Truths about Diet, Obesity, and $75 BillionWritten by Dr. Donald A. Miller
Sensible diet prevents obesity! Healthy living prevents most diseases! (Unfortunately, old age is not a disease.)These truths should be self evident. Yet recent shock headlines tell us that "medical problems caused by obesity are costing U.S. tax payers $75 billion per year". The human body is a biological machine. We all know that overloading a mechanical machine can cause it to break down, yet we allow ourselves to overload our hearts, joints, and more. Moderate exercise helps "tune up" machines we live in. Think about it. Many injuries are a direct consequence of being over weight and under exercised! The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention tells us, "Seven of 10 deaths, or more than 1.7 million each year, are caused by chronic diseases." and that major risk factors for chronic diseases are "tobacco use, poor nutrition, and lack of physical activity" with "Obesity is a major contributor to heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, and some types of cancer. Recent estimates suggest that obesity is associated with 300,000 deaths annually, second only to tobacco related deaths."
| | Exercise Can Decrease HungerWritten by Dr. Donald A. Miller
It is obvious that exercise directly helps loss of excess weight by burning calories. It is less well known that exercise also has indirect benefits for controlling weight.Many studies have found that even moderate exercise can improve feeling of well being and vitality. When you put aside a sluggish body, you also tend to put aside cravings for food, especially harmful foods. Of course, if you have really gone all out in burning calories, your body will tell you that you need to eat. But you will tend to taper off as you satisfy your body's real needs. Here's a trick that works for me. If weather cooperates, a walk before breakfast helps me to be satisfied with a small breakfast of well chosen foods. If my schedule allows, a half hour of jogging, then shower, before lunch helps me be satisfied with a light meal.
|
