Special Request
I dare you to suspend your political bias till the end of the article.
Introduction
I could roll off a wash list of statistics related to our chronic disease epidemic but an easier way to grasp our crisis is go sit in a public space for a while, and watch the bodies pass by. People of all ages and income levels are severely struggling with their health. We have an epidemic of diabetes, pre-diabetes, obesity, mental illness, addictions, polypharmacy, dementia, Alzheimer’s (now called Type 3 diabetes), auto-immune diseases and on and on.
Never in the history of our nation have citizens been in such poor health. Life expectancy along with fertility are dropping significantly. Hong Kong rates number 1 in life expectancy on certain global charts (see here) with an average of male and female at 85+ years. Meanwhile the USA is number 48 with the average of two sexes at 79, with many countries who are much more economically disadvantaged above us.
The USA out spends (estimates of course) by about $4000. per person more than the next highest health care spending country Switzerland. Our “average” being $12,500. per person annually. We spend more yet get worse outcomes.
We know that only 12% maybe even as low as 7% of adults have good metabolic health. Pause to think about that for a second, potentially 93% of adults have poor metabolic health, practically the whole nation. Additionally, while weight is certainly not the only issue towards better health, it should be alarming to see these types of numbers in our nation’s obesity rates, 1 in 5 Adults (some predict even higher).
Personal Note
I grew up in small Midwestern town in a middle-income family and within my school class of baby boomer kids there was very little chronic disease, overweight or obesity, allergies and auto-immune diseases. OK, yes anecdotal not peer reviewed, but talk to many people born in this time, late 50’s and early 60’s they will say the same. What changed?
One can point to numerous factors, prevalence of fast-food and ultra-processed food-like substances, rise in technology away from physical movement, introduction of seed oils into our food system, the institution of the dietary guidelines which failed miserably, the over-reliance on medical and pharmaceutical procedures away from self-investment in health. This list is endless, bottom line is we’re a sick and unhealthy nation.
We can choose to take another course, or we can continue further into the abyss. I choose the former at the risk of losing friends and family who can’t get beyond the political slogan. You don’t have to choose a political side to want to work towards improving your health, those you love and the nation as a whole.
So, What Can I Do?
- Educate yourself on what metabolic health is and take steps to improve your status
- Work with your community, church, schools or other organizations to encourage real food nutrition away from fake food-like products and harmful additives
- Encourage your company to implement programs to prioritize health and well-being with a metabolic health focus
- Participate in online groups who strive to improve health locally and nationally
- Promote and participate in exercise that builds strength and resiliency for longevity
- Be the person who encourages spending time outdoors in nature
- Support your local farmers, farmer’s markets and local butcher shops
- Start cooking more of your own meals and share recipes with others
- Be the advocate for others who need support in making change
- Think beyond the “medical system” their track record is less than stellar, find a coach, a community, a friend and make health a mission
Final Note
Abstain from the notion that being healthy has something to do with politics. If you don’t want to participate in the movement don’t. There are others who feel obliged, passionate and want to sink their heart and soul in it, create space for them to move forward, please.
As mentioned at the start what we are currently doing is clearly not working. Make America Healthy Again is about trying something new which can be scary or exhilarating depending on your perspective.
“The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.”
Martin Luther King, Jr.
