Health concerns are always one of the major issues being dealt by governments in any country. The reason is obvious: enjoyment and outlook in life is, to a larger extent, dependent upon the condition of an individual’s health (US Department of Health, 1990). If the majority of the population is healthy, it exudes an overall atmosphere of optimism. The prevalence of obesity is continually astounding. Why the problem with obesity or weight? People should consider the following facts and figures: – findings reveal that 60% of American adults are overweight
– more than 30 % are best labeled as obese – the CDC or Center for Disease Control informs us that the country spends $75 billion on diseases related to weight or obesity – repercussions that affect health “include hypertension, hyperlipidemia, hyperinsulinemia, osteoarthritis, increased risk of some forms of cancer, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, heart disease” – among the obese (adults), 80% possess at least on of the given conditions – This results to a reduced lifespan and quality of life (Source: www. bnl. gov/HR/OCCMED/linkable_files/pdf/The_Weight_Debate. pdf ) Discussion
One’s habits over the choice of food in the different meals in a day usually originate from the training we have at home through the way our parents rear us up. It simply reflects our parents’ choices. This is the rationale that it is always difficult to change our lifestyle because our taste buds have been “trained” to choose foods that do not contribute to a healthy existence (America’s healthiest fare, 1995). An important consideration over the weight debate is that many “educated” Americans are not informed at all about basic diet and the workings of one’s physical body.
A human being’s body is regulated by a biological or physiological system of the composition of hormones, genes and neurotransmitters which controls body fat storage and body weight. This implies that when a person starts to gain weight, the system seemingly “adapts” to the point that the system itself prevents people from losing weight (www. bnl. gov/HR/OCCMED/linkable_files/pdf/The_Weight_Debate. pdf). In a lengthy article published in the Weight-control Information Network (WIN), the author provides a guide on controlling weight through a practical know-how on the portions that we eat daily.
It is understood that one of the simplest approaches towards longevity and enjoying quality life is the monitoring of the amount food we consume everyday. The monitoring should not be a one-time deal but it is supposed to be a conscious maintenance of the choices we make on our consumption (“Just enough for you”, 2006). The article shows us that it is good that when people make a decision to pursue a healthy standard of living, however, the next step is to make sure that not only should the food be healthy, but that these should be in the right amount and in how often these are ingested. Conclusion
Findings demonstrate in a way, how to be able to calculate how much of the food we have eaten already and to make an intentional choice to always weigh, or make apportions of the food we prepare, to make sure we have started an accurate measurement of what we eat. This requires a lot of patience and endurance on our part; but it boils down to more of a determination to change. It is truly important or serious that a person must know serving sizes, be able to read nutritional information on the labels, and make sure he/she is not easily duped on the superficial promises of many of those stocked in our supermarkets.
The article continues to make the concerned weight watcher mindful of every opportunity that his/her regimen will be interrupted. Thus, a weekly menu, tips when traveling, purchasing decisions, and more, were generously presented. It is always important that nutritious food should also be eaten in the right amount and at proper times.
Works Cited
Page: Lyons, Pat. 2001. Great Weight Debate. http://findarticles. com/p/articles/mi_m0675/is_1_17/ai_53714462/print “Just enough for you. ” About Food Portions. 2006. NIH Publication No. 03-5287.Accessed in http://win. niddk. nih. gov/publications/just_enough. htm#difference. The Weight Debate: How to take it off and keep it off. Accessed November 2007. www. bnl. gov/HR/OCCMED/linkable_files/pdf/The_Weight_Debate. pdf – US Department of Health and Services. 1990, Healthy People 2000: National Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Objectives. Washington, DC: US Government Printing Office. Center on Hunger, Poverty, and Nutrition Policy. “Kids Count Data Book,” State Works. June 26, 1996. “America’s Healthiest Fare? ” Health. May/June 1995: 18.