Parents spend their entire lives trying to protect their children from all sorts of threats that exist. From accidents to people, even to ideas that could hurt them, there are threats everywhere. But what about the silent killer? The one that everyone thinks about and ignores at the same time? Recent studies have shown that nearly 700 million people have been recorded as obese. Diabetes, coronary heart disease, stroke and high blood pressure are just a few of the hundreds of health complications that arise from obesity-related causes.
Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2009–2010
- More than 2 in 3 adults are considered to be overweight or obese.
- More than 1 in 3 adults are considered to be obese.
- More than 1 in 20 adults are considered to have extreme obesity.
- About one-third of children and adolescents ages 6 to 19 are considered to be overweight or obese.
- More than 1 in 6 children and adolescents ages 6 to 19 are considered to be obese
These numbers are even higher now in 2016 as more and more children follow the example set by their parents. But it's not just their parents' fault. If you take a step back and just look at the world around us, how often do you see a billboard advertising health foods? Walk into a fast food restaurant and more likely than not you can pick up a handful of burgers and a drink for $5 but only a single salad for $7. Society has pushed us into an age of obesity simply for the sake of profit.
Clinic Compare places the United States in 18th place, but quickly surging to the front of the race with 33 percent of our population being obese and nearly double that placed in the overweight category.
Now I am a strong proponent that everyone is beautiful in their own way and that beauty extends much farther than simple physique. But obesity has become an issue in the world in today's age. "Love me for my personality" is an amazing slogan, but what it doesn't do is excuse you to fall into obesity. Eating right, exercise, positive life choices are such simple prices to pay in exchange for your health in the later years of your life. You won't be the one sitting next to an individual as they die for obesity-related heart disease. You won't be there to tell them "at least people loved your personality."
Now it's not hard to take care of your body -- 120 minutes of exercise a week is next to nothing spread out over seven days. But if you really do find it that hard, at least do others a favor and don't promote your lifestyle. We lose too many people on a day-to-day basis to lose more from something as simple to fight as this.
