Let’s Start 2023 Right

Let’s Start 2023 Right

– By Lisa Rutherford –

2023 – The beginning of a new year gives us a chance to review what’s happened in the past and take a look at what’s headed our way in the new year. In many ways, we will be faced with the same problems that we had in 2022: inflation, water, another looming election season, covid, and some things I haven’t even thought of or don’t want to.

But there are opportunities ahead, too, to work on issues and help us feel that at least we might be doing something good for ourselves, our loved ones, and our future.

One that jumps out at me every year but which we don’t seem to be gaining ground on is obesity.

I never had to be concerned about my weight until the past few years. When I was young it didn’t seem to matter what I ate; the calories just somehow evaporated into thin air. But as one ages additional weight usually accumulates, and as we see others who are younger eating, many with abandon, it makes us want to enjoy eating, too.  But we do so at our peril. However, now it’s not just those of us who are aging who are risk.

Our nation is filled with overweight young people who might be faced with that throughout their lives, resulting in poor health in their older years. They may actually live longer than in the past, but that’s mainly because of medical care, not because obesity is a good thing. The U.S. prides itself in outpacing other nations in many ways, but we are far ahead of other nations such as England, France, Spain and South Korea when it comes to obesity. Nothing there to be proud of.

Obesity has been associated with many health problems. According to the Mayo Clinic obesity can be the result of inherited characteristics, physiological and environmental factors, diet, level of physical activity and exercise choices.  Diseases associated with obesity include heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure and certain cancers.  Medical care can assist with these diseases but is that what we want: a nation burdened with more health care demands and costs due to obesity?

I realize that many have been under a lot of stress over the past few years due to the pandemic and economic issues. I don’t mean to be harsh about the need for our population to lose weight, but when I see the portions that people eat, it’s clear that people don’t know (or perhaps don’t care) about calories and how many they’re taking in.

When I was young there were very few obese people. My friend’s mom was one of the few on our block. But she drank a lot of heavily-sugared soft drinks, and I’m sure that did not help. When I looked at a photo from my brother’s Boy Scout dinner event, I was reminded again how few then were obese. The photographer was looking down on the large group and only one man was obese in a group of several hundred. That was in the 1950s.

At about the same time the fast-food industry was gaining traction with cheap food and lots of it. Americans bought their business plan hook, line and sinker, and we have been paying for it ever since.

For instance, an In-N-Out Burger has 390 calories, and with fries added, you get another 370 calories to total 760 calories in just one meal. And that’s just a simple burger. With a cheeseburger it’s 480 calories, and a double-double gets you to a whopping 670! Tack on a chocolate shake and you’ve added another 580 calories. That makes 1250 calories in just one meal. Every time I drive past In-n-Out the drive-thru line is backed up and sometimes doubled up!

Of course, recommended calorie intake depends on one’s age and level of activity. As we age, the level goes down. But when one eats 670 to 1250 calories for one meal, that doesn’t leave a lot for two other meals and snacking, which many do no matter what their age. Calories can easily rack up if people pay little attention.

At the Black Bear Diner, another favorite, one can easily rack up 1500-2500 calories with some of their offerings. That’s a whole day’s worth of calories in one meal!

Of course, technology has not helped either. Although Fitbit and other technologies are helping some to exercise more effectively, technology has in general just caused us to become more sedentary.

Colon cancer is one of the cancers associated with obesity. Doctors aren’t exactly sure how obesity raises the risk for this cancer, but know that obese people often have chronic, low-level inflammation which can lead to cancer. But diet is important, too, says Dr. Pochapin, professor and director of the division of gastroenterology at NYU Langone Medical Center. Dr. Pochapin notes that “Excessive red meat is a risk factor for colorectal cancer, so consume it in moderation.” Another reason to avoid fast food which is mostly meat.

When a loved one was faced with colon cancer several years ago, the impact on her life was such that she decided to never eat meat again and turned vegan. She and her chef husband have gone completely meat-free and she is nearly ten years past her battle with cancer. My partner and I, too, have gone 95% vegan. The lifestyle is healthy, delicious, and helps us maintain our desired weights—although even when eating vegan one can gain weight if calories aren’t taken into consideration.

And, eating vegan has additional benefits. Eating less meat helps environmentally, too. You, animals, and the planet benefit by reducing carbon and methane emissions. Much of the agricultural land today goes to raise crops to feed animals rather than people.  According to The Economist magazine that referenced a study done on the matter, “If everyone were vegan, agriculture would need just a quarter of the land it uses today.”

So, as we begin the new year, let’s give some thought to what we eat, how we eat, and how much we eat, for the benefit of ourselves and the planet. Let’s start 2023 right!

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