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Weighty Issues
by Shiri Ourian, 08.13.04
Only 25 percent of teens engage in regular physical activity. |
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"Does my stomach stick out too much in this bikini?" "Do these shorts make my legs look flabby?" With summer here, some people are stressing out about their weight even more than usual. But trying to look like Cameron, Tyson, Beyoncé, or Brad isn't a great reason for losing weight — shedding some pounds should be about getting healthy, not trying to look like a supermodel.
What's the Problem?
Many people — especially young girls — look in the mirror and feel like they're fat. In fact, 80 percent of fourth-grade girls have already been on a diet. The pressure to be thin in our society is enormous. There are many people who try to lose weight and don't need to. But at the same time, obesity is on the rise, and it's a serious health problem that needs attention.
Being obese (extremely overweight) puts people at greater risk for heart attacks, asthma, cancer, and menstrual irregularities, as well as mental health problems like depression. And overweight adolescents are more likely to become overweight adults.
What Causes Obesity?
People become overweight or obese by eating too many calories and not getting enough physical activity over a long period of time. But weight also depends on genetics and metabolism, as well as social factors, including lifestyle and socioeconomic status. For instance, it's easy to consume too many calories in a day when restaurants dish out huge portion sizes — 20 years ago, a cheeseburger only had 333 calories, while today's average fast-food cheeseburger has a whopping 590 calories!
There's also the issue of what food is most affordable and accessible. Fast food is cheap and easy to obtain. Healthy food often is more expensive and takes time to prepare. It's not surprising, then, that adolescents from low-income households are twice as likely to be overweight or obese than adolescents from middle- and high-income households.
But food isn't the only factor when it comes to obesity — there's also exercise. Recent surveys show that only 25 percent of teens engage in regular physical activity. Advancements like elevators and cars cut down on the amount of exertion it takes to get places and do things, and gadgets like computers and TVs can encourage us to spend our free time sitting in front of a screen, rather than playing softball or riding a bicycle for fun.
Steps to a Healthier You
You can't always tell by looking at people if they're medically overweight or obese — health care providers use a scale called the Body Mass Index (BMI), which is based on gender, age, weight, and height, to determine if a person needs to lose weight. It's also important to consult with a health care provider before going on a diet or exercise plan, because she or he needs to rule out medical problems that can cause obesity, such as diabetes or thyroid problems.
In general, though, it's important to get moving. This doesn't necessarily have to mean going to the gym, jogging, or playing a competitive sport. Those are great things to do, but they're not always possible. And let's face it, thinking about going to the gym can be a scary experience for some people! But you can always take smaller steps towards improving your daily routine. Pick one time during the day to incorporate physical activity. It can be as simple as walking to school instead of taking the bus or walking up the stairs instead of taking the elevator. Cutting down the amount of time in front of the TV or computer tends to encourage people to get active, too.
Because food choices are an important part of preventing and reducing obesity, schools are also starting to take action to fight obesity by giving their cafeterias and food services a serious makeover. Vending machines that used to have chocolate bars, cookies, and candy are being restocked with granola bars and dried fruit. Plus, ketchup no longer counts as a vegetable in school cafeterias!
Mostly, preventing or treating obesity is about making healthier decisions, like choosing watermelon instead of cookies for dessert or eating a baked potato instead of French fries. This doesn't mean that you shouldn't ever treat yourself to a milkshake or spend an afternoon watching TV — just make sure that healthy choices are a part of your daily routine. It may seem like a pain at first, but eventually you'll learn to live with it — and probably even like it! Most people say that starting is the hardest part, but once they motivate themselves to eat right and get active, they feel better and embrace the change.
Good luck and good health! |
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