• Obesity and its associated health problems have a significant economic impact on the U.S. health care system. [1]
• Direct medical costs may include preventive, diagnostic, and treatment services related to obesity. Indirect costs relate to morbidity and mortality costs including productivity. Productivity measures include ‘absenteeism’ (costs due to employees being absent from work for obesity-related health reasons) and ‘presenteeism’ (decreased productivity of employees while at work) as well as premature mortality and disability. [2]
• The medical care costs of obesity in the United States are high. In 2008 dollars, these costs were estimated to be $147 billion. [3]
I can keep going all day but I think the point has been made clear.
In a previous post, I’ve talked about how increased consumption of fats is the main source of a positive energy imbalance, which leads to obesity.
It has also been well established that inflammation and other components in animal products, as well as a diet high in saturated fats, could lead to metabolic disorders. [4,5]
• All-causes of death (mortality)
• High blood pressure (Hypertension)
• High LDL cholesterol, low HDL cholesterol, or high levels of triglycerides (Dyslipidemia)
• Type 2 diabetes
• Coronary heart disease
• Stroke
• Gallbladder disease, etc.
All in all, we are an obese society and that’s hurting our productivity levels as well as our environment. [6] Take into account that these numbers may be constantly increasing if the demand for animal products rises as well, requiring more land and places to throw away their toxic waste.
New Year’s Resolution
I know changing your lifestyle overnight can be hard if not almost impossible. However, think about this for the long-term.
Perhaps a good start would be looking for some animal-free Xmas recipes as well as slowly reducing the number of animal products and substituting them with plant-based alternatives.
According to Dr. Michael Greger:
Dr. Kim Williams, immediate past president of the American College of Cardiology, started an editorial on plant-based diets with the classic Schopenhauer quote that “All truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as…” Like duh, of course. In 2013, plant-based diets for diabetes were in the ridiculed stage in the official endocrinology practice guidelines, placed in the “Fad Diets” section. They acknowledge strictly plant-based diets “have been shown to reduce the risk for” type 2 diabetes and “improve management of” diabetes better than the American Diabetes Association recommendations, but then inexplicably go on to say that the evidence “does not support the use of one type of diet over another,” concerning diabetes or in general. “The best approach for a healthy lifestyle is simply the ‘amelioration of unhealthy choices.'” Whatever the heck that means. [7]
And, if you are as curious as me, stay tuned for my upcoming post about the best science-backed, plant-based and nutrition books.
What do you think?
Thanks for reading. If you liked this post, upvote and share it with your friends. Feel free to curate it, as long as you include the original authors and follow me for more fitness wisdom.
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References:
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The Surgeon General’s call to action to prevent and decrease overweight and obesity. [Rockville, MD]: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Office of the Surgeon General; [2001]. Available from: US GPO, Washington.
- Hammond RA, Levine R. The economic impact of obesity in the United States. Diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and obesity : targets and therapy. 2010;3:285-295. DOI:10.2147/DMSOTT.S7384.
- Finkelstein EA1, Trogdon JG, Cohen JW, Dietz W. Annual medical spending attributable to obesity: payer-and service-specific estimates. Health Aff (Millwood). 2009 Sep-Oct;28(5):w822-31. DOI: 10.1377/hlthaff.28.5.w822.
- https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/sites/default/files/media/docs/obesity-evidence-review.pdf
- http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/files/docs/guidelines/ob_gdlns.pdf
- https://nutritionfacts.org/video/plant-based-diets-recognized-by-diabetes-associations/
This is a curated post made from different sources. The health information here is provided as a resource only and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes, nor intended to be medical education, nor creating any client-physician relationship, and should not be used as a substitute for professional diagnosis and treatment. Always do your research (you can use this to download journals) and consult your health care provider before making any healthcare decisions, for guidance about a specific medical condition or fitness purposes. Edward Casanova shall have no liability, for any damages, loss, injury, or liability whatsoever suffered as a result of your reliance on the information contained in this site.