Thin or Heavy, Health Risks Exist: A study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine is being touted as a study that implies weight is not a major factor for illness. This research and the headlines it will inspire should not be used to assuage fears associated with our obesity epidemic because the fears are real. More important in the study is that weight alone is not an accurate measure of health. Food eaten and activity level are at least as important as scale number, BMI or WHR. Though the study found overweight adults with normal blood pressures other research shows overweight children on chronic disease meds. Something is wrong. It is just more than the weight.
Mercury Sources: I am very concerned about mercury in fish as most readers know. I wish it were entirely for the sake of the fish, but I am also concerned for the persons who eat the fish and the promotion of fish as heart healthy when in fact they may be neurologically toxic. So I pay attention to mercury stories. This week I read an article about a lake in Utah which has incredibly high levels of mercury. Well, not just any like. The Great Salt Lake. And I should clarify it is the form of mercury known as methyl mercury to which I am referring. The Great Salt Lake is more salty then the ocean. So much so that much does not survive there. It is famous for some very small species of shrimp but is otherwise its only real life forms are algae and bugs. It is also a place that attracts ducks as they travel from north to south. There is concern about mercury buildup in the ducks. What it will do to them is a concern as is what eating them could do to humans. There is a warning out about that. Something like, Do Not Eat These Ducks. There is also a study under way to determine why this lake has more mercury than any other body of water in the US. One hypothesis, and one that concerns me for all bodies of water and soil, is the transportation and deposition of mercury from industry and especially coal fired power plants. I will be interested to know what the scientists learn and if their research will have an impact on the Clean Air Clear Sky Acts that are supposed to address issues with coal for starters. In fact, there is a way to burn coal without mercury escaping, it is just costly. There are ways to do many things without emitting pollutants, we just don’t do it.
Environment and People: The other evening I saw a show on PBS where a photographer was returning to see some marine life that he had photographed many years ago. He learned that many of the great whales he had tracked had died because they were full of toxins. The whales’ carcasses were considered hazardous waste material. Remember the whales are at the top of the food chain and eat all the fish that we are told to avoid! The artist was visibly shaken by these events, as was I. My thoughts were concerning what we have done to our world and extended to this: we have obese pigeons, diabetic ducks and toxic whales. Along with fish and fowl who are poisoned by mercury. What have we done and what will we do to stop the bleeding and heal the wounds?
Fast Food – Fast Fat: Why we need research on this baffles me a bit, but if you were in denial, more science may sway you. Meals for kids are loaded in fat and have far more calories than the children need. {I.e. the obesity epidemic}. This is not any different than the restaurant meals intended for adults. The Center for Science in the Public Interest did a study on nutrient content, at least where information was available. Most, well, nearly all meals that are intended for children had enough calories for half the day. Subway which was the best only had appropriate caloric content in two thirds of its choices.
LA: Another city may make this type of information (calorie content) easier to come by. Of course, posting nutrition information on a menu or menu board doesn’t mean that it will be used or even understood. So I guess I agree with the California Restaurant Association when they say that people need to be educated about nutrition. This is the cornerstone of my school based Obesity Prevention Project. We must educate people on what they need and why and then let them make the choices. If people know what to put in their bodies and in what quantities, they will demand that the restaurant associations comply. I am 100 percent behind full disclosure!
Activity Level and Obesity: The Wall St Journal ran a story regarding the reason 16% of American children are obese. [Note that an equal if not higher percent are overweight]. The reason noted is risk of harm. Children stay inside to avoid kidnapping, molestation and drive by shootings. But more than that, some school systems have become so worried about lawsuits that they restrict the physical activity of kids during recess. As usual, we are overcompensating for this fear of injury and causing another adverse outcome. I have to say, bruises and even breaks will heal where as high cholesterol, abnormal blood sugar and hypertension will kill. And for the record, you will never hear ME say, “Stop running!”
Sweet Endearments: In our country and many others it is common to show our love by way of food. Not just any food, but comfort food that is either high in sugar or fat or carbs or all of the above. Some people consider my eschewing this tradition to be anathema. Well, I have found a way to shower people with this love without also causing them to be unhealthy. Cupcake, sugar, honey bun, Twinkie, muffin….. No, not on the table, as a term of endearment. So enjoy your weekend, cookie! Bye for now cheesecake! Ta ta mac n cheese!
Live well
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