Should we blame genetics for the obesity epidemic?

No

8 of 28

by Lucinda Davis

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Genetics, I believe, plays a very small role in our weight issues. When you look at family photos you can certainly see similarties in weights, size and proportions. Then there is sometimes that person who is a bean pole compared to the rest. Everyone will say "well he must have inheireted Uncle Stanley's genes" or something like that.

Sure you may have a slow metabolism, but why is your metabolism slow? Is it slow because you sit on the couch eating junk food all day? It's very likely you have a slow metabolism because your liver is not functioning properly. Many things can disrupt your liver function including fat intake and alcohol consumption.

You are probably obese from eating too much and not getting enough exercise plain and simple. Our bodies were not made to sit on the couch watching television all day and eating from boredom or stress. Your genetics may work against you but I tend to think it's more of how your parents raised you.

If your parents sat you down at dinner with a huge plate of spagetti and told you to clean your plate even though you were full, then they helped contribute to your weight problem in that sense. You became accustom to having that over full feeling your entire childhood and now as an adult you have to break that habit. Your family probably didn't teach you to eat a balanced diet. When I was growing up I had never eaten cauliflower or broccoli. Our vegatables were corn and peas for the most part. I didn't know there were other good vegetables out there until I got out on my own.

If your parents didn't encourage you to participate in sports or exercise then it is also likely you don't exercise as an adult. My parents hated sports and so I grew up hating sports until I found out it felt good to play the sports I like. It is empowering to overcome an obstacle like that.

I believe people are confusing habits with genetics. You look at your family and you see they are all fat and so you think "what's the point?" I'm destined to be fat. This is just not so. You just need to look at what it is you are doing and start making simple changes. If you don't get an exercise then start by walking for 15 minutes a day then move up to 30 minutes when you are comfortable with that. You'll burn 100 calories in a half hour and speed up your metabolism even after you've stopped walking.

I will tell you what I believe is the major cause of the "obesity epidemic". Those prime time food commericials where they show a photo of a slice of pizza with the cheese stretching out. The taco commercials that tell you "gotta eat". Well no I don't gotta eat at 11pm but their commercial makes my mind think that. My mouth begins to water and next thing I know I'm hoping in the car to go get a taco or picking up the phone to order a pizza. It's the marketing of fatten fast food that is responsible for the obesity epedemic.

If you were raised in a home that taught you how to eat properly maybe the commercials don't affect you the way they affect me. However, chances are if you live with someone and you can put off that craving the other person watching the commercial won't. You might be dedicated to your diet but if your spouse or child says "gosh that looks good can we get some of that?" you are more than likely to go along with their request.

Maybe it's something to do with our animal nature. Have you ever seen dogs fight over food even though there is a buffet in front of them. If you haven't, I have three dogs and I have separate them when they eat something special because for whatever reason they seem to think this is the last bite they'll get. I have one of those dog dishes that refills automatically so they know there is plenty of food yet they still have that desire to gobble up a treat for fear of losing out. I guess I'd compare it to the last piece of pizza scenario. Don't we all fight over the last slice of pizza. You may say you don't want it, but you know you do because it's just so darn good!

This may sound extreme to some people but you know how a long time ago they outlawed cigarette commercials? Well just as cigarettes are addictive habits so is food. In my opinion it should be illegal to show these kinds of commercials, we know what the food tastes like and if we are hungry we'll buy it. We don't need a commercial telling us to buy food. Cigarettes kill people and obesity kills people too. My Mother died of kidney failure brought on by diabetes which could have been prevented if she had led a healthy lifestyle. She would still be alive today and probably for another 20 years or more. My nephew died the same year as my Mother. He was in his 20's and weighed over 300 lbs. He would eat anything you put in front of him. He fell out of bed one morning having a seizure. His wife thought he was kidding around at first. He was having a stroke and ended up in a coma for a week and died shortly after.

There have been numerous studies on what causes cancer and what prevents cancer, diabetes, heart trouble, and all of the preventable diseases. All you have to do is pick up a magazine at the supermarket and start reading. They'll tell you broccoli, tomatoes and green tea helps to prevent cancer. They'll tell you blueberries contain healthy antioxidants that neutralize free radical damage. The list of health benefits for the foods we should be eating just goes on and on. When you read about the damages to your body of eating fast food you get quite the opposite. Fast food is toxic to your liver which I stated earlier helps your metabolism. Fast food causes arthritis problems, heart problems, and that list goes on as well.

It's time they put some regulations on the food commercials. They should still be allowed to advertise but not in the manner they do now because it triggers your brain to tell you to eat when you are not hungry. Until the government decides to regulate food commercials it's up to you to change your eating habits. If you don't want to do it for yourself think about those who love you. Do you have children? Are you putting another nail in their coffin? Quit making excuses and blaming the gene pool from which you came and make some changes in your life. I did it, you can do it too.

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