America's Big Challenge: Obesity
Being obese is an issue that many overweight persons do not want to talk about. Early this year, I met someone who was willing to share her personal perspective concerning her own challenges with being obese. The following is an excerpt from that interview.
“Junk food! I love junk food, and by the look of me, junk food loves me! I don’t eat a lot of food; I simply eat the wrong food, and that’s the reason for my current body size.”
When asked what type of food she eats, she replied, “Things like French fries, pizza, chocolates, candy, and cookies. By the way, I can’t have just one cookie; I’ll eat the bag. Most overweight people are ashamed to admit it, but that’s exactly what we do, oftentimes in secret, when no one is around.”
When asked why she believes many overweight individuals continue their harmful eating habits, she stated, “There are different reasons. Some of my overweight friends use food as comfort for things that are missing in their lives. Some eat when they are depressed; others, simply because they love food. Love for food, to me, is like any other addiction; after years of eating the way I do, it really is a difficult habit to break.”
My final question to her was “What would it take to break the food addiction and start a healthier lifestyle?” Her reply was stark! “This may sound silly, but I think I have to get physically sick to actually change.”
Camille’s (not her real name) story on obesity is real and represents the struggle of a large proportion of people living in our American society. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) defines obesity as excessive weight that has been proven to increase the likelihood of developing serious and often disabling health problems.1 The CDC contends that obesity has reached epidemic proportions within the United States where an estimated 64 percent of adults are considered overweight, and 30 percent are considered obese.2 Children and adolescents are not faring much better, with the CDC reporting that more than 17 percent of children and adolescents in America are overweight—three times the rate of just 20 years ago.3
Addressing the issue of obesity within the African-American community has become a vital topic. In a recent comprehensive study on obesity and African-Americans, adults reported that they were more likely to experience obesity than any of the other racial groups within the study (i.e., Caucasians, Hispanics, Asian).4 A 2004 federal study ranked Black girls between the ages of 6-18 as the second- highest-at-risk group for obesity, with an estimated 24 percent being overweight across America (Hispanic males ranked first).5
While there are many causes associated with obesity, some of the general determining factors include family history, dietary habits, and the degree of one’s physical activity lifestyle.6
The ironic thing about the issue of obesity is that the American public is actually obsessed with the concept of looking thin. The media bombards the public with a myriad of advertisements that present a “quick fix” solution for losing weight, or appearing to look slimmer. Jenny Craig, Atkins Diet, Weight Watchers, and Slim-Fast are just a few of the seemingly countless ways that a person can lose weight quickly—by joining their program. The medical profession has also created their own version of a “quick fix” solution to weight problems, developing new surgical procedures designed to eliminate fat and/or restrict one’s eating habits (i.e., liposuction, tummy tucks), bariatric surgery (i.e., stapling one’s stomach).
While many of these weight loss methods may yield success to their customers, individuals should be cautious in their selection of a particular program. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) questioned the efficacy of many of these programs, stating that most were unable to provide data that could support their claims and allow comparisons between products7 and even went as far as to conclude that the long-term results of most of these weight-loss programs showed that they did not work.8 Another concern raised by the NIH was the actual safety and regulation of some of these dietary supplements for weight loss because there are few regulating standards that govern these entities.9 Finally, many programs are designed to maintain one’s dependence on the services and products that they provide, resulting in an ongoing financial investment in their program.
While there are definite benefits to weight-loss surgery,10 what is often not discussed are the side effects or risks associated with these surgeries. Risks may include bouts of hallucinations, neurological problems, thinning hair, and weakness or pain in the lower fringes of the body.11
Is there a simplified, easier way of addressing weight loss without taking chances with the countless unregulated weight loss programs, or engaging in costly and risky surgeries? First, before engaging in any weight loss program one should consider consultation with their physician, because some individuals may possess unique health conditions that may warrant a physician’s guidance. Some profoundly obese individuals may require drastic mea-sures to regain their ideal weight. I believe that God has provided a simplified plan, which, when followed, can help most people regain and/or maintain their ideal body weight and enrich their health. It’s called NEWSTART®.
For more information on NEWSTART®, or for help in getting started on a healthier lifestyle, go to www.newstart.com.
GEORGE ASHLEY, PH.D., currently serves as the chair of the Social Work Department at Oakwood University, in Huntsville, Alabama.
References
1 J. May and E. Buckman, “The Role of Disease Management in the Treatment and Prevention of Obesity With Associated Comorbidities,” Disease Management 10, no. 3 (2007): 156-163.
2 www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/obesity/defining.htm
3 Ibid.
4 D. Renzulli, “Black Struggle With High Obesity Rate,” New York Amsterdam News 96, no. 48 (2005): 16.
5 C. Holden, “Obesity Watch,” Science 305, no. 5688 (2004): 1236.
6 R. Baba, et al., “Risk of Obesity Enhanced by Poor Physical Activity in High School Students,” Pediatrics International 48, no. 3 (2006): 268-273.
7 “How to Assess Weight-Loss Programs,” Consumers’ Research Magazine 78, no. 1 (1995): 18-24.
8 Ibid.
9 Ibid.
10 A.M., “What You Don’t Know About Weight Loss Surgery,” Prevention 59, no. 11 (2007): 42.
11 Ibid.
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