Now, more than ever before, attention is being focused on America’s increasing girth. Despite the best intentions of most people, the increase in gym memberships, and the popularity of T.V.s “The Biggest Loser,” a growing number of Americans are fighting the battle of the bulge.
Food Additives and Weight Gain
There is no mystery to it: excess calories cause weight gain. Popular opinion dictates that weight gain specifically comes from consuming too many calories or being too sedentary (or both), and for most Americans this is probably true.
There are many theories as to why people continue to gain weight when they are so weight conscious. An increasingly popular theory is that the presence of high fructose corn syrup in almost every prepared food is the culprit. The addition of sugar (high fructose corn syrup) is insidious and cause for dietary disaster as most people are unaware that this ingredient is high calorie and quite unnecessary.
Another often blamed culprit for weight gain is consumers’ mania for “low fat” or “no fat” items. These items may indeed be low in fat calories, but as nutritionists are quick to point out, they are often very high in carbohydrates (sugar) which then result in excess calories. Carbohydrates are stored as fat when consumed in too large a quantity.
Medical Reasons for Weight Gain
A reason now increasingly emerging to explain excess weight gain is the malfunction of the thyroid. It’s a well established fact that the thyroid gland tends to falter as one ages. Some doctors, however, believe that thyroid disorder has become epidemic (Hypothyroidism, Mark Starr, M.D. 2007). Environmental factors are most often cited as the cause of thyroid malfunction.
Menopause and andropause are also often offered as reasons why people gain weight. There is plenty of evidence that suggests some weight gain is normal (undesirable perhaps, but normal) for both men and women during and after this life change. The key here is weight gain should be held at a maximum of ten pounds.
Increasingly, prescription medications can be faulted for weight gain, as can yo-yo dieting and some eating disorders.
T.V. Dinners Bear Blame
There are even those who blame America’s weight gain on the introduction of T.V. dinners into the diet. The theory here is that originally the dinners were over-sized with too many fat calories, too much salt, and too many food additives and preservatives. Then, when they were cooked in a microwave oven, even the chemical composition of the food was changed.
Regardless of the reasons offered, weight is gained which can then trigger a number of debilitating diseases, from diabetes to high blood pressure, cancer, heart disease and depression.
Careful attention to one’s diet and an increase in physical activity will, over time, take care of most people’s weight problems. Unfortunately, there is no healthy, quick fix. Try these ideas instead:
- Desserts are not necessary.
- Shop only on the fringes of the grocery store. This is where the fresh foods are kept. Avoid the aisle sections that offer pre-packaged, boxed foods that are filled with high fructose corn syrup and other chemicals and additives.
- Don’t overly fret about fats; eat balanced healthful meals that fill you up. Depriving yourself of food only makes hunger worse and causes bingeing later.
- Avoid soft drinks, cookies and crackers.
- Limit alcohol.
- Limit breads, pastas and sugared cereals.
- Stop using artificial sweeteners.
- Don’t feel deprived. Eat well and healthfully.
Aim for one hour of exercise a day. Walking is cheap and easy, and it doesn’t all have to be done at the same time. As you improve, add other activities.
Remember: Rome wasn't built in a day, and neither was your girth. Don't expect it to depart any quicker than it came on. A healthy weight is worth the time and work needed to achieve.
R.L. Coffield - R.L. (Becky) Coffield is an award-winning freelance writer and author who also teaches writing, publishing and boating ...
