Let’s address obesity solutions and prevention since obesity rates have been on the rise starting in the 1970s. Unfortunately, this rate is only increasing and some solutions can be counterproductive. It is easy to associate obesity with laziness or lack of will power. So, if it’s not about eating less and moving more, then what are the solutions and prevention strategies?
Root Cause of Obesity
In order to create an obesity solution, we have to understand what’s causing it. Factors include not only food and genetics, but also mental health, biology, sleep, stigma, life circumstances, and healthcare access.
If we want to get healthier, care for our overweight loved ones, and bring healthcare costs down, we have to treat the WHOLE person. This means refraining from shame and judgment, and getting to the root cause of weight gain.
Obesity Solutions: A Fight with Nature
As a survival mechanism, our body never wants to lose weight. So we are always fighting against nature when we go on diets. Once we start losing weight, the body will boost hunger, slow metabolism, and burn fewer calories because weight loss signals danger.
Furthermore, lack of sleep, genetics, mental health, and life events can put you at higher risks of obesity. Lack of sleep triggers certain hormones that cause weight gain and hunger. Stress can also do this. Yet another example is mental health. Our altered mental state and medications can increase weight gain. Life circumstances that require medication can interfere with normal regulations for weight management. Some examples include trauma, pregnancy, prenatal life, illnesses, stress, early adulthood, etc.
In addition, our genetics account for 40-70% of the likelihood for obesity. We address obesity solution and prevention by understanding all aspects that affect someone.
Societal Change for Obesity Solutions and Prevention
Gaining weight definitely started soaring as our food became more highly processed, calorically dense, and much larger in portion. Plus, food is everywhere at all hours. In a study, people ate 500 calories more of ultra-processed food than unprocessed food.
We must vote with our fork and reject ultra-processed foods. When I was a child, we only went out to eat on special occasions and no one ate in their car. Now, the exact opposite is true. Plus, food is purposefully designed to hijack our brains and make us crave more. And don’t even get me started on food marketing. This is where education and regulation plays a critical role to end obesity.
In conjunction to changing our highly processed foods, we have to end the stigma of weight. If professionals such as doctors, therapists, and society as a whole can move beyond shame and judgment, we would see greater progress. Shame, judgment, and guilt lead to more weight gain.
Sadly, some communities lack access to proper healthcare and education. Unfortunately for these communities, highly processed foods tend to be cheaper than fresh foods or simply unavailable.
Support is Key to Success
Do you know someone struggling with obesity? Making lifestyle changes all at once can feel overwhelming especially with all the conflicting noise on the internet. Humans are hardwired to need support; seek it both personally and professionally. Get a free 30-minute phone consultation. See if this is the right match for you by addressing natural weight loss, cravings, emotional eating, balanced diet, disease prevention, nutrition, and getting to the root cause of what’s keeping you stuck. See what others are saying on Google and Yelp.
For more articles, read https://happyfoodhealth.com/blog
~ Samantha Hua, Nutrition Coach & Holistic Health Coach, San Diego, CA
