How can we prevent disease if we don't recognize it?
Nutrition is the number one world health problem. In
third world countries, 30% of people have micronutrient
deficiencies that can be prevented with a small amount
of money. This exorbitant statistic is a heinous crime
on all citizens since the money is available, but education
and the way to get it there isn't.
As absurd as this may sound, that we actually have the
money to stop the hunger, so too the opposite extreme
exists. Obesity has exceeded malnutrition as one of the
major health problems in the United States. How did this
dichotomy occur? One reason may be that Americans don't
often recognize obesity. Rationalization and lack of education
are so prevalent in regards to obesity that most mothers
can't even tell when their children are obese.
A University of Michigan study on this topic was reported
in the New York Times on December 8th, 2007. Over 2,000
parents were interviewed about their children's weights
and heights. An alarming 40% of parents mistook their
children for normal weight when they were overweight.
Oblivion to obesity sets us back many years and can be
as harmful as malnutrition. Dr. Davis, an author of the
study said, "If they don't actually perceive their
children to have excess weight, then how can we realistically
expect them to make changes?" How can you fix a problem
you don't know is a problem? The adage, if it ain't broke,
don't fix it, seems to be the attitude of Americans who
aren't educated on health. Even though, according to the
Center for Disease Control in Atlanta, in the last 50
years the obesity rate has climbed from 43% to 54%. With
the rate of increase just over 1% a year, by the year
2054, all Americans will be overweight and hopefully I
wont' be around to be part of that statistic.
This is surprising considering that fat people are still
mocked and considered outcasts according to a recent study
reported in Obesity in March, 2007. This study showed
that "Overweight and obese individuals receive less
pay, have higher rates of rejection and are less likely
to be married." This study found that both males
and females, with a three times higher prevalence in males,
made "fat commentaries," of both verbal and
non verbal content when fat people left the room. With
the stigmatization and presence of obesity today, how
can it not be recognized?
One clue may be due to fast food. In 1955, the average
McDonald's meal consisted of: small fries, soda and a
burger for a whopping 590 calories. Today, the small fries
have upped itself to a large size and the burger has added
on a double for a total of 1,550 calories. This amounts
to a three fold increase in calories which makes up the
amount that many women should consume for an entire day,
not just a meal. So, by fast food companies super sizing
little by little, we have woken up one day and a found
three times as many calories on our plates. Unless we
do three times a much exercise, there is no way our waist
won't suffer. Parents may have not noticed because the
weight creeps up little by little. Other interesting research
lately has shown that obese people are more likely to
befriend other obese people. If you only see obese people,
why would you think you feel out of place?
Who is to blame for all this? Do we blame parents for
not recognizing their children are overweight? Do we blame
fast food joints for making fattening food so cheap and
easy? Do we blame schools for not educating children and
parents on nutrition and health? Everyone needs to ne
somewhat accountable but more importantly, everyone needs
to take action. You can't prevent disease if you don't
see it staring you in the face.
Shari Portnoy, MPH, RD, LD/N is a Registered and Licensed
Dietitian. She holds degrees in both Nutrition and Public
Health and has completed the U.S. Food Laws course at
the Michigan State University Institute of Food Laws.
She has been a featured speaker at the American Culinary
Federation National Convention and a board member of the
American Dietetic Association
