by Cheryl Williams

Created on: January 25, 2010   Last Updated: January 26, 2010

Being more active will not cure America of its obesity problem.  Lack of activity is only one component of the obesity epidemic that is plaguing America.  People are overweight for the most part because they have become addicted to food, and most of the food they are addicted to is unhealthy food.

Fast food has become the fix of choice for Americans.  There are fast food restaurants on just about every street.  There are convenience stores where you can easily pick up the latest snack items.  Overeating is the one “acceptable” addiction because almost everyone has done it at some point in their lives.  People celebrate with food.  They mourn with food.  Church socials and dinners are all about the food.  People unbuckle their belts and chuckle about having eaten too much.

In order for America to be cured of its obesity problem, all of the components that lead to obesity must be addressed:

The first component that must be addressed is the emotional component.  This is what drives people to overeat.  This is what fuels the addiction that consumes them.  Just as an alcoholic reaches for the bottle as a means of relieving some kind of emptiness inside, so do people reach for that bag of cookies.  Just as the drug addict feels the need to escape and numb out from the problems of life, so do people overload themselves with sugar, fat, salt as a means of feeling numb. Sometimes the pain of life can seem unbearable and food provides a temporary fix.

The second component that must be addressed is the mental component.  The mind becomes accustomed to the patterns that are developed in regard to eating.  People who are obese are not usually mindful eaters.  They eat watching TV, and before they know it they have plowed through an entire bag of potato chips.  They eat standing up, in the car, and while chatting on the phone.  Oftentimes they do not even remember eating or tasting their food. 

In order to become a mindful eater, people must be fully conscious of the eating choices that they make.  A good idea is to eat only when sitting at the dining table, and only with a plate and fork.  People are not as likely to eat an entire bag of potato chips is they have to sit down with a plate at the dinner table.  Another good idea is to stop eating at least 2 hours before bedtime.  If people would just follow these two basic rules, they would begin to see their weight drop.

The third component is physical activity.  It makes weight loss easier and longer lasting.  Exercise increases your metabolism, builds muscle mass and increases your flexibility.  It also is great for your heart and has been shown to aid in preventing certain diseases such as Type 2 Diabetes.

The obesity problem in America has been one that has slowly developed over time.  It will take time to fix as well.  The first step is in recognizing all of the components that lead to obesity.  Just as they all work together in causing obesity, they all must work together to prevent obesity.

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