Obesity And Men

For Men's Health Awareness Month, I would like to take the time to discuss a very sensitive issue. Obesity. Did you know that the percentage of men aged 20 and over with obesity is around 34.5% (2011-2014) in the United States alone? According to the CDC, that number has only grown since 2014, along with some of our waist sizes.

Now then, I am by no means a "fat shamer", trust me. I could stand to loose at least 30 lbs myself; but as a retired Paramedic with over 25+ years of EMS experience I can tell you that first hand that there is most certainly an obesity epidemic in the United States.

Over the years, I kept getting older, and my patients kept getting bigger and bigger. It genuinely has me concerned, because as a decent human being, I care about everyone. According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there is most defintiely an severe increase in obesity in the United States. After gathering height and weight data from participants in a series of telephone interviews conducted from 2014 to 2016, the researchers determined that more than 20 percent of adults in every state are now considered obese, meaning they have a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or above. (BMI does not take into account the difference between fat and muscle, which muscle weighs more than fat; f.y.i.)

In 2015, the CDC reported that nearly half of Americans don’t meet the recommended physical activity guidelines, which is 2 hours and 30 minutes a week of moderate-intensity aerobic activity, or 1 hour and 15 minutes a week of high-intensity aerobic activity. Additionally, you should include muscle-building workouts into your routine two or more days a week.

According to MensHealth.com:

"earlier this year, Men’s Health reported that the American diet is less than stellar. Stephan Guyenet, Ph.D., an obesity researcher and author of The Hungry Brain: Outsmarting the Instincts that Make Us Overeat, told us that grain-based desserts like cookies and cakes, soda, and pizza all factor into America's top five sources of calories in our diets. These options tend to be dense in calories and light in nutritional benefits, which can contribute to weight gain.There are a ton of risks that come along with obesity, including high blood pressure(the leading cause of strokes), high cholesterol, diabetes, and heart disease (the leading cause of death for American adults)." (Read More)

I discuss these difficult things because I care about everyone, and have personally felt the loss of a family member who died too soon because of complications that were brought on by obesity. I would never want anyone to have to experience a loss of a loved one the way I have. 

It takes work, losing weight. You have to change dietary habits, physical activity and personal attitude. You have to get off your butt and go for a walk. Put down the potato chips and pick up some carrots or fruit. It's never too late to start eating healthy!

As always, please consult your Physician before deciding on a course of treatment action for yourself and/or your loved ones.

Stay Healthy!

The content on this site is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. While research has shown that CBD has the potential to help provide beneficial outcomes for several complaints, it is advisable to seek the advice of a physician or other qualified health care provider when you have questions regarding any medical condition and when starting, augmenting or discontinuing any existing health routine.