One of the main reasons that I decided to try and resolve my weight issues once and for all was because it was beginning to affect my health. I had high blood pressure, I'm sure high cholesterol, anxiety, more than likely sleep apnea, and I just didn't feel good. I knew that I could not go on living like that and things were only going to get worse.
Something that has really been on my mind lately is how obesity doesn't really get taken as seriously as it should by those who ARE obese and just society in general. I mean, think about it. If you were to get the news today that you have some disease that is guaranteed to kill you eventually, but it is totally preventable by doing X, Y, and Z, are you going to do X,Y, and Z? You bet your pretty little obese booty you are! You are going to do everything in your power to live.
This scenario can be applied to many diseases--cancer (chemo, radiation), diabetes (insulin, etc.), high cholesterol (Liptor, etc.) and so on. The point is, we will do what it takes to control these diseases in our lives.
Take a look at these figures I grabbed off the CDC website:
Annual Number of Deaths for Leading Causes of Death
Heart disease: 631,636
Cancer: 559,888
Stroke (cerebrovascular diseases): 137,119
Chronic lower respiratory diseases: 124,583
Accidents (unintentional injuries): 121,599
Diabetes: 72,449
Alzheimer's disease: 72,432
Influenza and Pneumonia: 56,326
Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome, and nephrosis: 45,344
Septicemia: 34,234
There are many preventive measures that can be and are taken by folks to keep these things from happening. And when they do happen, we are more than willing to comply with any and all courses of treatment that are suggested.
Now, let's get real about the topic at hand on this blog--FAT. I did a little more digging on the CDC website and found that the estimated annual deaths caused by obesity related issues are 112,000. 112,000!
That falls in the top 5 of the list above. I'm not sure why it isn't on that list. All I can figure out is that Obesity is a more general condition and causes many other conditions (several of the ones listed above) so it just off on it's own.
The point is--Obesity kills people. Lots of them.
The good news is that we don't have to go searching for a cure. The cure has been found!!! Eat less, move more. DO the inner digging to find out why you are the way you are. Get help if you need it. (No medication necessary!) If it will save your life, isn't it worth it? If we can save the lives of our children by teaching them how to eat, isn't it worth it? If we can be examples to others by doing right by our bodies, isn't it worth it?
We can't continue living with hundreds of extra pounds on our bodies and pretending like it's not a big deal. We have to start treating obesity as the killer that it is.
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15 comments:
GREAT points, Keelie!! It does kill! That's sucha great point that if it were another disease we would drastically do whatever it was we needed to to stop the progression so we wouldn't die. That really makes me think. Thanks.
Hi Keelie! I was going strong for the first few months of the year. Lost 30 pounds, felt great. Then I stopped. Stopped working out, stopped focusing on what food I was putting into my body, just stopped. No good reason. Thankfully I didn't gain the weight back. Was just stagnant instead. Your post was what I needed to shake me back into action!
Thanks!
Amen Sister! I wish more people would start thinking about obesity this way. I think too much focus has beenn put on the cosmetic aspect of obesity. I'm fat so I don't look good. If I was skinnier I would be happier with my looks. This leads to fad diets and weight re-gain and eventually giving up.
If we who were fat could look at our bloated bodies as a symptom of an underlying disease that was killing us, we would do what it takes to cure that disease.
It's too bad that your doctor can't give you a prescription for a gym membership and dietician consult and have it covered by your medical insurance though...Wouldn't that be great!
Very thought provoking! It really will get people thinking about why they are at the various points they may be in their lives.
I agree with you 100% I do not want my kids growing up accepting obesity or thinking it is normal. I was a little worried that it would be too late to set a good example for my daughter, but silly me, she already talks about how I "exercise a lot" :) I really love your blog and your pictures are so inspiring!
Cara
great post-good info here! :) Enough to motivate me~! :)
Found you through Jack Sh*t. Great pics! You are gorgeous. Looking forward to getting to know you via blog. :)
Great info! It's a sad thing but true unfortunately. It's amazing how quickly the human race has changed in the last few hundred years. Technology only gets better and lives only get shorter. Very sad.
I could not agree with you more! Obesity is something many people don't take nearly as seriously as they should... and yes its often those that are obese that seem totally unconcerned with the fact that they are feeding themselves to death.
Well, if this post isnt an eye opener, I dont know what is! All very good and valid points. Now to get rid of by big obese booty, once and for all!
I have been obese/morbidly obese for the majority of my life. Aside from the social implications I did not have any health issues related to my obesity until my mid 30s. I did have all of the above issues you mention like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, pre-diabetes, depression, sleep apnea- you name it I had it. It wasn't until my doctor suggested WLS and when I was given a CPAP for the sleep apnea did it finally clicked that I was going to DIE if I did not start taking care of myself.
My point it took me a LONG time to finally do something about it. I knew I was unhealthy but I didn't think I would DIE from it but in fact is was more of a reality then I chose to acknowledge at time.
Thankfully, I have been able to get off some of the BP meds, I have reduced my insulin 80% and I hope to be rid of most/all of the medications by next summer at the latest.
Great post, very thought provoking and I loved your feature on Jack's blog today Keelie!
You sound like Jillian Michaels. ^.^ You're right, though. People are always talking about how you should stop smoking so you don't get lung cancer, wear your seat belt so you don't die in an accident, do whatever to prevent something else. But most people almost seem afraid to say anything about obesity. People are finally starting to treat it like the disease it is, so maybe someday soon it will be given the attention it needs.
All great points. I think one of the reasons that my obesity has caused me such emotional pain is because I KNOW what it's doing to me. Knowing that "food is our medicine" and eating healthfully helps prevent nearly all of the diseases mentioned made my poor choices that much more frustrating to me. I guess it's like a smoker knowing that each puff is one closer to lung cancer. I knew each bite was one more forkful toward an early grave. Knowing about the problem is just half the problem (if that much). Doing it, has been the challenge. But I am doing it, as you are. Each day at a time, with God's help!
Keelie, Hi... saw your WIDTH cards over at Jack Sh*t, fabulous job!
Eat less, move more... seems so simple but I too have learned it works. Long way to go but that is the solution I am following.
Great point and stats! So true though because when we do patient education at the hospitals and point out that such and such a disease would subside if a patient lost weight then they hop on to it but otherwise it seems ok to be obese
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