As the years progress, the number of fast food items have increased and grown more popular, making it difficult to pull away and exercise. Obesity, alongside smoking, has become a leading cause of death in the United States.
Although deaths from cancer decreased because of many who stopped smoking, they rose again because of obesity. In fact, there was a 1.4 percent annual increase in cancers associated with obesity in ages 20 to 49 from 2005 to 2014.
The Center for Disease Control (CDC) C.D.C experts stated, “Nearly half of all cancers in people younger than 65 were associated with overweight and obesity.”
Obesity will have great effects on a person’s life because it can result in Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, strokes, high blood pressure, gallbladder disease, sleep apnea, asthma, and a lot more.
Yet, despite these alarming consequences, many choose to turn their heads and disregard the problems of being overweight altogether. Rather than recognizing the issue and attempting to resolve it, many live in denial and let the problem snowball.
Yale University researchers conducted an online survey that showed that people think that when doctors use words like “obese”, “fat”, and “morbidly obese”, they are using labels and critical language. If this “derogatory” language was used, one in five participants stated that they wouldn’t attend any further doctor appointments or would get another doctor.
Dr. William H. Dietz of the C.D.C. said “obesity-related cancers in both men and women were associated with moderate weight gain during adulthood” and “efforts to prevent and control obesity in young adults should be accorded a high priority.”
So, why don’t we?
Creating healthy diets for ourselves that are realistic, making sure we exercise at least 30 minutes for the day and going outside with our families more are small but beneficial steps to take. In this industrial world we live in that is consumed by technology, it is easy to say, “I just don’t have time to watch my health and weight.” Our bodies are going to be a part of us forever, so let’s treat it with love and respect.
Prompting ourselves and others to be healthier is not fat-shaming. It’s making sure that obesity doesn’t completely take control over our lives and ruin our health.
