From Your Health Journal…..”I always enjoy articles from Forbes.com, and found a great one recently written by Leah Binder entitled, Obesity: American Medicine’s Epic Fail. Ms. Binder starts off by discussing how a magazine is promoting the next great weight loss miracle – the magazine reveals the identity of this “miracle” food – it’s chia seed. The author nails it on the head when she discusses how chia seed (like most miracle diets) are like getting a lottery ticket – we know the odds are against us, but maybe just this once we’ll hit pay dirt. Millions of people shell out hard-earned cash in hopes of finding the golden weight loss cure, which creates a $60.9 billion weight loss industry in the U.S. So many times, the quick scheme weight loss programs prove to be ineffective for many people, although some people do have success, but again, so many do not have this type of luck. Many businesses want their employees to be fit and trim, as they feel it improves productivity, and the government wants its citizens to be thin, so healthcare does not cause the debt to get worst. Please, take the time to visit the Forbes site (link provided below) to read the complete article. I enjoyed it a lot, and learned a lot from it.”
From the article…..
In case you missed it, this week’s featured cover story in Woman’s World Magazine, available at the register in every supermarket and drugstore in the U.S., claims to have found the next weight loss miracle. But I’ll save you the $1.79 and reveal the identity of this “miracle” food – it’s chia seed. It’s even endorsed by TV’s Dr. Bob Arnot.
Logically, we all question whether munching chia seeds will melt fat, but we still might buy the magazine. It’s like getting a lottery ticket – we know the odds are against us, but maybe just this once we’ll hit pay dirt. Millions of us shell out hard-earned cash in hopes of finding the golden weight loss cure, creating a $60.9 billion weight loss industry in the U.S.
Businesses are also investing in weight-loss, and the cost to them is significant. Over 90 percent of employers offering health insurance report investing in some kind of wellness program, usually designed to address the many health and disability costs associated with the increasing girth of the workforce. As discussed in one of my earlier Forbes.com posts, the research on whether they are seeing returns for these programs shows that, so far, the answer is no. The harsh reality is that scientists know as much about curing obesity as they do about curing the common cold: not much. But at least they admit their limitations in treating the cold. Many doctors seem to think the cure for obesity exists, but obese patients just don’t comply. Doctors often have less respect for obese patients, believing if they would just diet and exercise they’d be slim and healthy.
Some physicians notably take exception to the blame-the-patient approach to the obesity epidemic. “In case you hadn’t noticed, the obese will do anything not to be obese, even throw their money away on ‘get-thin-quick’ schemes,’” says Robert H. Lustig, MD, in his new book, “Fat Chance: Beating the Odds Against Sugar, Processed Food, Obesity, and Disease.” The book details the evidence and concludes that research overwhelmingly discredits the notion that the obese bring the whole thing on themselves. “Obesity is a combination of several factors: physics, biochemistry, endocrinology, neuroscience, psychology, sociology and environmental health, all rolled up into one problem,” Lustig explains, “The factors that drive the obesity pandemic are almost as myriad as the number of people who suffer from it.”
To read the full article…..Click here