WERE YOU EVER CALLED PORKY OR CHUBBY OR FATSO?

WERE YOU EVER CALLED PORKY OR CHUBBY OR FATSO?

One of the significant epidemics that is striking North America particularly hard is the huge increase in the number of obese people. A prestigious team of medical scientists has projected that by 2030, nearly one in two adults will be obese, and nearly one in four will be severely obese. Overweight and obesity are defined as abnormal or excessive fat accumulation that presents a risk to health. None of this information is really new or startling, but when you consider that there will be over 250 million people in North America who will be called Fatty or Tubby during their lifetime, that reflects a huge two-faceted problem that will impact us all in some fashion.

I was always considered kind of chunky or chubby as a child growing up. As a young man, that label tended to change to names such as Big Guy or Big Man. My weight over my lifetime would be classified as overweight for probably 90% percent of that time. Of course, everyone’s weight fluctuates but generally seems to increase with age and a lower activity level. Anyone who was, or is overweight, has or will have to deal with two significant consequences.

The most obvious effect of being overweight has to do with our physical health. Many people suffer from the trifecta of overweight health problems - high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes! These conditions all lead to an increased tendency for heart-related illnesses and coronary conditions. When these tendencies start to affect millions of people, the strain and costs placed upon our national health care systems become astronomical.

Years of education have tried to inform people of ways to maintain a healthy weight. Canada’s Food Guide has been preaching much the same message for decades, yet those in need, seem to pay limited heed. Our world subscribes to a new diet fad every few years, never-ending weight loss programs, improved food content labeling and endless messages of caution - reduce sugar and alcohol intake, increase physical activity, eat more fruit and vegetables and less processed foods and red meat. The educational program has been slow and steady and is not making the kinds of gains in improved eating behaviour that the nutritionists would have liked.

The second consequence of obesity, I think is much more subtle and much less visible than the physical manifestation of overeating. I am referring to the mental health of many obese and overweight individuals. I know as a child I was often self-conscious of being chubby and with a roll over my belt. My self-consciousness led to shyness and a little social withdrawal. I don’t think this is unusual for many overweight individuals, but if the weight problem exacerbates the mental impact also increases.

Our society also spends millions of dollars promoting the well-toned masculine body and the shapely female frame as the route to happiness. Those individuals who don’t have Hollywood shapes and figures are constantly pressured by the presentation of unrealistic body stereotypes as the norm for all. There are many individuals who are significantly stressed and depressed with this major impact of being obese and there is no end in sight.

Combining the mental and physical consequences of obesity is truly a cause for concern and unfortunately, the problem seems to be growing (no pun intended) rather than shrinking! What do you think?