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Article:
Obesity, What's The 'Big' Deal by: Dr. Marshal Montgomery Nowadays, so much of the public is obese (fat) that it is the 'norm'. So much so, that we are starting to ignore this epidemic. Thankfully, the Surgeon General has issued a warning about the plague of obesity that has been considered to be as significant or moreso than the warning issued about the hazards of cigarette smoke. As long as you are carrying extra weight (beyond the acceptable upper limits of body fat), you increase your risks for a variety of health complaints. These complaints and risks include conditions such as diabetes, heart attack, stroke, high blood pressure, osteoarthritis, and more. Definition of Obesity and Overweight Obesity has been defined as an abnormal accumulation of body fat in proportion to body size. Overweight persons, although still technically obese, will have a body-fat proportion that is intermediate between normal and obese. (1) Some Common Excuses for Being Obese This section will probably ruffle the feathers of some people who read it. It is not meant to be demeaning or belittling. Rather it is meant to shed light on some of the 'unhealthy' thought patterns that contribute to obesity, its consequences, and other conditions. A lot of people will say to themselves and others something like 'Yeah, I'm a bit overweight but I feel okay about it' or 'Maybe I'm carrying a few extra pounds, but so is everyone else' or even 'I might be fat, but I can lose it anytime I want'. Other things that you might hear someone else say are things like 'Jeez, you look pretty good '¦' 'for someone who just had a baby' or '¦ 'for someone who has had three kids' (my wife absolutely hates hearing those 'compliments') or '¦ 'for someone who hasn't played hockey in ten years.' Then of course there are the 'medical' excuses. 'I've got metabolic syndrome', 'ever since my surgery, I've had no energy', 'my knees hurt', 'I have arthritis', 'It's hereditary', 'I've got asthma' '¦ All of the above probably have a seed of truth in them for many people. However, more often than not, these excuses are a way to avoid doing something that you don't want to do, such as getting more exercise, or controlling your eating habits. Why does this occur? Because we are in D.E.N.I.A.L. (an addictions counselor/mental health worker told me that it stood for Don't Even (k)no(w) I Am Lying). Lifestyle Factors Today's life is, no doubt, incredibly hectic and seems to be getting moreso every passing year. Gone are the days when most people in our society must do heavy physical labour every day just to survive. Automation has created many labour saving devices. This in turn has created a largely sedentary, inactive society. Look at the kids today. Instead of being outside playing shinny or a game of pick-up basketball, or any of thousands of other outdoor activities, they are inside playing video games or getting mesmerized by the T.V. Patricia Markham Risica (2) writes that '¦ The number of people affected by obesity continues to rise along with the prevalence of comorbid diseases that result from this condition. What could be considered the modern-day plague, caused by higher consumption and less expenditure of energy, has been broken down into its economic components by Eric Finkelstein.['1
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