“Stop smoking, you don’t want to die from lung cancer,” they say. What about obesity? In society, smoking is seen as such a deadly habit, but what about eating? Yes, smoking is not recommended as it shortens one’s lifespan and may cause multiple deadly diseases. However, being obese is just as bad.
Some people are unfortunately born into obesity; obese as kids, teens, adults and elderly. “But you can choose whether or not to smoke, you can’t choose to eat in order to survive!” Well, of course you need to eat, but you can choose what you eat, and how much you consume.
Obesity is an increasing problem not only in the United States, but all over the world. The number of people in the world who are overweight has more than doubled since 1980. This issue isn’t as publicized as smoking or drinking, but it is just as serious. According to the World Health Organization, more than 1.9 billion adults were overweight as of 2014. Being overweight or obese is defined as having abnormal or excessive fat accumulation that may impair health.
In New York itself, the state’s adult obesity rate is 27%, an increase from 17.1% in the year 2000. However, New York does happen to have the twelfth lowest adult obesity rate in the nation, saying a lot about the obesity rate in the United States itself.
Of course, given, losing weight can never be easy, and will never be easy. Shedding pounds requires endurance, resistance, and most importantly, determination. Make healthier choices and consume healthier alternatives rather than eating McDonalds for dinner. Make a salad, have a granola bar instead of a bag of potato chips. Take the stairs instead of the elevator. Go for a run. Simple alternatives and healthy choices can go a long way.
Living in a generation filled with social media and perfect looking models and celebrities, it’s easy for people to be discouraged. However, no one really looks like how they look in movies, magazines and on Instagram. Don’t lose weight for that unattainable body, but make better health choices to save a trip to the emergency room, or a lecture from your doctor and family.
Being out of shape can feel like hell, and sometimes you might even find yourself out of breath barely moving, but you can change your lifestyle and make it worth living.
Featured Image via Wikimedia
