today, with the advent of technology, students and working parents spend more hours of the day behind computer screens. The work day has increased in duration and the amount of family time together has decreased.  This has resulted in less grocery shopping, less food preparation, less time for physical activities and increased levels of stress for both parents and children.  Today the food supply consists heavily of meat that is filled with antibiotics, hormones, pesticides preservatives and dyes to retain the color; fish that has heavy metal toxicity and questionable processing methods; long shelf life products loaded with various forms of sugar (high fructose corn syrup in most packaged products) and high in sodium and saturated fats; and the latest controversial products banned by many countries outside the United States known as GMO (genetically modified organisms) products. Approximately 80 percent of processed, non organic foods today are made from foods that have been genetically modified and the food industry is NOT REQUIRED to inform the consumer.

The above history clearly demonstrates the changes in lifestyle and eating and the current results they have created. Intervention is desperately needed to reverse this trend.

THE PHYSICAL COMPONENT:

The degree of physical damage that most obese people experience over their lifetime is a gradual continual process resulting in various disease states of dis-health and ultimately death.  As we eat food, the digestive system breaks it down so the circulatory system (blood system) can feed all the different parts of the body. Heavily processed foods, foods containing foreign substances including dyes and chemical sweeteners, trans fats, saturated fats, large amounts of sugar and salt either directly affect the blood vessels and/or the organs the blood vessels supply.  This leads to:

• clogged blood vessels unable to provide nutrients and oxygen
• toxicity to the liver causing liver damage (which filters everything that enters the body)
• toxicity to the kidneys causing kidney damage (our second major filter removing substances that could be lethal)
• excess blood sugar that leads to diabetes
• heart disease
• respiratory compromise (such as sleep apnea or asthma)
• nerve damage (that leads to hand, foot and leg pain making it extremely painful and difficult to walk or do activities involving the hands.)
• gall bladder disease (from duct damage and gall stones)
• blindness (from aneurysms causing blood vessels in the eyes to explode)
• amputations of limbs as a result of gangrene
• stroke
• arthritis
• various forms of cancer (including breast, prostate and colon)

Today we need to include children and their disease issues as a result of the complications that childhood obesity causes. These include:

• high blood pressure
• high cholesterol
• insulin resistance
• diabetes
• joint pain
• arterial plaque (resulting in blood vessels with less space for blood flow)
• heartburn
• fatty liver disease
• gallstones

This bleak picture has not provided enough incentive for people to change their lifestyles.  It is my opinion that this proves that the “cure” to this epidemic requires dealing with ALL components of obesity and not just focusing on food and exercise. These components include: (1) emotional, (2) spiritual, (3) social, (4) physical {encompassing exercise and nutrition} and (5) financial. The rest of this article will address the emotional and financial components.

THE EMOTIONAL COMPONENT:

As a physician I have treated many people that were obese.  In over 20 years of practice, I can attest to significant depression in a majority of the patients.  It is likely that this depression stems from internal and external sources.  Externally, there is a great deal of societal pressure and discrimination.  Internally, there is a lack of self esteem and self worth.  These pressures promote the vicious cycle of unneeded eating to satisfy a temporary desire to “feel good.”  As the person continues to gain weight, their physical abilities become limited and painful.  This leads to an increase in sedentary living and ultimately increased consumption of food out of boredom.

There are some who claim that obesity is a desired healthy lifestyle. Many of those who make such claims are in denial of the facts.  This lifestyle is dangerous and limiting.  This commentary in no way is intended to pass judgement. In better than 95% of the cases, this lifestyle results in a severe compromise to the quality of life or leads to an early death.  Some use blood work to prove they are “healthy” because their results are within normal limits.  All this proves is that the body can take tremendous abuse in some cases before signs of disease surface. The Centers For Disease Control estimated that obesity related complications cost 147 billion dollars in 2008.  This has affected the premium costs for ALL those paying for health insurance. Until we open our eyes to the reality of this condition, the obese will continue to suffer physically and the rest of the population will continue to suffer financially. Correcting this problem becomes a win-win solution.

Professional assistance with experienced health care providers (chiropractors, osteopaths, naturopaths, medical practitioners) and experienced counselors is highly recommended.  In addition, introspection to find the meaning of happiness through activities, people and anything you are passionate for (in place of eating) will place you on a healthier path. Breaking the vicious cycle of inactivity, depression and eating is the key.

FINANCIAL COMPONENT:

“Eating healthy is too expensive!”  I have heard this mantra most of my professional life.  It is only a half truth.  Healthier food tends to cost more, however, as we begin a healthier regimen of eating, the quantity is reduced.  In addition, the obese individual spends more than $1,400.00/yr. in medical costs IN ADDITION TO the medical expenditures of a person of average weight.  There are also surgical ramifications and other medical procedures that add $20,000.00 to over $200,000.00 in medical costs from complications resulting from obesity.  Therefore, it is my opinion that an extra $1.00 or $2.00 or $3.00 per item to spend on healthier choices is significantly less costly and less painful than the alternative.

CONCLUSION:

Obesity has reached epidemic proportions and needs to be addressed by anyone who can help. Doctors, support groups, the food industry, and those currently obese need to participate if a solution is going to be achieved.  The answer will never be found in a pill or a surgical procedure, because the problem is NOT simply a physical one.  Each person will need to have the various components addressed based on their needs.  The important thing to realize is:

A SOLUTION EXISTS!

For many, the challenges will be ongoing similar to the alcoholic that faces their addiction.  Stress is a major catalyst that triggers destructive behaviors.  Prior to having a stressful episode, prepare yourself with channels (activities) that reduce the stressful situation to a more tolerable level. These channels should create a positive self image and a “feel good” response disassociated with food. Some people turn to music, reading, art, writing, volunteering to help others, etc…

If you want to begin a new life today, make the decison to take control of your life.  I will gladly help with any questions you may have. Simply leave a comment on this article and I will reply.  If you find this helpful, please share this on facebook, twitter and other venues of social media to let people know they are important and cared about.  This is a health concern we can all participate in to help each other. 

Tags: children, diabetes, health insurance, heart disease, stroke