Obesity refers to the condition of having too much body fat, which causes serious health and social problems. It is somewhat different from being overweight, especially in the case of children. Both terms mean that a person’s weight is greater than what’s considered healthy for a person’s height. Children grow at different rates, so it is not always easy to know when a child is obese or overweight.
Being obese poses an alarming threat to adults and children. An obese person is at higher risk for a number of potential health problems, such as heart conditions, high blood pressure, cancers, diabetes, liver damage, depression, gallstones, and memory loss, among others. In some cases, knees and hips have had to be replaced.
In the workplace, productivity is lost due to time off given for obesity-related illnesses.
In the Virgin Islands, the local health care system is being put under pressure with the growing number of obese patients.
A healthy lifestyle will help prevent obesity and maintain a safe body weight. It will also help one to lose excessive body fats.
Genetics
It is said that there may be genetic factors leading to some instances of obesity. My family has always been “skinny.” My two brothers and I were called “Spaghetti,” “Piece-ah Boy” and “Macaroni” as young boys growing up. We were the skinniest children in Long Look, East End and were often teased about tiny biceps. As a teenager in 1962, the only job I was allowed to do on the construction site of Little Dix Bay Hotel was to fetch water. They felt I was too skinny to do anything else. Fruits, vegetables and fish made up our daily meals. Because vehicles were not available during that time, we walked miles to wherever we needed to go and back. This provided us with the exercise we needed.
I am now 61 years old, and my weight is between 158 and 167 pounds. Throughout my life, I never allowed myself to pass 178 pounds. Although I was never faced with an overweight issue, I pay close attention to my lifestyle. I continue to eat lots of fish, vegetables and fruits, and I stay away from fatty foods — especially animal products. “Skinny” people are also susceptible to illnesses, but a healthy lifestyle can narrow the chances by a lot. My grandchildren, ages 10, 9, and 5, are not allowed to drink sodas and are fed natural and nutritious meals by their parents. They are also encouraged to participate in activities that give them the daily exercise they need, and they are all healthy kids.
Preventative care is always considered the best. It is proven that women gain weight more easily than men, while it takes them much more to lose it than the opposite sex. Many states in the United States have legislation in place to remove obese children from their homes. The Chinese are known to have the healthiest people in the world and the highest rate of longevity. This is directly related to their healthy lifestyle, which includes a diet of lots of fruits and vegetables and frequent exercise: walking and riding.
Parents, please encourage a healthy lifestyle by serving fruits and vegetables. Remove soft drinks, high sugar, high fat, and high calorie snacks from children’s diets. Make sure breakfast is eaten every morning and less fast food is purchased. Do not use food as a reward or comfort. Make sure children perform some form of physical activity for about 60 minutes each day. It does not have to be done all at once.
Ladies, instead of having to give away your expensive clothes that you purchased because you can no longer fit into them, change your lifestyle. Eat fewer fatty foods; eat more fruits and vegetables; and exercise.
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