This is our problem to fix
While the obesity epidemic intensifies worldwide and especially in the United States, (the obesity rate in every state is now over 20% and there are three states where it’s over 40%), our urgency to find quick solutions has also sped up. If you have followed the media lately, you might think the GLP-1 drugs such as Ozempic and Wegovy are here to save us, but just like with anything in life, what seems too good to be true usually is. Taking medication to lose weight and stay lean without changing anything else in your lifestyle is a fool’s errand. It’s not tackling the root of the problem: The ubiquitous calorie-dense ultra-processed foods and drinks that are not-so-slowly destroying our health and making us die prematurely.
First of all, the way these drugs work (by suppressing appetite and signaling the brain that you’re full) forces you to keep taking them for the rest of your life otherwise the weight quickly comes back. They also have some not-so-great side effects (nausea, loss of lean body mass, etc.) that increase the chances that many people stop taking them. Secondly, these drugs aren’t cheap. Pharmaceutical companies expect to make around 90 billion of these medications annually (yes, you read that right). Can we afford it, and should we? Then again, according to the CDC, the direct medical costs from obesity are about $147 billion per year at the moment and that number is only going up. Either way, something obviously has got to change.
On the other hand, lifestyle changes, such as exercise, nutrition, and stress reduction have zero side effects. They’re also cheap. You don’t have to buy an expensive gym membership or buy a bicycle to move, you can walk and do bodyweight exercises in your home. Vegetables, fruits, and whole grains don’t cost more than Big Macs, Oreo cookies, and potato chips and they keep you fuller longer. Most people, when asked why they eat snacks, admit that it’s out of boredom or “just because the food’s there”.
We can’t blame it on the genes…
I’m not denying that genes don’t have anything to do with our body weight and composition. We all know people who seem to put on weight more easily than others and vice versa. But if we had minimal control over our weight our genes would have had to have changed dramatically in the last 40+ years, a timeframe that coincides with the accelerated consumption of ultra-processed foods and drinks along with a drastic increase in overweight and obese population. Coincidence? I don’t think so. Even the food manufacturers have admitted as much, although mostly behind closed doors.
Of course, I’m biased in my argument. I’m pro-exercise and a healthy lifestyle as a prevention -kind of gal. I grew up with the assumption that taking care of your body (moving regularly, eating a healthy diet, and getting enough sleep) is an individual responsibility and thus should be part of your daily routine. But I also realize that for some people lifestyle changes, especially after decades of neglect, aren’t necessarily going to be enough. However, just popping a pill and continuing to live like nothing else needs to change will not cut it either. There is clear evidence that even these new weight-management medications work best alongside lifestyle interventions.
Maybe it’s time we take an example out of the “Tobacco Wars” and point the finger at the big food companies, those folks who have been manipulating our food supply with ultra-processed foods and drinks for decades without anyone questioning their motives. Just like the tobacco companies were brought to justice in causing the health crisis with their unhealthy products and deceptive advertising the “Krafts” and “Coca Colas” of the world should similarly stand trial for their crimes against healthy nutrition.
Being thin doesn’t make you healthy
While the new medications seem like a great way to tackle the obesity problem it also forgets one important point: Even if you manage to stay lean while eating junk and shunning exercise, it doesn’t mean you’re healthy. Studies have shown that people with healthy body mass index (BMI) who are sedentary have the same risk profile for cardiovascular disease as overweight individuals. We’re meant to move and eat sensibly, there’s no way of sugar-coating it (pun intended).
Obesity is a costly, serious, and complex chronic disease. There are clear links to many health issues ranging from insulin resistance to infertility to hypertension to sleep apnea to depression, and some cancers too. It is actually really difficult to think of any chronic disease that doesn’t have some kind of link to obesity. And there are also indirect complications, including reduced school and work attendance as well as earning potential.
We have to solve this problem, otherwise, we’re doomed. And we will need all hands on deck: government, businesses, communities, schools, and individuals need to work together to bring this crisis to a healthy solution. Those who say they have no part in this mess are ignorant. We all have a responsibility to ourselves.
