I believe overeating is one the top malices in modern society, easily in the top three.
Think of the benefits if we all ate less:
- Slimmer and healthier population
- Less lifestyle diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, GERD, etc.
- Less need for meat production, which in term reduces demand for water, grains (as stock feed), arable land (for grazing), as well as reducing carbon emissions and deforestation.
I’m not saying we should all become vegetarians. That’s an individual choice. This is about eating less overall, not removing entire food groups. If each of us ate a little less on average, the cumulative health and environment benefits are enormous.
Sounds corny, but it’s true: eating less is good for you and the earth!
But wait, eating is fun, you say, it’s one of the true joys of life. We should feel privileged to have such an abundance of food available to the average person.
I agree 100% with that. I’m not against eating, just overeating.
Overindulging in anything is a bad idea, with real consequences. Eating can be fun and pleasurable, up to the point where we’re consistently consuming more than what we need, simply to feel good or worse yet, not even realizing it.
Our body is just not designed to handle the amount of food the average people is ingesting. And with continued global population growth, neither is the planet. Result is a world wide spike in all types of illnesses related to obesity. Even countries such as China and India, previously known for having a thin body type, are now facing an epidemic of type 2 diabetes.
Good news is that it’s entirely reversible. Start with a genuine desire (perhaps with the aid of a full length mirror) and a reasonable plan, see example here, and take consistent action.
There’s talk of a political revolution brewing in the west, for better distribution of power and wealth. But even the best political system won’t save us from overeating.
We must take responsibility for our own health. The growing organic food industry, along with popular diets such as keto & intermittent fasting, can all be used as tools in your overall arsenal to combat overeating.
The bottom line is, get on a plan and start today. If it’s working, stick with it. If not, try something new. There’s plenty of help and ideas around. Use them!
Here’s to a slimmer and healthier you!
Up next: 3 hacks to reduce overeating.