thoughts on obesity cont.

Although the situation seems daunting, there are actually many practical solutions to slow down the growth of “diabesity.” One of the most beneficial things we can do is adopt a healthy lifestyle consisting of eating balanced meals and exercising regularly. Obviously, this won’t happen overnight. The International Diabetes Foundation wisely proposes that elementary and middle schools adopt more rigorous physical education programs (the earlier the better), so that children are encouraged to play sports and exercise rather than staying cooped up inside their homes. We should also be aware of false and provocative advertising of foods that are harmful to us, and also pay attention to portion sizes when we dine out. For example, we could eat half of our entrée rather than the entire dish and save the rest to take home and eat for lunch the next day.

It may seem rude to lecture a family member or friend that is chubby or gaining weight on the consequences of obesity and overeating, but in reality it’s actually doing them a favor and showing that you care. I would explain to them the likelihood that they would develop diabetes, and other complications such as higher health costs, heart disease, asthma, and hypertension, to name a few. If they have any trouble being convinced, I would inform them that according to research done by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 30% of children born in 2000 will contract Type II Diabetes. That’s an alarmingly high percentage.

Learning and educating myself about diabetes and obesity has made me a lot more aware of my own health choices and daily lifestyle. There are many unhealthy food options on campus, but there are healthy ones as well. It all boils down to making wise decisions and choosing foods that are healthy, even if it means sacrificing a very tempting slice of chocolate cake. If I adopt healthy eating habits now, it is far more likely that I can uphold them for the rest of my life. Also, I realize that I don’t exercise often enough, mostly because I feel like I don’t have the time. This is particularly the case for many college students that struggle with time managemen – how do we have the time to work out when we have so many assignments, homework, and projects due for class? It may not be easy, but for our own sakes we should work out our schedules to include time to exercise. Studies show that exercising makes us feel better and more alert, so it would actually help us to do a better job on our homework!

Yes, diabetes and obesity are terribly common, but there are definite paths of action we can take to reduce the trend of “disabesity.” Eating healthy, exercising, and adopting a hearty lifestyle for LIFE are crucial. These changes won’t happen in the blink of an eye, but it is better to start now than never. The next time I feel the urge to take a nap, I should try taking a jog around campus. By doing so, I would be preventing myself from getting diabetes, feel happier and healthier, and not become just another statistic.